La Rogue. Ugh. My stepfather’s Louisiana mansion. It sits on an old plantation two hours north of New Orleans. Large willows, spooky vibes, and mosquitoes are all that place has to offer. Why my mother thinks their summer house is calming is beyond me. Being out in the middle of nowhere with no cell reception leaves me on edge.
The elevator ride to the bottom floor is nowhere near the event it was coming up last night. Within ten minutes of asking the front desk for a cab, I am heading back to the city, my one-night stand officially over. Another ten minutes and I am sliding into the car where Arabelle is already waiting for me. She passes me a hot coffee from the hotel’s continental breakfast offerings and turns red eyes on me. I’m pretty sure mine are just as red.
“Me too, babe. Me too,” I offer. I start the car and let it idle. I know the darkness in me isn’t purged. I tried, but if anything, it’s only been lured to the surface and craves more of last night. I pull up my phone and type out a quick text to Con. He’ll have to show the others.
You don’t know what you and your bratva brothers have done to me. For me. Thank you.
Maybe in the years to come, they will remember me and the night we shared. I put my phone on the dash.
“Are you ok?” Arabelle asks in a soft voice.
Raw is all I feel.
“Yeah.” I easily lie and instantly feel like the biggest ass. On second thought…I retrieve my phone and flip it around to show her the picture I snapped. She does the same only her trophy for the night is around her neck on a silver chain—a skull ring with ruby eyes.
“Aren’t we a pair, huh?”
“Yeah. Let’s go home before we both do something stupid.”
“About that.” I fill her in on the change of plans and point the car toward the airport. After snagging a discount ticket for her and promising to call, I head toward La Rogue.
Seattle is out, but I don’t feel any better about the change in plans. Going anywhere near where my stepfather makes me want to sit in a bath of acid rather than face him.
I swallow thickly. “Get a grip, Laila.” Maybe this will be good. I can’t hide forever. I need to see mom and try to get her to leave with me. Maybe we can go to New York or even Florida. I don’t care as long as it is not Seattle or near him. The Universe is always trying to work things out for the benefit of everyone. I just need to listen. At least that is what my doctor keeps feeding me.
Seven
Laila
Iedge around the last curve in the road. This one is my mother’s favorite. Swaying willow branches hang over the wrought iron arch featuring the mansion’s name signaling my arrival. Deep ruts in the road keep me from going over ten miles an hour down the mile-long driveway.
I pull into the front yard which is more of an open field than anything else. I curl my fingers around the steering wheel, my stomach swooshing into the bottom of my soles.
“What the fuck?” Red and blue lights wash centuries-old moss-covered willows in the ungodly combination of colors. There have to be five cop cars, the fire department.
My attention drifts to the left of the last cop car. “The coroner?” Dread spills into my body and the cold tingles left in its wake leave my hand shaking.
I don’t hit the brakes until I am nearly driving through the bold yellow tape outlining my stepfather’s property.
I throw the car into park and burst out of my door.
“What’s happening? Where is my mother?” Blood seeps from my veins and lets the cold of death claw its way inside me.
Four sets of hands fly up and as many cops try to stop me from entering my mother’s shared home.
“Hold up, ma’am. You can’t go in there.” I ignore the uniformed men. They don’t know this is my mother’s place. I can’t blame them for trying to stop me.
Those hands turn punishing and the fears creeping into my mind take root.
Something is wrong. Deathly wrong.
“You shouldn’t go in there.” The one wearing aviators and cowboy boots urges me. He pushes the lens to the top of his head. When our eyes connect it all comes rushing home and I understand what he is saying.
My luck isn’t good enough for it to be my stepfather meeting the devil.
That only leaves my mother.
Tears fill my vision but don’t fall. I’ve watched enough TV to know the yellow tape is not just a suggested warning. My gut is telling me my deduction is spot on.