decided it might be an opportunity for you.”
“No. No, that’s not true. In fact, I think you should stay away from that whole fucked-up family.”
“I’m sure. Except it was Lucian who got you out of trouble the last time.”
She stares back at me confused, as if it’s the first time she’s hearing this. “What’s that in your hands?”
“Nothing.”
“My yearbook? What for?”
“You want to do me a favor, Mother? I’ll give you one chance. One opportunity. You want to make things right and be a family again? Tell me who my father is.”
Turning her face away from mine, she flicks the ash into the ashtray again, and when she brings the cigarette to her lips, I catch the tremble in her hands. “I can’t do that.”
“Why? Because you fucked so many men you have no idea who he is?”
“Because he’s a piece of shit who never deserved to be in your life.”
“Ah, perfect. You two made the perfect match, then.”
She snorts a laugh and bites her lip, the way she does when her pride has been wounded. “You’re right. Maybe I should’ve stayed with him.” Jaw shifting, she sniffs and drags her arm across her nose. “I couldn’t, though. I refused to stay on this shithole island with him.”
“You’re selfish. You’ve always been selfish. And this crap about having a family again? It’s just that: a steaming pile of dog shit.”
“You don’t understand, Izzy. I didn’t …. I’m … not telling you because of me. That’s not what I meant to do.”
“Do you hear yourself? How ridiculous you sound? The drugs have warped your head so much. Whatever you were in this …” I hold the yearbook up in the air. “Isn’t who you are now.”
“You’re right. You’re absolutely right. That girl is gone. Long gone.”
“I’m out of here. Lock the door when you leave. And do Aunt Midge and I a favor--lose the fucking key. I don’t need you, Mother. The little girl who did is gone now, too. Long gone.”
My blood pulses with white hot fury, as I slam through the front door and cut across the neighbor’s lawn. The walk back is riddled with confusion and anger, and I don’t immediately notice the sleek, black Bentley parked at the corner, about a block ahead of me, until its lights flick on.
“Shit!” I slam to a halt and bang a right through the adjacent park, running across the massive stretch of lawn, until I have to stop and catch my breath. Bending forward, I force deep inhales and long exhales, trying to settle my nerves.
The darkness settles over me, and in the silence, I clamp my eyes to the mishmash of information pounding at my skull. I want to cry, but I won’t.
Get it together, Isa.
Another minute, and I push upright to hustle back before Makaio can catch up to me, when a shadow steps into my path.
“Well, well. Look what we have here.” The sound of Aedon Ross’s voice scrapes at the back of my neck.
I turn around to go the other way, but bump into Brady standing behind me. Fear and panic churn in my stomach, muscles tingling with the shock that crawls beneath my skin. “You’re … you’re not supposed to come near me.” Based on a court order, we’re not to talk, or go anywhere near each other, which has been easy up until now, with the two away at college.
At the sound of Aedon’s chuckle from behind, I spin around, desperate to keep my eyes on both of them. On instinct, my hand swipes over my pocket, where my knife should be, but I left it back at the manor.
“No, no, sweetheart,” Aedon says, edging closer. “It’s you who are supposed to stay away from him. But we won’t tell, if you don’t.”
I lunge to the left of Aedon, darting around him, but he captures my arm. I swing out with my free arm on reflex, failing to connect with my intended target. A scream rips through my chest, but is tamped down by his hand covering my mouth. My body is dragged backward, my heels digging into the grass, as they haul me toward the building behind us.
The park restrooms.
The potent smell of sewage fills my nose, when we slam through the door. Urinals stand off to the side, the concrete of the bathroom floor tearing at the soles of my shoes. Aedon holds me captive, one arm banded across my chest, while the other seals off the air to my mouth. Brady