36. Kiera
KIERA
A shudder wracked me as the park disappeared the SUV’s dust. No matter how small that iron gate and painted sign looked in the rearview, we couldn’t put enough distance between us and Feverpoint. It was hardly three days, but I wasn’t sure I’d ever look at amusement parks the same way.
No wonder these three didn’t want to go there.
Though clearly, what we’d encountered in the park was far more intense than anyone had anticipated — anyone but Dom, that was.
But as we cruised down the road toward home with Lady’s head at my feet and Spencer holding my hand across the back seat, I finally felt like I could take a deep breath.
Home.
It was strange to realize that’s what Dom’s mansion was called in my head. When Leo and Spencer had first brought me there on that dark, violent night, I thought it was some creepy castle on the hill: an evil lair certainly designed for luring and murdering poor, vulnerable straight girls.
But now, it was a refuge where I could be free from Maura’s temper and the world’s demands. Just like it had been when I was a child.
An unexpected sense of excitement pulsed in my chest at the thought of walking through the gardens with Leo, watching cartoons in the den, and sleeping in my own bed.
I could already smell the breakfast spread that Spencer would prepare to celebrate our homecoming.
Could already imagine Lady running around the yard, Dom scowling as she pretended the dog was so untrainable.
It wasn’t long before we were pulling up that long, familiar driveway and my heart began to patter. Lady was just as excited, shooting up from the footwell and crawling over Spencer’s lap for a better view out of the window.
Seeing the house again reaffirmed that it wasn’t just my memories that colored my fondness for it. The mansion was absolutely stunning, especially in the warm evening light.
Orange sun danced along the ivy-covered walls, highlighting the natural variations in the stone. The golden sconces were just beginning to click on, illuminating everything in a warm, inviting glow. Pink and purple clouds drifted overhead, framing the house like a heavenly crown.
It was breathtaking in its own right, and it was only made more so by being a home to the people I’d come to care about most in the world.
By the time we pulled up to the top of the drive, Lady couldn’t contain her excitement. The second Spencer popped her door open, the dog took off like a rocket across the lawn, her tail whipping back and forth as she ran.
While Spencer hopped out to handle the dog, Leo made her way to my side of the car, holding open the door and giving me a hand down from the SUV. The air smelt clean, with hints of the early spring blossoms in Dom’s garden already drifting through the air.
As Leo made her way to the trunk to grab her bag, I followed behind her, ready to grab my own and get settled in my room. But to my surprise, my duffel was already slung over Dom’s shoulder.
I caught her eye for a second before she looked down the lawn at Spencer and Lady, shaking her head. “If she doesn’t come grab her shit, I’m gonna lock it in the car.”
Heat crept up my neck as I realized we weren’t going to address the kind gesture.
I knew better than to push Dom on the matter, but I had no clue what to make of the favor.
Maybe our time in Washington had softened her cold heart after all.
Or maybe she realized she’d been too hard on me back in Feverpoint.
Unlikely.
Before Dom could slam the trunk, Leo grabbed Spencer’s bag and threw the strap over her shoulder. “Just let her enjoy the homecoming. After our run in with those freaks, I’m not sure she thought she’d see this place again.”
As Leo said it, I realized I hadn’t been sure either.
And as much as it warmed my heart to be back here, there was a heaviness tugging at the pit of my stomach as well. Something about the house felt different now… exposed.
Beyond the high fences and trees that defended this place, Isaac was still hunting for us — and up until a few days ago, he’d been hot on our trail. And looking at Dom’s furrowed brow, I realized that was exactly what was on her mind.
We couldn’t afford to let our guards down, no matter how safe this place felt.
Now that we were back, I was terrified of what we’d have to do next, of everything that was on the line.
I shook my head and looked back at Spencer rolling around with the dog — I refused to let Dom’s brooding infect my brain.
There would be plenty of time to worry in the coming days.
But for now, for one brief moment, I drew in a deep breath and laughed.
For perhaps the first time in my life, I enjoyed the feeling of finally coming home.