Chapter 3
Chapter Three
IVY
I loved a rainy day as much as the next girl. Something about seeing lush green fields glisten and the sky slowly turn dark and spooky gave me thrills. Today though, I loved it more than usual because it offered time away from my overbearing brothers.
“I should have studied something more useful than photography and arts,” I muttered under my breath. Truthfully, I barely passed because I wasn’t good at it all. But scheming and stealing with my girlfriends… Yeah, I was pretty good at that one. After all, it was a team effort with my best friends.
Sitting outside, huddled in a raincoat and boots, I watched the pasture become a muddy mess. When I was a little girl, I loved chasing the sheep, combing my fingers through their wool and assigning them names. Fluffy . Snowball . Whitey . Mr. Beady Eyes . They were my companions until I learned they were only raised to be slaughtered.
The door opened and closed, the sound of heavy boots approaching behind me.
I recognized Bren’s voice. “Where’s Ivy?”
“In her bedroom,” Aemon answered. “What did you find out?”
I stiffened, debating whether I should announce my presence, but before I made up my mind, Caelan started. “Nothing good. Athair really fucked up.”
“Explain,” Aemon demanded, his voice curt.
“He was involved with Sofia Volkov.” I stiffened, pulling the raincoat tighter while curling into myself. “It must have been going on for a while because he had kids… twin girls. With her.”
“ What ?” Aemon bellowed.
“Shut up,” Bren scolded. “I don’t want Ivy hearing this.”
“Who all knows?” my eldest brother asked.
“Not many.” Caelan dipped his chin. “Everything points to Sofia taking him out, but something’s not adding up.”
“What is it?”
“A few things,” Caelan commented. “But mainly… why would she kill him now? Decades of working together and then bang ? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Who knows why that psycho bitch does anything,” Bren spat.
The phone in my pocket buzzed and I fumbled for it, silencing it. I held my breath, waiting for one of my brothers to show up in front of me, but they continued their conversation.
“We have to find Sofia Volkov and end her,” Aemon barked. “Her twins too. We cannot have any connections to the Volkov family.”
Shock slammed through me at his words. We had half-siblings? And he was willing to end their lives without even looking into them? Killing Sofia Volkov I could understand; she’d caused so much pain and destruction. But her daughters…?
My phone buzzed again and I clicked the side button as I glanced at the screen.
Juliette: I want you all to know something.
Wynter: What is it?
I watched the text bubbles appear and then vanish.
Davina: Come on, Jules. Don’t keep us in suspense.
Wynter: Did you set another house on fire?
Me: Good ol’ times.
Oddly enough, Juliette’s reply still hadn’t come through .
Me: Maybe Jules got sidetracked with her husband.
Juliette: I didn’t.
Me: So what did you want us to know?
My brothers’ voices were muffled by the rain, but they were still oblivious to my presence. I stared at the screen, pondering whether I should tell my best friends what I just learned.
Me: I just learned something too.
Not waiting for a reply, I continued typing.
This has to stay between us.
Promise emojis all followed and I sent the next message.
Athair had an affair with Sofia Volkov and she killed him.
*Incoming call on silent*
Juliette: Ivy, pick up the damn phone.
Me: No. I can’t talk.
Wynter: Answer the call so we can have a group FaceTime.
Me: No. I have to go.
I powered off my phone and put it back into my pocket just as hushed voices and footsteps faded into the house.
I jumped to my feet and then started running. Soon, I broke into a sprint, darting into the woods that stretched around the Murphy castle. Before long, I was at the lake, staring out over the misty water, the memories I thought long buried closing in on me.
The sky darkened and thunder rumbled, rattling the earth and pushing the memories forward.
Everything felt the same, except for one thing.
Me.