Read Online Edge of Shadows (Shadows #1) by Cege Smith - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cege Smith
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that gave away her anxiousness.
“I’ll come and get you. Mark my words. You’re MINE.” The line went silent with a click.
Ellie realized she was shaking. She had thought the phone calls were over and now he had called two nights in a row. She went to her door and made sure the lock was securely fastened. Her breaths came in short, rapid gulps.
She didn’t think Jake would ever follow through on his threats, but if his drinking had gotten out of control again, she couldn’t be sure. She considered calling the police, but she didn’t think they’d do anything unless Jake actually showed up at her door. She didn’t want to agitate the situation any further. She just wanted Jake to forget all about her and leave her alone.
Ellie closed her eyes and forced herself to take a deep breath. She leaned against the door frame. Skipper was by her side a moment later, wagging his tail and looking up at her expectantly.
“No, it’s not time to get up yet,” she whispered to him. “Besides, I don’t think it’s the best idea for us to be going outside at this time of night. There may be monsters out there.” Skipper’s tail stopped and he looked forlorn as she moved away from the door.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ellie was surprised to find Kevin instead of Linda in the back room when she arrived at work the next morning.
“Where’s Linda? Fridays are her morning to open. Is she okay?” Ellie asked. Linda hadn’t missed a day of work in the entire time she had worked for Ellie. She had never been late or even asked for time off.
“She is fine. Fluttering around like a butterfly right now, I’m sure,” Kevin answered. At Ellie’s questioning glance he continued, “She’s all in a tither about this dinner party. Called me up last night saying she had a million things to do and asked if I would mind helping her out by taking her shift today.”
Linda wasn’t the only one fluttering about that day. Even as he talked Kevin didn’t stop moving as he crossed into the storeroom, leaving Ellie standing in the middle of the room.
“So she’s not coming in at all?” Ellie asked, frowning. Apparently there was a lot she didn’t know about dinner party preparation.
“Don’t worry. I called Joanie and she said she can come in and help us out later if we need her.” Kevin’s muffled voice came from the storeroom. Joanie attended college nearby and had been willing to pitch hit on an as-needed basis when Ellie had busier than usual days.
“Well, I feel completely useless. Not like I own this place so people should keep me in the loop or anything,” Ellie retorted, crossing her arms.
Kevin’s head popped out of the storeroom. “You okay?”
She wilted under his concerned look and was horrified when tears started streaming down her face. Kevin was beside her in an instant and took her into his arms, rocking her back and forth as the tears turned into huge gulping sobs.
“Oh, sweetie, what’s wrong?” he said as he stroked her hair.
“I can’t believe I’m here again,” she finally managed to sputter, pulling away and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “Jake called me in the middle of the night the last few nights just being hateful. The things he said were awful.”
“I thought those calls were over,” Kevin said, the worry evident in his voice.
“Me too, but I guess I was wrong. He was drunk both times. He called me some names and last night he said that he was going to get me either way because I was HIS.” She emphasized the word, mimicking Jake’s threatening tone.
“Christ, Ellie. Did you call the cops? He can’t keep harassing you like this.” Kevin squeezed her tightly.
She felt a rush of gratitude for Kevin’s friendship. If she hadn’t had him to lean on during the divorce she had no idea where she’d be right now. She knew that she didn’t tell him enough how good it was to have him in her life. She was a bad friend. She had to start being better about that.
“No, no.
“I’ll come and get you. Mark my words. You’re MINE.” The line went silent with a click.
Ellie realized she was shaking. She had thought the phone calls were over and now he had called two nights in a row. She went to her door and made sure the lock was securely fastened. Her breaths came in short, rapid gulps.
She didn’t think Jake would ever follow through on his threats, but if his drinking had gotten out of control again, she couldn’t be sure. She considered calling the police, but she didn’t think they’d do anything unless Jake actually showed up at her door. She didn’t want to agitate the situation any further. She just wanted Jake to forget all about her and leave her alone.
Ellie closed her eyes and forced herself to take a deep breath. She leaned against the door frame. Skipper was by her side a moment later, wagging his tail and looking up at her expectantly.
“No, it’s not time to get up yet,” she whispered to him. “Besides, I don’t think it’s the best idea for us to be going outside at this time of night. There may be monsters out there.” Skipper’s tail stopped and he looked forlorn as she moved away from the door.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ellie was surprised to find Kevin instead of Linda in the back room when she arrived at work the next morning.
“Where’s Linda? Fridays are her morning to open. Is she okay?” Ellie asked. Linda hadn’t missed a day of work in the entire time she had worked for Ellie. She had never been late or even asked for time off.
“She is fine. Fluttering around like a butterfly right now, I’m sure,” Kevin answered. At Ellie’s questioning glance he continued, “She’s all in a tither about this dinner party. Called me up last night saying she had a million things to do and asked if I would mind helping her out by taking her shift today.”
Linda wasn’t the only one fluttering about that day. Even as he talked Kevin didn’t stop moving as he crossed into the storeroom, leaving Ellie standing in the middle of the room.
“So she’s not coming in at all?” Ellie asked, frowning. Apparently there was a lot she didn’t know about dinner party preparation.
“Don’t worry. I called Joanie and she said she can come in and help us out later if we need her.” Kevin’s muffled voice came from the storeroom. Joanie attended college nearby and had been willing to pitch hit on an as-needed basis when Ellie had busier than usual days.
“Well, I feel completely useless. Not like I own this place so people should keep me in the loop or anything,” Ellie retorted, crossing her arms.
Kevin’s head popped out of the storeroom. “You okay?”
She wilted under his concerned look and was horrified when tears started streaming down her face. Kevin was beside her in an instant and took her into his arms, rocking her back and forth as the tears turned into huge gulping sobs.
“Oh, sweetie, what’s wrong?” he said as he stroked her hair.
“I can’t believe I’m here again,” she finally managed to sputter, pulling away and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “Jake called me in the middle of the night the last few nights just being hateful. The things he said were awful.”
“I thought those calls were over,” Kevin said, the worry evident in his voice.
“Me too, but I guess I was wrong. He was drunk both times. He called me some names and last night he said that he was going to get me either way because I was HIS.” She emphasized the word, mimicking Jake’s threatening tone.
“Christ, Ellie. Did you call the cops? He can’t keep harassing you like this.” Kevin squeezed her tightly.
She felt a rush of gratitude for Kevin’s friendship. If she hadn’t had him to lean on during the divorce she had no idea where she’d be right now. She knew that she didn’t tell him enough how good it was to have him in her life. She was a bad friend. She had to start being better about that.
“No, no.
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