Page 11 of The Silence of Hell

Yup, she was my little fucked up lunatic. Stop that!Chatter chided his thoughts. Now who was acting insane?

“What’s the story with Ravenberry Manor? It’s been empty since I was a kid,” Chance asked.

“Actually, it hadn’t. I used to visit as a child, and you’re much older than me,” Lavender said with a laugh.

“That’s true,” Chance agreed.

“My Aunt Aggie owned it. Agatha Bloodsworth.”

“What a fantastic name!” Sunny exclaimed, and Lavender sent him a warm look.

“There’s a story to that, too,” Lavender added.

“I want to hear that,” Chatter interjected.

The story might stop Lavender from thinking of him as a weakling.

“Over four hundred years ago, my family was once called Worthing and immigrated here from England. The founder of our line was a younger duke’s son named Richard and had four older brothers who were fit to inherit the title before him.

“His father wanted him to join the clergy, but he refused, and they fought. Finally, he turned to him and asked what the value of our bloodline was. That’s where our surname came from. Bloodsworth. The worth of our blood. The duke, backed into a corner, gave Richard a small fortune, and Richard left England, never to go back. He bought the land here and built the first house. From then, he invested wisely and made several fortunes. Ravenberry was constantly extended with each generation.

“About one hundred and fifty years ago, an ancestor recognised his son as flighty and knew he’d run through the immense wealth he was to gain. The Trust was devised, and all monies went into that, and the heir received an allowance. He naturally ran through it like his father had imagined and passed youngish. His son, however, was a financial genius and turned his allowance into a second serious fortune.

“Aunt Agatha is actually my great aunt, and she was the eldest of the kids born to that generation. My grandpa was next. He died young, and Aunt Aggie’s children sadly died. She raised my dad, and they were close. But Mom, well, she had grand ideas, and Aunt Aggie did not agree with them. Mom wanted to be a socialite. She also began making changes to the Manor without Aunt Aggie’s agreement, and they fell out.

“Aunt Aggie disowned my dad and willed everything to me. She died soon after my parents cut ties, and I didn’t know. It is so sad; I loved her so much. But my parents spent years in court trying to break the will and Trust. They constantly failed, and six months ago, I discovered the court documents. This secret was beyond shocking. Worse, they’d claimed the allowance in my name.”

“That sounds tragic,” Chatter said.

“Yes, it was,” Lavender agreed. Her parent’s story was shameful. But it was their shame, not hers.

Chapter Three.

Lavender

“What made everything worse was they’d lied and hid stuff from me. I’d not known any of this as I was a child. My parents scammed one point two million dollars a year from the Trust and lived the life they wanted,” I said, remembering how hurt I’d been.

“Damn!” Chance exclaimed.

“Oh, they’re paying for it now. The police are involved, and they’ve been arrested. Their assets have been frozen, and my lawyers are suing. Greed is an awful thing,” I announced.

“Yes, it is. So… you’re a trust fund baby,” Chance replied.

“No. I worked and still work like everyone else. Remember, I didn’t know about the Trust Fund. My parents suddenly started living the life of Riley, but I thought they’d come into money. I was completely unaware of the estate. And now it’s mine. And Aunt Aggie’s last gift to me, which means I’m not selling,” I stated, crossed my arms on my chest and stared Chance down.

“Fine by me, darlin’. If, of course, you change your mind, all I ask is you give us first refusal. But what’s this bullshit about Hellfire threatening you?” Chance asked.

I quickly reiterated what Shaye had said to me, and Sunny’s mouth tightened, and Chance took on a thunderous expression.

“Let me reassure you, Miss Torrell has no right to speak for the club in any shape or form. Hellfire made an inquiry as to whether you were selling. Clearly, she saw a nice fat commission and a bragging opportunity. We shall be speaking to her boss and filing our own complaint with the SPD,” Chance said.

“Yeah, an MC reporting to the cops.” I laughed, amused.

“Hellfire works with law enforcement. We stood shoulder to shoulder with officers when Rapid City was attacked,” Sunny replied.

I sobered. Naturally, I’d read of that; who hadn’t?

“You were there?” I asked quietly.

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