Chapter 13
CORMAC
It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.
Surprisingly.
When Brenna darted out of the car and into the Halloween store, I was nearly frozen with fear, as much as I don’t want to admit it.
There were so many people, both on the street making their way other places and in the store itself.
Dozens of people.
Dozens of threats.
I know she doesn’t understand why I don’t like to go out, but I wasn’t expecting her to test my word.
The surprising part of it, I guess, was the fact that even though everywhere I looked I could see a threat, a shadow lurking in the corner, a trap, nothing came of it. Instead, it was just the opposite. The people staring at me didn’t look on me with disdain or fear but curiosity and lust.
I’ve never found myself to be attractive; even as a younger kid, I always thought I looked a little bit too much like my mother. Feminine. But the women in that store were looking at me like they wanted to tie me down and have their way with me.
The only reason I recognized the look was because of how Brenna acted. To see her get jealous was a sight. If I wasn’t keenly aware that she would probably cut a woman’s throat if they got too close to me, I’d have played up on her jealousy a little more.
She doesn’t need to be jealous, though. I don’t care how many women look my way; I’ve only got eyes for Brenna.
Now that we are back in the safety of the mansion, though, I’m starting to see the benefits of actually being able to go out and shop.
Or even just to go out and have a good time.
Maybe I truly don’t have to worry about what everyone else thinks of me and what I look like.
I know I can take care of myself and of Brenna. I can keep myself safe.
I sit back in the large chair in the parlor room, my eyes drifting from the flames in the fireplace over to the large statue we just purchased at the store.
I’m sure it doesn’t belong in here, but something about the ghoulish man on the front of the gravestone speaks to me, like it’s a version of myself fighting to be free of the monsters inside.
The fire cracks and pops as if trying to draw my attention back to it.
The atmosphere of the house has changed.
Little by little, I can feel it in my very soul, almost like it doesn’t have as great of a hold on me anymore.
After all these years, it took a force as great as Brenna to help me break free.
I’m not saying I’ll be going on long trips or hikes, but I don’t feel so tethered to the place anymore.
A loud gust of wind howls through the walls, and in the back of my mind I can hear the voice, the same one I’ve tried so hard to ignore. Brenna makes it easier, but the voices never really go away.
“She’ll leave. It’s all a trick. Not real.”
Shutting my eyes tight, I do my best to banish the ghosts. The whispers get louder, and the doubts grow like a bamboo shoot in my gut.
“I figured it out!” Brenna comes storming into the room, determination etched on her face.
In that instant I can’t hear anything but her.
“Figured what out?”
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve been slowly freezing to death.
At first I thought it was because the rooms hadn’t been in use for so long, but I’ve made sure that all the fireplaces were lit, and still it’s like I can’t get this chill out of the house.
I mean, the place is huge but the walls are thick; it shouldn’t feel like we live outside.
” She shakes her head but continues, “I checked all the windows and they are closed tight. Made sure all the doors were sealed up, then just now when another bitter draft slammed into me, threatening to freeze my tits off, I looked up.” She stares at me as if she’s waiting for me to catch on.
I’m not.
“Cormac, there are holes in the roof. It looks like it’s been covered by some type of dark tarp. I counted five in three separate rooms.”
Ah, I did do that. I nod my head. “Yeah, I have to get some new shingling to put up. I have to order it from the hardware store.”
She jerks her head back as if she can’t understand what I’m saying. “Wait, you’ve been living in here with your roof falling down around you?”
“It’s only a few certain spots. I never went into those rooms anyway. I put the tarp up to make sure no water got in.” I shrug. It wasn’t that big of a deal, or at least it wasn’t when it was just me.
“Cormac, it’s almost winter. Can you imagine how cold it’s going to be when the temperature drops?
No amount of fireplaces are going to be able to keep out that cold.
You don’t need to live like this. Can’t we just call the roofer?
I mean, is it a money thing? I know the place is huge and it’s probably going to be a ridiculous amount of money. ”
“No, it’s not a money thing. I just wasn’t... I didn’t want extra people in here,” I admit.
Usually admitting something like this would make me feel weak and vulnerable, but there’s never any judgment from Brenna. Like she understands.
“I get that. Truly I do, but we need to get it fixed. How about this. Why don’t we map out exactly where all the holes are, which rooms, and get a small roofing team in here.
I can take the lead if you’d like. I know some about the trade thanks to my father.
I’ll make it so only one of them is allowed inside the house and they can talk to me.
If it’s something out of my scope or if it involves money, I’ll bring them to you and stay with you.
You never have to see them if you don’t want to.
And I’m sure there’s a professional team who would be able and more than willing to come do this for us on short notice, especially if we sweeten the pot a bit. ”
“Sweeten the pot?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever met a construction crew who wasn’t salivating at the mouth for consistent work. If we offer the crew exclusivity or, better yet, a promise that they will be called for other projects, I’m sure they’ll want to get you on as a client.” Brenna nods her head.
It’s a sound plan, and she’s not lying about needing to get the roof fixed. I’ve been doing patch jobs for years. “I don’t want them ripping off the entire roof. Or something that’s going to take months and months to do.”
“Got it, me neither.” Brenna nods again.
“Also, you don’t need to find me for money questions; as long as you don’t think they are trying to rip us off, spend whatever you need.”
Her eyebrows hitch up high. “Whatever I need? What if they say fifty thousand dollars?”
“Would it be the standard amount?” I question.
“No, that’s outrageous.” She scoffs.
“Then you’ll say no to that, agree to a price you think is right. If it’s fifty thousand, a hundred thousand, a million, whatever amount you think matches the work and supplies needed, do it.”
Her jaw drops, and she mouths the words, “A million fucking dollars.”
She and I have never talked about money, but it’s not an issue for me.
If there is one thing my father has done, it’s make sure he and the entirety of his family are wealthy.
I’ve got stacks of cash hidden away in the house, not to mention what I’ve got in banks and offshore accounts.
With me never leaving or doing anything, I’ve never really had the need to spend the money.
It actually feels good to use it for something useful.
Keeping Brenna warm is as useful as it gets.
“Fucking hell... okay, if you say so. I’m still going to let you know, though.
I just have to.” She flips her hand before reaching down to grab hold of mine.
I’m finding I like these moments when she reaches for me without hesitation.
Only a few weeks ago, she’d rather saw her own hand off than touch me, but now it’s almost as if it’s her new normal.
“Let’s start.” She pulls me in the direction of the first room and points up to a dark patch in the already black ceiling. The only way anyone would be able to notice it is if they watched it for a while. The wind distorts the tarp, causing it to bulge slightly.
For a while, we go from room to room checking the roof for open spaces. I let her know of a few rooms that haven’t actually opened up yet, but there were still issues of leaks. It actually is a much bigger issue than she thought.
I’m so caught up in walking around the house with her that I nearly miss the ringing coming from the in-house line.
“Oh, someone’s here?” Brenna questions as I walk over to the handheld phone and pick it up.
“Yes, Maxim?”
“Good evening, Mr. O’Sullivan. There is a Mr. Hawkley here to see you.”
Mr. Hawkley. I scour my memory, but I don’t recall ever having any dealings with a Mr. Hawkley.
“From where? I don’t know him.”
“One moment, let me verify.” Maxim pulls the phone away, and I hear him talking to someone but can’t make out the words.
Anxiety starts to build at the base of my neck, but I do my best not to let it overtake me. This is my new norm. People are going to start coming here more often.
“Sir?” Maxim comes back on the line. “He says that he works with Dean and your father.”
Dean. The name sours on my tongue.
I don’t know what this is about, but I know for sure my father didn’t send him.
“Send him.” I growl into the phone before I hang up and look to Brenna.
“Go on, keep looking around. I have to handle this.” I don’t want her anywhere around anyone who has anything to do with Dean.
If he is here for trouble, Brenna needs to steer clear.
“You sure?” She puts a hand on my arm and squeezes a bit.
“Yeah, it’s fine. I’ll come find you in a bit.” I flick my hand, dismissing her.
“Alright.” She turns and goes into another room.
I make my way back to the parlor room and wait for this new guest to arrive. The lights flicker, and the gravestone in the corner takes on a more sinister glow. Something is wrong, I can feel it.