Page 14 of Liars

Donovan’s sons weren’t little boys.

And what a way to make a first impression, but sincerely, I didn’t care what they thought of me. I wasn’t here to make friends. I had friends, and I so wanted to see them, craved their support—their love.

My stomach growled again. I couldn’t ignore my hunger forever, but to eat, I had to get out of bed. One day at a time. That was all I could do.

I dragged my butt out from under the plush covers, wincing at the sharp pang twinging in my shoulder, and made a quick stop at the bathroom before throwing a sweater over my pajamas. Not bothering to check my appearance, I cautiously opened the door, looking for Evan.

An eerie quiet greeted me in the hallway, the high ceilings amplifying every creak of the floor beneath my bare feet as I approached the staircase, no guard in sight. Behind me, a long corridor stretched with several bedroom doors on both sides. I hesitated at the top of the landing, unsure where to find the kitchen. Then my nose picked up the bitter, glorious scent of brewed coffee.

I swore my mouth salivated.

It might not be my daily Starbucks run before school, but I would take anything over what they tried to serve me in thehospital. My nose led the way, sniffing out where it was coming from.

The smooth banister glided under my fingers as I descended to the first floor, taking a left at the foyer and discovering the dining room. Just past the grand table, an archway led into the kitchen. The same woman I’d seen last night stood in front of a deep sink, washing dishes. She glanced toward me as I hovered just over the threshold.

Amelia, I thought she had introduced herself last night.

“Good morning. I was wondering when I would see your face. You must be starving. You skipped dinner last night. Let me get you breakfast. Sit.” She gestured to one of the counter stools at the island.

“Just coffee, if it isn’t too much trouble,” I replied, brushing my hair behind my ears as I moved deeper into the kitchen.

She had a voluminous figure, a bit plump, but she carried it well. Her blonde hair, streaked with gray, was pulled back into a neat bun. “I’ll get you that cup of coffeeifyou agree to eat something.”

A barter. In this house, it didn’t surprise me. My lips twitched. “Deal.”

Wiping her hands on the front of her white apron, she turned off the faucet and moved to the coffee maker, pouring me a cup. She set it in front of me. “Cream or sugar?”

“Both, please.”

She brought a tray with a sugar jar and a cup of cream.

“Can I ask you a question?” I asked before she could turn away as I reached for the sugar spoon.

“I’m sure you have plenty of questions, and I’ll do my best to answer what I can.”

“I was wondering about Mr. Corvo’s sons. He mentioned them, and I was curious if they live here.”

A light sparkled in her eyes. “They do. Well, three of the four. The eldest, Raine, is off at college, University of Dalton.”

I nearly choked on my hot coffee at the mention of four. Four Corvos. God help the world. “And the other three?”

“They would be Kreed, Maddox, and Mason. You just missed them.” An unexpected fondness touched her features, softening them. She cared for them.

I didn’t know why I found that hard to believe. “They left?”

She nodded. “Off to school. I can hardly believe another one is graduating this year. They’ve grown up so fast. Time is a funny thing.”

I knew what she meant. In the days before the incident, time flew and mattered little to me, but after…the world moved at a snail's pace, each minute dragging into the next.

“I’ve been with them since birth, a handful watching after those four. Especially together. I should probably warn you they can be trouble, but they have redeeming qualities if given the opportunity. Not an easy task. It’s been rough for them with the loss of their mom, and because of it, they don’t take kindly to strangers.”

I blew on my coffee as I listened, risking a sip. “And Mr. Corvo hasn’t remarried. There isn’t a new Mrs.?”

The glow in her eyes dimmed. “No. No one permanent. He dates, but there’s never been another woman to capture his heart since Willow. It would be best if you didn’t mention her. She is a topic best left alone and in the past.”

Willow. Had her name been what had drawn them to this place?

My curiosity piqued; it took everything inside me not to ask what happened to her. How had she died?

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