Averie is stiff initially, but she melts in my arms after a few moments. Her head rests in the perfect spot against my chest, her arms resting along my back. That same sweet smell of jasmine, rose, and citrus hits my nostrils, the scent so tantalizing that I’m having difficulty keeping this simply a “friendly” hug.
Then, the tears start. They’re soft at first, a wet trail sliding down my shirt. I’m not sure when it shifted, but I feel it, that first sharp intake of breath when the dam breaks. Averie’s sobs cut through me, squeezing my heart so tightly it becomes hard to breathe.
My heart thumps rapidly in my chest, my grip on Averie tightening a fraction when she shudders. Fingers move of their own accord, trailing in her curls, running down the length of her hair and back. Something in my chest clenches, and I know a decision has been made.
So, I let her get it out—all of the anger, the heartbreak, the disgust. I give her all the time she needs, fuck the consequences be damned.
After sending Averie back inside the house with strict instructions to rest for the remainder of the day, I piddle around finding something to do even if it doesn’t fall under my scope of job duties. We finished the siding and shutters this morning and have even begun painting the white columns a daring shade of black. Cosmetic things will come next, requiring a lot more hands-on from Averie—a fact I’m sure that my asshole cousin won’t particularly care for.
Doesn’t matter, I’m not leaving this fucking house until he gets here. I have nowhere else to be today, and I don’t mind some landscaping in my spare time. Heading out back to the old garage, I set out to find a lawn mower, thinking I’d seen one there the other day. The structure has seen better days, and I’m sure Luke will end up replacing the entire thing. For now, I simply need a mower to get to work.
When I find what I’m looking for, a black Armada comes rushing down the long driveway. I glance down at my smart watch, quickly checking the time. Quarter after five, good. At least he’s fucking earlier tonight, though I’m not sure that bodes well for Averie. So, I stride out of the garage and rush toward the front of the house.
“Luke!” I holler, not bothering to curb the bite in my voice. Luke nods in my direction, raising an arm in greeting, before heading to theback of the car. The trunk is popped open before I reach him, and I notice that Luke seems to have several items, all seemingly intended for Averie. A vase of roses, a bag from one of those fancy makeup stores, and I even spy a silky-looking robe in one of the more oversized shopping bags. “What, did you buy the whole mall?” I ask, not bothering to hide my disgust.
He whips his head around, his glacial eyes narrowing at the sight of me. “What are you still doing here anyway? I thought you’d be gone by now,” he says before returning to the bags.
“Actually, I was waiting for you.” The words are smooth falling from my lips, tinged with a bite of poison. He turns toward me, all suspicion now as he shrewdly sizes me up.
“What did you need, cousin?” Luke sneers, and I let the mask drop just a fraction. The one that I’ve carefully crafted all these years to keep people from getting too close to me. It’s a look that screams predator, that I have zero fucks left to give and will not hesitate to tear you limb from limb.
Luke has at least some semblance of intelligence, for the man chooses that exact moment to take several steps back, putting some distance between us. He seems uncomfortable, and I use this to my advantage, crowding his space and giving him a sinister smile. “Get in my truck or I swear on all thingsunholyI’ll shove you in the backseat hogtied and gagged.”
He stiffens, swallowing hard, every bit of defiance leaving in seconds. He sure isn’t putting up much of a fight for someone so big and bad. He walks over to my truck, quickly slipping into the passenger seat. I waste zero time sliding behind the wheel, starting the truck, and revving the engine several times.
In a flash, we’re off, racing down the long driveway of Carson Plantation, heading out onto the main road and through the vastthicket of trees. I’m quiet the whole way, and so is Luke, seemingly refusing to look in my direction. In less than thirty minutes, we’ve made our way to my intended stop.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of the best places to go in the summer, along Lake Superior’s shoreline. But this spot is a hidden gem, nestled deep in the woods surrounding the lake.
Exiting the truck, I motion for my cousin to follow, knowing he’d be foolish to wander off alone. The path to the cliff’s edge is overgrown, the thicket so unruly in certain parts that I have to stomp down on some vegetation to ensure no snakes are hiding. By the time we make it there, the sun is beginning to set. Any other time, I’d take in the moment, forgetting all my concerns, be present, and soak it all in. Now? I’m forced to taint this experience with the asshole behind me.
At least the view is stunning, even if what I’m about to do will probably guarantee me a seat in hell. Luke’s shoes crunch softly across the earth, hesitant, as if he can feel the tension leaking from me. I whirl on him, grabbing him by the shirt with my fist. He startles, yelping loudly, which intensifies to a scream when I yank him by his shirt and dangle him over the edge of the cliff.
I swear, I had zero intention of being a fucking psychopath today, but seeing him with all those gifts, knowing damn good and well that he beat the shit out of his wife, well. It was too fucking much.
“WHAT THE FUCK JETT!” He screams, looking over his shoulder at the pool of water beneath the waterfall roaring behind us.
“Listen, and listen well to what the fuck I have to say, Luke,” I growl, narrowing my eyes at my piece of shit cousin. “I know what you did.”
“You don’t know shit, man!” He cries, wheezing a little when I punch his gut. “Okay, okay! What the fuck did I do, then?”
I drop him a little, to prove a point, quickly snatching hold of his neck mid-scream, and effectively silencing him. His feet kick as he dangles, and his hands claw at my fingers, but he can’t stop my brute strength. I squeeze a little tighter, emphasizing my point with my following words, “Keep your hands off your fucking wife, Luke.”
“Why do you care?! It’s none of your fucking business,” Luke snarls, coughing and hacking when I apply even more pressure to his throat.
“You’re right, it’s not my business, it’s business for the High Circle of theCovenant, don’t you think?”
Luke’s eyes widen, and he attempts to shake his head several times, but can’t quite get the range of motion he is looking for.
“You…wouldn’t…dare!” He chokes out.
“You know I would, don’t make me invokemyrights. I didn’t want any part of the fucking covenant when you tried to initiate me all those years ago. After realizing what a goddamnmonster, youallare. I still don’t want anything to do with it, but I will if it means unseating you and your demon spawn of a father from the circle.”
I hold his gaze for several minutes, watching with smug satisfaction as his face gets redder with each passing second. When I release him, tossing him onto the ground like a sack of garbage, I don’t let him get too far before stomping on his hand with my boot-covered foot. “God damnit, Jett!” His scream is like bliss to my ears.
Bending down, I grab hold of his hair, yanking his head back so that he is forced to look at me when I speak. “Just because your father was a righteous prick to your mother for all of your childhood doesn’t mean the cycle continues with you. Do. Fucking. Better. Or I swear to god, I’ll throw you off this cliff and make fucking sure you don’t come back out alive. You got it?”
“Crystal,” he wheezes, locking eyes with me. I hold his stare for a moment or two before I’m satisfied.