Page 33 of The Silence of Hell

The lockbox fell from the wall and smashed open.

Fanatic rolled his eyes. “You were saying?”

“Jinx stays! I need him,” I demanded, finally finding my voice.

Jinx sent me a grateful look as I grabbed his arm and leant my head on him. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“Okay, no problem,” Fanatic said as he picked the keys up. He walked over to the Alfa Romeo 8c 2900b Lungo Spider and climbed in carefully. Fanatic turned the engine over, and it clicked but didn’t start.

“They’ll need jumping,” Fanatic murmured. He yanked his phone out. “Hey, Uncle Chance, I’m at that creepy house. I’ve got a problem here. Can you have Rooster bring the garage truck out as I gotta jump around thirty cars, and also, I want whichever brothers are at the clubhouse. Lavender has a serious car issue. I’ll send Jinx down to direct you.”

Chance rumbled something, but Fanatic refused to elaborate, and finally, I heard an agreement. Half an hour later, voices sounded, and then Chance walked in with a group of men.

“Holy fuck!” one exclaimed.

“Shit!” a second added.

“Explains why Fanatic is so hyped up,” a third commented.

“Where’s my truck? The batteries are dead,” Fanatic demanded.

“Let me guess, you’re planning to drive these back to the compound?” Chance asked. Fanatic held his gaze, and Chance turned to me. “Did you agree with this Lavender, or did my nephew steamroll you?”

“Both?”

“I can’t think of anywhere to store these cars right now that would be classed as safe except for the clubhouse. The security there is high, and they’ll be safe. If you’re comfortable?” Chance offered.

“That’s fine with me,” I said.

“Here, miss, these are the pink slips. I’ve checked, and there’s ownership papers for every car,” Andy explained.

“Thank you. I think I’ll go back to the house,” I muttered and left quickly.

???

How much money had my family had? How much had they spent? It seemed obscene to me. I knew those cars were worth a fortune, and yet they’d stayed there for years, probably undriven and left to rust. I fully understood the trust held billions. The realisation hit me hard now. In a way, it was disgusting, this much money lying around, and in another, it was my family’s legacy, and I’d fight to save it.

But those cars. They were the tipping point for me. Stunned, I wandered back to the Manor, unsure what would hit me next. Without any set plans, I felt like I was aimlessly drifting, just going with the flow.

Something did bother me, though. I remembered playing dress up with Aunt Aggie’s jewellery. That was missing, and the collection was worth a fortune.

There was also the question of why all this hadn’t been destroyed. Teenagers should have broken into the house and wrecked it. Yet Ravenberry had remained untouched. Security hadn’t been provided, so something had kept the local troublemakers away.

I’d not been into town much, but maybe I needed to, to discover the gossip. Because there had to be rumours about the estate. Something had stopped people coming and ruining it.

“Lavender?” a voice inquired, and I jolted and realised I was back at the Manor.

“Yes?” I replied woodenly, looking at Chatter.

“Those cars were the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Chatter suggested shrewdly.

“A bit.”

“Give me ten minutes, and I will be back. I’ll take you for a ride. Being on the road tends to clear anyone’s mind,” Chatter offered, and before I could say anything, he disappeared.

“Everything okay?” Tatum asked from where he sat.

“Just more drama!” I murmured, and Tatum nodded.

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