CHAPTER TWELVE
“So, as a child, you knew you could hear animals?” asked Zane.
“I did but my mother told me not to tell anyone or they’d think I was crazy. It was hard hearing their cries for help, or just their conversations and not being able to tell anyone. Ironically, my stepfather encouraged me to explore it.”
“But you didn’t,” frowned Zane.
“No. I can’t really explain why I didn’t.
It was just this feeling that I didn’t want him to know that piece of me.
I remember sitting in the front yard with the neighbors dog who was complaining about his food and how it made his stomach hurt,” she smirked.
“It was actually kind of funny. He would get gas and then the owner would get mad that he made the whole house smell.” Zane burst into laughter shaking his head.
“Did you help him?”
“Not really. I put some coupons in the neighbors mailbox for a different kind of food but I don’t think she took the hint.
Anyway, I was always on the front lawn with the dog but I could feel Josh, my stepfather, behind me on the porch, watching every move I made.
After a while, it was just easier for me to ignore it, push it all aside. ”
“You once said that your stepfather was seen as a good man to everyone in the community, but he didn’t treat you kindly. Is this why?”
“I’m pretty sure, yes. He wanted me to tell everyone about what I could do. He said I could help people but my mother was adamant that I wasn’t supposed to talk about it. She took the hits for me.”
“He never hit you?” asked Zane.
“No, he was more into verbal abuse. He’d make fun of my red hair, my freckles, everything.”
“For the record, I love your red hair,” said Zane reaching out to touch her long tendrils.
“For the record, I love when you touch my hair,” she smiled, whispering as she moved closer to touch his lips. It was a soft, innocent kiss at first but progressed into something much, much more.
Zane pulled her onto his lap, tasting her, feeling her curves mold into him. That beautiful sundress was revealing all that she was and he wanted to rip it to shreds. The knock on the door made them both pull back, flushed and breathless.
She stood, staring down at his lap and grinned.
“Maybe I should answer the door while I give you a minute,” she smiled.
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.” Blake opened the door to see Tanner and AJ standing there with a phone in their hands.
“Hi,” she smiled.
“Hey, Blake, sorry for the interruption. We’ve been working on your phone since you got here, making sure you weren’t being tracked and of course loading our securities to it.”
“Yes, thank you,” she said reaching for it. Except neither man was willing to hand it to her. That brought Zane’s attention back to normal.
“What’s wrong?” he frowned.
“Someone from this number keeps calling the phone. They don’t say anything except, “it’s me – pick up”, and then they hang up.” They played the voicemail and Blake listened, swallowing hard. “Do you know who it is?”
“Y-yes. It’s my stepfather, Joshua. I thought he was dead.”
“Why did you think that?” asked Tanner.
“I-I don’t know to be honest. My mom died about five years ago, just as I was starting college. He sold their tiny house and just disappeared. He called a few times for money and I refused. I didn’t hear from him at all after that.”
“He wants something from you,” said AJ.
“Should I call him back?” she asked. From behind AJ and Tanner, she heard a chorus of ‘yes’. Ham, Cowboy, and Gator stared at her. Blake only nodded as Tanner pushed the call back button.
“Hello?” said the tired voice on the other end of the line.
“Josh? It’s Blake. You’ve been calling me.”
“Fuck yeah, I have. Why didn’t you answer?”
“I’ve been busy,” she said. “I’m working and doing some traveling.” The others nodded at her quick thinking and waited.
“Where? Where are you and where are you working?”
“That’s none of your business, Josh. I’m an adult and I have my own life. I don’t know what you want but I’m not interested.”
“You need to get interested. I helped raise your redheaded ass you need to do me a favor.”
“I hardly think what you did was ‘raise’ me. You were there and helped mom pay bills but you definitely were not a father to me. I don’t owe you anything,” she said firmly. Zane gave her free hand a squeeze, nodding his appreciation to her response.
“Listen to me, Blake. You need to do me a favor. You owe me whether you think you do or not. I want to know where you are and I’ll come and meet you there. I’m desperate, kid. I need this.”
Blake stared at the others, watching as Ham wrote something on a piece of paper and held it up.
Tell him u will txt him a location.
“Fine. I’ll text you a location and time.”
“Great. Thanks kid.”
The call ended and Blake looked at the men inside the cottage. She took a seat at the kitchen table and shook her head.
“This makes no sense to me at all. Why is he calling me? I haven’t seen him since I left for college.”
“He wants something from you,” said Zane, “and I don’t know why I feel this way but I have a feeling it has something to do with you being able to speak to animals.”
“Why would he want that? I can’t do anything with that skill.
I won’t show anyone the skill, outside of all of you.
I have no inheritance, no trust fund, no money of any kind other than what I’ve personally earned.
His name was on the house and property, which he sold the minute my mom died.
I just don’t understand.” Ham stared at the young woman, feeling her confusion in the room of testosterone.
“Well, we’re going to find out what it is he wants and you won’t be alone.”