Dark as coal.
When I saw Dad pick up a knife and drive it straight through the man’s chest, blood gushing like a leaky faucet, I felt a scream tear through my entire body. By the time it shot up my throat, Danika had her hand covering my mouth and dragged me back to the house. I peed myself, shivered when she placed me in the hot shower and held me while I shook and cried. It took me a long time before I could look them in the eye, and whenever they hugged me, I wanted to cringe.
I never told them about the bullies. I made Danika promise she would keep it to herself. I’d take whatever they dished out and find out if they sought others. I convince them to form a pack. That’s what we did. We ignored them, did our best to never be in a position where we were alone. That went on for three years until one day in my senior year, the leader died in a car accident, and the others were severely injured, and the only other person besides Danika I ever told was Sienna.
”We should go inside,” I say, guessing there are other reasons why he’s here. One particular he should know isn’t true.
“I know,” he whispers, not attempting to let me go. So, I stay there, in his arms, until he draws in a breath, unfolds himself and punches in the code, opens the door, and follows me inside.
I love this house. It’s on a private street with a stunning view of Huntington Bay. The entire house is decorated in vibrant colors of teal, gray and accented with various others to match. There’s a cathedral ceiling with a large wood-burning fireplace in the living room. The eat-in kitchen has French doors leading to a patio decked out with a pool and hot tub. The main floor consists of a master bedroom complete with two walk-in closets. The lower level has an additional two bedrooms, each with a bathroom. There’s also a gym and an indoor in-ground pool.
The small one-bedroom guest house is decorated in the same colors.
The whole place is perfect.
Even though this is a dream home, I’d much rather have stayed with my father. Without divulging why he wouldn’t let me stay with him, I knew. He didn’t want me fussing over him. He wants the place he shared with his wife, the home they raised their children, to himself. There are many memories in that house.
However, being alone is much worse. I’ve felt that way for a long time. I can’t imagine what it has to be like for him.
Opening the closet at the entrance, I shrug out of my coat, hang it up, slip off my boots, and walk down the hall toward the kitchen.
“Would you like something to drink? I bought a bottle of Jim Beam. How you still drink that crap beats the shit out of me. It’s disgusting.” Dray and Diesel used to tease him about drinking it. The three of them would have the entire house laughing on the nights we were all home for dinner over how long before he met Mom, Cain and Roan nicknamed him Beamer after it. Sometimes Mom would laugh so hard she’d excuse herself to get up and use the bathroom before she peed her pants.
“No, thanks. I need to keep a clear head.”
Right. Not me. I’ll be drinking myself into a stupor. Wouldn’t it be nice if I’d wake to find my family alive, and this was all a nightmare?
God, how I wish.
Tomorrow, I’ll rise to face the pain again. Searching for a way to ease the heartbreak, to make it better, and realizing drinking won’t make the truth go away.
My family is buried six feet under the frozen ground. I will never see them again.
“You should have told me about Seth. I approve of a man like him taking care of you. He’s taking over my position in the Empire. If I’d known about the two of you, I would have told you before now.”
My mouth parts in shock, and I clamp down on my lip to stop from screaming. That’s not what I expected to hear.
At all.
“Shit,” I mutter under my breath, looking toward the floor, wishing it would open and swallow me. I knew he’d ask about Seth. I didn’t dwell on it as I planned on telling the truth. We had a one-night stand.
End of story.
Here I was just telling myself I wouldn’t have to see him much ever again. Seth has to be moving here. That kind of job isn’t remote. There are people to hurt. People to kill. People to protect. This is all too much. Too shocking with how close he is to his family. I can’t be angry with Seth for not telling me when it’s not his place.
Damn him. I want to fume and be angry. But nope, as a replacement, my pulse picks up, this chaotic vibration that steals the breath from my lungs. I can feel Seth, and he’s not even here. I feel him in my chest, under my skin, and in between my legs. I feel him trying to slither in and make me open up, revealing all my darkest fears.
Panic sets in, my heart hammering in an attempt to break free of my ribs. I can’t help wondering if the universe has something against me. Like it wants to see how much more I can take before I give up, and it cuts me off at the knees.
Why him, of all people? I knew Dad was slowly backing away like Cain and Dilan. He and Mom had plans to move to the house they built when I was a teenager in The Catskills. Roan is the only one who hasn’t stepped down yet. Although, he’s talked about
