Page 53 of Legacy

“I’m much smarter than you give me credit for.”

Of that, I had no doubt. He was conniving and cruel but brilliant in some ways. There had to be a reason that so many were drawn to him.

I hated this man with every ounce of my soul, but I needed him out of my house. Just having him breathing the same air as me felt as if it were tainting everything in its path.

“Fine,” I lied.

Dad snorted. “You always were a shitty liar. Just be better at it. I would hate for something to happen.” His gaze went across the street once again, and it took everything within me not to murder the man.

But I would not become him. No matter how much I ached to do so.

With a sigh, I stomped towards the door and opened it, gesturing for him to leave. “Go. You said your piece.”

“Yes, I suppose I did. Have fun. If you know what I mean.”

With that, he strolled down to his ancient sedan, got behind the wheel, and sped out of the neighborhood.

Hands on my hips, I was just grateful the man was sober. At least for now. I didn’t need him killing anybody on the fucking roads.

Before I could calm down, the moving truck made its way down the street, and I cursed. Well, it seemed the day was just going to be an endless day of what-the-fuck.

I quickly grabbed the box I had been packing, closed the door behind me, and made my way to Felicity’s new home. She’d signed on the dotted line, and the owners were damn happy to have her.

They’d watched her grow up from afar, even when I’d been out of town, finding my own way, and were glad she was back.

And now I was going to make sure that she was absolutely safe.

Felicity hopped out of her car since she had been following the truck, and grinned.

“Are you ready? I’m about to use your muscles.”

She wore tight jeans with holes at the knees and one at the thigh, double tank tops, and a light jacket, but the effect just made her tits stand out even more. She pulled her hair back from her face, and it was all I could do not to tug on that ponytail, bend her over something, and see exactly how she tasted everywhere.

I was a bad man.

“Let’s do it since apparently that’s all I’m good for.”

She smirked but didn’t say a damn thing. Thankfully, Rune came forward and gestured towards the truck.

“Come on, come on, help me get this over with. She has way too much shit for someone who’s never lived in a house by herself.”

“Excuse me, most of it is books. You know that I love books.”

“Of course, it’s books. It can’t be something like pillows. Why can’t you like pillows?” Rune teased.

“Don’t worry, darling, we’re going to make sure you get tons of throw pillows as well. I want my baby girl to have the best home,” Mrs. Carter said. Then she looked at me and beamed. “Callum. My boy.” She hugged me tightly, and I kept the box out of reach, using one arm to hug her back. She smelled of cinnamon and Mom, and I loved this woman.

“It’s good to see you, Mrs. Carter.”

“You know I keep asking you to call me by my first name.”

“And you know if I do, your husband will smack me upside the head.”

“Damn straight,” Mr. Carter said, grinning. He was just as sturdy and wide as he had been as an active firefighter, though I knew his joints didn’t move exactly the way that they once had. Whenever he met my gaze, though, a shadow always passed his eyes, and I knew what he remembered.

The time he’d been too slow. At least in his mind. The time he hadn’t saved them all.

It was the same look that Thatcher gave me and Bodhi or any of the Ashfords when they thought we weren’t looking.