JD's pulse pounded in his ears as he stepped onto the porch. The house was eerily silent. Not even the dogs stirred, and that set his nerves on edge.
Then, he spotted her truck in the driveway.
He let out a shaky breath, gripping the steering wheel for a moment before forcing himself to move.
The porch light flickered above him, casting long, shifting shadows as he opened the front door. The house was dark. Cold.
No sounds from the kitchen. No scent of food lingering in the air.
Off. Everything felt off.
His gut twisted as he moved through the dim space. And then he found her.
Joanne was sitting on the living room rug, legs stretched out, a glassy look in her red-rimmed eyes. She was hugging Fluffy forcefully.
In her hand… was that moonshine?
JD's jaw clenched. He knew the kind they brewed around here—dangerous stuff, easily over 150 proof. Strong enough to burn a man from the inside out.
Whiskey wasn't enough, huh? She had to go for the real poison?
