Jen reaches over and squeezes my knee. “Welcome home, Calliope.”
As we drive down the dusty road to the house, I take it in. Corvis Wing has been just as affected as the rest of Crowhurst, if not more so. Hell, it looks like some gothic mansion from one of my twisted fairy tale books, not like the cattle ranch it once was. I smile when I see the porch swing is still there, waiting for me to curl up on it with a book.
“I’m not gonna lie, this place is not what I expected. It sure as heck doesn’t look like it did in the pictures.”
I don’t speak. My throat clogs with emotions as we park outside the house. Despite what Shepard said, I can’t just sit here. I feel compelled to move. I get out and stare up at the house, feeling swamped with emotion—emotion I’m not sure is all mine.
The sheriff’s cruiser pulls up. When his door opens and footsteps move toward me, I brace for his anger. Instead, hestands beside me and looks at the house that was both my castle and my dungeon over the years.
“How does it feel?” The hat casts a shadow over his face, giving him an air of mystery despite his open expression.
“To be back, or to see how the place has fallen into disrepair?”
“I don’t know. Both, perhaps.”
Before I can answer, the sound of horses’ hooves gallops toward us. Shepard steps in front of me, blocking my view for a moment until the horses stop.
“What are you doing here?” the voice rasps. Though I haven’t heard it in over a decade, it might as well have been yesterday. I find it impossible to believe nobody else has recognized it. I suppose the eyes will only see what the brain lets it. As far as everyone else is concerned, Martin Hart is dead.
“You were told you needed to vacate this property. When Mrs. Banks here told me you wouldn’t listen, I told her she was wrong. I hate it when people make liars out of me, Porter.”
“You cannot just kick us out. There are laws. You should know that,” my father snaps at him.
I expected my fear to swamp me when I saw him again. Old habits die hard after all, and fear is the hardest shackle to break free from, but all I feel is pissed. So fucking pissed that it’s taking everything I have not to set fire to this asshole right here and right now, police department be damned.
“I can assure you, legally, we are well within our rights to evict you. And if you don’t get off this land in the next five minutes, I’m going to have this lovely sheriff remove you himself,” Jen snaps.
“I don’t know who you are, lady, but you have no authority here.”
Fuck this. I step aside so I’m no longer hidden by the sheriff and step up beside him. His arm brushes against mine. Thewarmth seeping through his shirt grounds me as I stare up at a man who’s had so much work done, he really does look like a perfect stranger. But those fucking eyes make a mockery of both of us, especially as they were the only thing I got from him.
I could pretend innocence, and I will to an extent, but being the good girl never did me any favors. This town wanted to paint me as the villain. Well, now they get to reap what they sowed. Starting with him.
“No, she doesn’t have authority, but I do. This is my property, and you’re not welcome here anymore.”
Porter’s mouth drops open, his tanned face paling as recognition freezes him in place. Let the games begin.
“Calliope?”
“I’m sorry, but do I know you? You look kind of familiar.”
His expression shuts down into a blank stare I’m all too familiar with.
“No, but your father told me all about you.”
“He did? Did he tell you how he liked to beat me until I passed out? How my blood decorated every corner of this house long before his ever did? Did he tell you how many bones he broke or how I’ve had more stitches than a patchwork doll?”
Silence wraps around us. It’s as if everyone has taken a collective breath in shock.
I look around and shrug. “What? It was never a secret. The whole town knew. Isn’t that right?” I look over at the former sheriff’s son, who has the audacity to look away. Prick.
My father’s face turns red with anger. “He told me you were a murderer and a liar,” he hisses, making me laugh. I see one of the cops reach for his gun as tensions brew. I’m trusting the sheriff to keep his men in check, at least for now.
“My father told you I was a murderer before I killed him? Or can you speak to the dead, as well as out of your ass?”
Jen snorts as my father slides down off his horse. “You insolent little bitch.” He moves closer only to find Shepard right in front of him.
I swear I didn’t even see the guy move. “You don’t want to do whatever it is you’re thinking, Porter. I really don’t like bullies.”
