Secrets and Scars: A Gripping Psychological Thriller (Fatal Hearts Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

incriminating about his mother.” I licked my lips. “I destroyed his life… lots of lives.” I inhaled sharply. “Alvin is hungry for revenge.”
    “What did you reveal? Who in their right mind would go this far to avenge a childhood grudge?” He bent his head and picked our sack off the ground. “Shit.”
    “What? What?” My heart picked up its pace. Was Alvin near again?
    “I want you to stay calm, you hear me, Chloe?” He slowly lifted himself off the ground, pulling me up with him.
    My eyes darted from side to side, searching for danger in our vicinity. “What’s going on?” My whisper was louder this time.
    “A fer-de-lance.” He gazed toward the stream.
    I was about to ask him what a fer-de-lance was when I followed his gaze to the edge of the stream. There, my eyes met those of a snake.
    ***
    I clapped my hand over my mouth to kill a scream. The snake, which was about four feet long, had a broad triangular head, and was marked by a series of black-edged diamond shapes bordered in a lighter color.
    Every nerve in my body pressured me to run. I wanted to—my mind screamed for me to do it—but fear paralyzed my body to the point it failed to move. I wanted to breathe. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t do anything.
    Owen stood between me and the snake. He moved slowly back. Once his body touched mine, I came alive. I took one step back and then another, following his lead. Did the snake sense my fear? How far would it let us get before it struck? My chest ached so badly, I might end up having a heart attack before it even touched me. My stomach turned and my skin crawled as it moved. The snake’s beady eyes stayed fixed on us as it slithered in our direction.
    Owen continued moving me further away, whispering furiously that I should not move too fast, that I should remain calm. I heard the sound of his own fear in the folds of his whispers. His ragged breaths confirmed it. I took a few more steps back, praying I would not step on another snake. I watched it over Owen’s shoulders.
    Finally, Owen bent down, still moving. I knew what he was about to do. He wanted to pick something up. A stick? I recalled reading an article about it being a bad idea. I wanted to warn him, but my words deserted me.
    The moment Owen’s fingers touched the stick at his feet, the snake lifted its head and stuck out its forked tongue. Owen straightened up slowly, avoiding sudden movements, and pushed me away from him until our bodies no longer touched.
    “Go.” He didn’t glance at me. “Do it. Now.”
    “No.” My chin trembled “I can’t leave you alone.”
    “I said leave.” His whisper was a pitch higher, the words pushed through gritted teeth.
    My stomach knotted, but I did as I was told. On weak knees, I managed to move to a tree and  hide behind the trunk, all the while watching Owen and the snake, my heart pounding in my throat.
    Please don’t let him get hurt.
    A strong urge to pee hit me as fear course through me.
    Not now.
    I did my best to ignore it, to hold it down.
    Owen kept moving back at his slow pace, the stick now extended in front of him. At first the snake continued slithering toward him, but then it stopped and sank its head.
    I held my breath, waiting for what would happen next. It could be preparing to attack. Owen kept moving until he was about three feet from the trunk where I hid. My breath came in short, labored gasps now. Would he make it?
    I watched as the impossible happened: The snake simply turned away and slinked off, disappearing into nearby bushes. I grabbed my sore chest as air rushed back into my lungs. Owen hurried to me and drew me into a hug. I hugged him back, my arms wrapped tightly around his neck, relief infusing my every pore. He broke the embrace and let out a breath.
    He took my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
    We ran for it, our eyes on the ground, hoping not to encounter any more snakes.
    Owen later told me that fer-de-lances were among the largest and deadliest