Fatal Response. Jodie Bailey

His brokenness would break her.

      But his footsteps didn’t pause as he headed up the hall. The outside door opened and shut softly and the building fell silent.

      Erin dropped her chin to her chest and stared at the scuffed toes of her black boots, feeling as though her spine couldn’t support her any longer. Last night had been too long, too much of a breakneck ride down the mountain at top speed. She couldn’t do any more. And if she didn’t get out of this building in the next ten seconds, she was going to fall to pieces.

      Maybe she’d make the drive home slowly with the windows down. Maybe last night would blow away somewhere into the fall mountain mist.

      When she broke through the door into the early morning light, she scanned the parking lot, half expecting to see Jason waiting.

      The small front lot was empty.

      She’d deny until her last breath that his departure left her with a hint of disappointment. It was for the best. He was gone. Hopefully for good, the way he should have been when their divorce was final.

      Jerking open the door to the Bronco, Erin climbed in and reached for the seat belt as she angled her foot toward the brake. Her heel rolled on something and an all-too-familiar sound paralyzed her, cold terror icing her movements and driving the world into slow motion.

      No. There was no way. None. She had to be dreaming. Or hallucinating.

      Tilting her head, she looked at her foot, throat dry, head pounding...

      And found a rattlesnake beneath the heel of her boot.