2
THEA
“Damn it!” I smack the top of the dashboard, hoping the heat will kick on. Figures. As soon as a cold front comes through, the heat would go out. Thankfully, I’m wearing the designer knit sweater Damian gifted me as soon as the mornings started getting colder.
I don’t know how I’m going to keep Wes from pestering me about getting a new car now. He’s been dropping hints the last few weeks and even tried to drag me to the dealership. I insisted that it wasn’t necessary. I love my old girl.
But with winter approaching in a couple of months, I’m not sure I can survive the brutal cold. My pride might have to take a back seat. I’ve never had a new car. I don’t even know what I’d want or what I can afford, although I doubt they’d let me pay for it.
Maybe I can use Damian’s agreement to buy the property as leverage to pay for my own car. That’s a whole other problem.
I thought asking him would only require humbling myself. Damian had other ideas. His request to have me whenever… wherever, was unexpected. But at least he didn’t ask to be connected to mine and Cassie’s business. That was a relief. So I did what I had to. I accepted.
Damian already holds so much control over me. He always has. Something about him makes me want to push his buttons, defy him, but once I do, I melt into him like snow under the heat of the sun.
Although, it’s not only his presence that makes it feel like he has control over me. I live in his house. I eat the food he buys. He’s taken it upon himself to pay my portion of my photography studio rent, my phone bill, and the insurance on my truck. All of it without asking.
I haven’t even questioned him about how he managed to get access to my accounts. I know the only answer I’ll get is a devious smirk.
Now he has my body at his command as well. I wish I could say that I hate him for it. I don’t. Instead, my skin is hot and my thoughts are racing, wondering about our first encounter. How will he surprise me? Where will it be? Will I like it?
That’s an idiotic question. Of course I’ll like it. I’ll love it, even. Just the idea of it has my body reacting. I push the thoughts from my head as I turn the wheel and downtown Willow Hill creeps into view.
The vibrance of summer greenery has dulled and bursts of orange and red have slowly overtaken the trees in town. This is my favorite time of year. The crisp, cool air. Warm cider. Halloween. All things that warm my soul. Well, it would if I wasn’t so worried about what’s been lurking in the shadows. Or rather, who.
Cole.
Weeks of letters and visits from my silent tormentor. Weeks of him watching me and letting me know that I’m not free of him. Maybe I never will be. I wonder if he’ll do this until he’s driven me insane. It’s possible.
The paranoia, panic attacks, and anxiety make functioning difficult. The exhaustion of wearing this mask in front of everyone so they don’t see what I’m hiding isn’t helping. I hardly sleep. When I do, it’s restless and filled with nightmares. The only ounce of relief is when I sleep in Damian, Wes, or Sutton’s rooms.
This morning I found the tiny hidden camera Cole planted in my room. Now I know how he’s been able to know exactly when I’m in my bed.
There’s no sanctuary or safe place for me in that house. Between Damian’s cameras for my protection and Cole’s camera, I feel like I’m walking on eggshells. Always on alert that something I do will be my downfall.
I turn onto Main Street. People wrapped in scarves and sipping coffee should bring me some kind of familiar comfort. It doesn’t. My eyes scan the streets for him. Even if I can’t see him, he’s always watching—that much I know.
I thought about destroying Cole’s camera. However, if I do, I know that he’ll just find a better hiding place. I’ve thought about telling Damian what’s going on, but that isn’t an option. Damian thinks his brother is dead or far from here. If he knew the truth, he’d kill Cole.
Not that he doesn’t deserve to die. He absolutely does. But it shouldn’t be at the hands of his brothers.
They’ve spilled enough blood for me. Rob and Matt were plenty. I’m not sure what killing one of their own would do to them, and I’m not willing to find out. I’d been so close to doing it myself. I still haven’t figured out how he fucking survived that corkscrew.
But it doesn’t matter. All that does is that he did.
I need to figure out how to take him out—without anyone knowing. They need to think that he died that day at the cabin. I just don’t know how I’m going to do this, mentally or physically. But I have to. It’s my turn to prove that I’m in this as much as they are. As they’ve mentioned, the only way out is death, so Cole has to die.
The studio comes into view and I pull into my parking spot. Before getting out, I send a quick text to the group chat.
Me: At work. I’ll let you know when I leave.
I don’t love the fact that I have to report to them, but it was one of the few ways to convince Damian to let me come back to work by myself. Taking a deep breath and gathering my new satchel, I head inside, prepared for a long day.
The pact’s threat of death has been heavy on my mind lately. One thought has plagued me greatly. Victoria. She dated them years ago. They said she left. Wesley went into depression over it. But did she actually leave? Or did she meet an early grave because she knew too much and didn’t want to stay?
The thought sends a shiver down my spine.
Is death my only way out? I ask myself this every day.
I wipe my brow. It may be chilly outside, but inside the studio and after five back-to-back clients, I’m sweating. I shed my sweater hours ago, but I’m still running hot.
“These are going to be stunning,” I reassure my client. She’s been my easiest of the day—effortlessly confident and posing like she’s modeled for years. I love empowering my clients, but lately I’m exhausted and don’t have the enthusiasm I used to. “Let’s get you changed and on your way.” My phone shows it’s just after six.
I wait for her to change and walk her to the door before locking it. From down the hall, I hear Cassie starting the washer. It’s the perfect distraction and loud enough that I can get away with what I need to do.
Ducking into the bathroom, I lock the door behind me and gently place the stool in the spot I’ve memorized. I step up, pushing my hand against the square ceiling tile until it gives way and I can slide it over a few inches.
My hand disappears into the darkness, feeling around for the little wooden box. When I find it, I take it down and open the hinged lid. Inside are four of Cole’s letters. Pulling the fifth from my pocket, I put it in the box, then set it back in its hiding spot.
As I slide the ceiling tile back into place, a loud rap at the bathroom door makes me lose my balance. I catch myself and steady my voice. “Out in a minute.” I tuck the stool away, flush the toilet and wash my hands to avoid any suspicion.
Opening the door, I find the hallway empty. In the waiting area, Cassie’s behind the desk, tapping away on the tablet.
“Hey. Long ass day, huh?” She asks without looking up. Her highlighted brown hair is thrown into a slicked back ponytail. Even after a long day of work, she somehow looks impeccably polished.
Meanwhile, my shirt’s now a crop top since knotting it and my dark hair is in a messy bun with strands poking out in every which way.
“Mhm,” I answer as I plop down in one of the oversized armchairs. Out the studio window, I take in the sights of the newly decorated town. Pumpkins of all sizes sit in front of the shops. Garlands of fake autumn leaves climb the lamp poles. Wreaths of orange, yellow, and red hang on some of the shop doors.
“You okay?”
Cassie stares out the window in the same direction as me and then meets my gaze. I want to tell her that beyond the beauty of all the fall touches that would normally make me giddy, I’m searching for him. But I can’t. I can’t tell her that.
“Yeah, I just love all of this. It’s my favorite time of year,” I say with a smile. She sits across from me and I turn the conversation in another direction. “I have some good news.” The eagerness I want to touch my voice barely comes through. It’s enough though. She doesn’t seem to notice.
Cassie leans forward, her dark eyes widening in anticipation.
“Damian put an offer in on Olive Way. We’re getting our property!” I add a little extra excitement because that’s what I should do. I should be excited. “Well, as long as they accept. But it’s Damian, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t.”
Her jaw drops. I watch as shock spreads over her face, followed by joy. That does something to me. Warmth touches my heart for the first time in a while. “Are you serious? Are you fucking kidding me, Thea?” She jumps up, waiting for me to confirm. I nod. “Oh my God!”
Cassie throws her arms around me and hugs me tighter than she ever has. My chest stutters and wetness brims my eyes, but I force it back. I can’t break down. Not even for the good things. I have to stay strong.
“He didn’t have to do that. Why did he do that?” She questions suspiciously.
I shrug. “Because I asked him to.”
Her eyes narrow. “And do we have to give him anything in return? A piece of the business?” Cass likes her control. I know she might accept the property even if Damian was tied to it. However, she wouldn’t like it.
“Nothing,” I lie with a convincing smile.
Cassie gasps, startling me. “Would it be crazy if we had the wedding there? Instead of the winery we were looking at.”
Now, I give her a genuine grin. “Not crazy at all. Your wedding should be the first of many we have there.” I watch as a million emotions play over her face until I recognize the one I know best. Determination.
“We have a lot of work to do.”