Claws and Feathers

Chapter 1

Chapter

One

COOPER

It was May in The Crow.

Well, it was May everywhere, but May in The Crow was something special.

I had firsthand knowledge of that fact, considering I’d spent my whole life surviving the long, brutal winters of Crow’s Peak—a small, dreary town in northern Wisconsin. May was a reprieve. It was a temporary pardon from the icy chill that lingered in the air for far too many months.

It was a sigh of relief.

For me, it was a brief sigh. It came and went quicker than my epic mistake of a marriage to Maya Lowry, lasting just long enough for me to forget that my entire life was one seemingly eternal winter.

Saturday night was also supposed to be a reprieve. A goddamn break. Instead, I was slinging bourbon and beer at my father’s bar, because Henry had decided to call in sick. He wasn’t sick, though.

No—he’d been out on the lake all night with my ex-wife.

Idiot.

I filled the cold glass with beer from the tap and set it down in front of a withered-looking man I’d never seen before.

It was interesting, because I recognized most of the patrons that stumbled in and out of this bar.

The Crow Bar was the place to be on a Saturday night, after all.

It was a hot spot for social gatherings, drunken shenanigans, and subsequent DUIs that I was well-accustomed to handing out.

More importantly, it was my father’s pride and joy, and the only reason I’d agreed to play bartender for the evening.

“How did Dad manage to twist your arm?”

I hadn’t noticed my sister slide up beside me. She was reaching under the counter for clean glasses, a pitying smile tugging at her lips. Scowling, I mumbled, “He reminded me that I’d have the pleasure of working with you all night, Sis.”

Kate rolled her chestnut eyes at me. “Charming, and an impeccable liar. Remind me how you’re still single?”

“It could have something to do with the fact that I’ve given almost every female in this town some kind of ticket or traffic violation.” I shrugged.

“A few arrests, even.”

“The cop thing sounded a lot sexier in my head seven years ago.”

With a chuckle, she whipped up two Lemon Drops and tucked a wisp of amber hair behind her ear. Her gaze drifted across the room, landing on two females chatting at a high-top table. “What about Daphne’s friend? She’s new in town. She doesn’t know how insufferable you are yet.”

“Insufferable?” My brows arched as I followed her gaze. Daphne Vaughn was moving her hands animatedly, while the blonde across from her listened with a halfhearted smile. Said blonde glanced up at me, and I quickly averted my eyes. “If she’s anything like Daphne, I’ll pass.”

“She doesn’t look quite as…” Kate cocked her head, planting both hands on her slender waist. “Vapid.”

“I’m enjoying the newfound vocabulary, Dickinson.

” I grinned at my sister, then returned my attention to the not-vapid blonde.

She was dunking a partially eaten french fry into her ketchup cup.

There was a distance in her eyes. A disconnect.

I recognized that look; I saw it every time I looked in the mirror.

Shaking my head, I wiped down the counter with a clean rag and collected the empty glasses that were accumulating.

I watched as Kate left the counter and carried the drinks over to Daphne’s table.

The two women clinked their glasses together with a smile, but the smile didn’t quite reach the blonde’s eyes, so I idly wondered if she’d had a bad day, or if she’d had a bad life.

Maybe she’d seen things. Awful, gruesome things. Things of nightmares. I pondered what kinds of secrets were hiding behind her haunted blue eyes.

“Another.”

The Withered Man startled me by slamming his depleted glass of beer on the countertop. He sat hunched over on his arms, eyeing me for another round.

I obliged.

“Looks like rain,” the man bristled, his hardened stare pinned on the front window.

I followed his gaze and set a second beer down in front of him.

When Daphne and her mysterious friend rose from their seats, I shifted my attention to them as they sauntered over to the opposite end of the bar and commandeered two vacant stools.

Hesitating, I decided to approach. I was marginally intrigued by Daphne’s new friend, but mostly, my father was paying me to play nice.

“Another round, ladies?” I asked, leaning forward on my hands.

The friend locked eyes with me. She swept her ash blonde hair over to one side as she twirled the shot glass between her fingers. She was about to speak when Daphne interrupted.

“Two more Lemon Drops. Service was shit over there,” Daphne said, raising one of her microbladed eyebrows. “Short staffed, or just Kate being Kate?”

I prickled at the insult. A snarky jab was on the tip of my tongue, but I forced myself to stay neutral. “Henry called in.”

Daphne smiled knowingly. “That rascal.”

Dismissing the innuendo, I concocted another round of Lemon Drops and glanced up at the friend, who had yet to speak. “Passing through?”

Thunder cracked in the distance, causing her to flinch. She blinked up at me before shifting her gaze. “Um…no, actually. I just moved here a week ago.”

I paused to regard her. Then I slid the shots across the counter. “I’m Cooper.”

Daphne puckered her crimson lips. “Her name is ‘Not Interested,’” she said pointedly, tipping her head back and swallowing the shot.

My sister had burned her bridge with Daphne Vaughn the moment Henry had chosen Kate over the feisty redhead. The romance had only lasted one summer, and it was five long years ago, but the damage had been done. Daphne held tightly to that grudge, and apparently, I was guilty by association.

The friend fidgeted on her bar stool and cleared her throat. “Thanks, Daph. You know I love your unsolicited interference.” She downed her own shot before meeting my eyes. “I’m Abby. I moved here from Illinois. I grew up near Chicago.”

Abby.

I reached for another rag to busy myself, and to mask my curiosity.

Abby was staring at me intently, her blue eyes looking almost violet against her periwinkle sundress “A city girl, huh?” Throwing her a small grin, I tossed the empty shot glasses into a bin of dirty dishes.

“Crow’s Peak is quite the change of pace. ”

“I needed a change,” she said, adjusting the strap of her dress after it’d dipped off her shoulder. “I’m staying with Daphne until I can find a place. Real estate doesn’t seem to be a hot commodity around here.”

“People are born in The Crow, and they die in The Crow,” I muttered through a wry chuckle. “It’s not really the land of opportunity.”

“Small town vibes. I get it.” She smiled, and it looked genuine.

Daphne leaned into Abby and waggled her eyebrows. “Small towns have stories. They have ghosts.” She nudged her shoulder with her own, giggling.

“People have stories. People have ghosts,” Abby corrected. “Small towns just give them less ground to travel.”

I studied her as I mixed a cocktail. She was peculiar, in a compelling sort of way.

She had a distinctive beauty about her with see-through eyes, rosebud lips, and a smile that curved slightly more on one side.

I pivoted toward an adjacent patron and nodded my thanks, trading the Tequila Sunrise for a wad of cash.

Kate breezed up behind the counter, mumbling something about college kids and getting stiffed.

Daphne’s ears perked up. “I tip based on good service. Just saying,” she quipped.

Awesome. Let the cat fight commence.

I took a step back, removing myself from the insinuating battle.

Sure enough, Kate whipped around, her honey-brown hair following, and tossed her empty serving tray onto the counter with a resounding clatter. “Excuse me? I provide exceptional service.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “If you catch my drift.”

Daphne’s eyes flashed. “So, how come you couldn’t keep him longer than one pathetic summer?”

I reached for my sister’s arm before she could do something regrettable. “Let it go, Sis.”

“Let it go?” Kate yanked her arm back sharply, then redirected her focus at Daphne. “You and Melancholy Barbie need to get out of my bar.”

Abby’s head shot up after trying her best to ignore the shit-storm moving in and manifesting into a hormonal hurricane. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Okay…enough. All of you.” It felt like I was scolding a group of children. I silently cursed my father for begging me to work tonight. The last thing I wanted to do was get caught in the middle of a five-year-long rivalry spiraling to a peak.

Abby hurled a death glare in my direction. “I’m sorry, but your sister is being a bitch.”

Daphne snorted.

My eyes narrowed, and I felt an obligation to defend my sister. “Careful.”

“Are you going to arrest us, Officer?” Daphne’s tone was laced with saccharine sweetness.

Abby stood from her bar stool, clutching her purse strap in a firm hand. Her eyes lingered on mine before she swiveled around and headed toward the bathrooms. “Thanks for the warm welcome.”

I watched her hips pop back and forth as she stormed away.

Great.

I’d successfully pissed off the pretty new girl in town.

Daphne shot me a dirty look, then raced to catch up to her friend.

“Sorry.” Kate’s shoulders sagged as she pulled her ticket order out of her apron pocket. “I didn’t mean to sabotage your chances with—”

“Melancholy Barbie?” I cocked an eyebrow at her as she ducked her head, sheepishly. “Real cute.”

“Hey, I said I was sorry,” she volleyed back. “You know me. My foot and my mouth go together like beer and cheese fries. Sounds great at the time, but always ends in regret.”