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“I’m just meeting a friend out here for a walk.” My eyes dart down, and I make a quick decision, hitting the call button on Archer’s name. “Actually, they’re calling now.” I take a few more steps back, putting some distance between me and my father.
“Lena, what’s up? Why are you calling so early?” Archer sounds like he might still be in bed, but I’ll feel bad about that later.
“Hey, yeah. I’m already at the clearing in the Fae Woods. Are you still on your way?” My eyes never leave my father as his gaze searches the glen. What is he looking for?
“What’s going on, Lena?” Worry spikes Archer’s voice, but I try to keep my tone level.
“Okay, I’ll see you in a few minutes, then.”
The sound of movement on the other end of the phone follows, and muffled cursing tells me Archer’s moving.
“You’re in the clearing? I’ll be there in less than five minutes. Will you be okay?”
“Yep, I’ll see you soon.” I disconnect the call, even though I know Archer will stay on the line with me until he gets here. I shouldn’t have to be scared of my own dad, and it pisses me off that he can still chase me off like a pesky brat he can’t be bothered with.
“You’re going to tell me what you and your little friends did out here last night.”
“I wasn’t out here. None of us were.” There’s a little more strength in my words this time, and I know it’s because Archer’s on his way.
I don’t know how he does it, but it only takes him four minutes before the crunching of tires on the trail lets me know he’s close. My entire body relaxes, and I want to sag into the ground in relief. He’s here.
Archer leaves his ATV on the path, hopping out and striding across the glen with determined steps. His foot falls on a burnt patch of grass and he falters with a quiet grunt. He looks down at the symbol, and then up at me with confusion. A moment passes before he realizes who’s here with me and the concern on his face morphs into disgust.
“You okay?” Archer murmurs as he comes to my side, his hand falling to the small of my back. I fight a shiver from the contact, feeling silly, but I swear the heat of his hand soaks into my skin, even through my layers.
It looks like I was right, and Archer had been sleeping when I called. He's got a white t-shirt on and a pair of gray sweats. Without his normal button-down shirt on, the tattoos that cover his arms are visible. I can even see hints of the rest of his ink through the thin shirt.
“I’m fine. Let’s go.”
Archer nods and leads me toward his ATV.
“I’m not done with you yet, Magdalena.” My dad whips out my full name, and this time I have to suppress a shudder of revulsion for the man. I can sense how badly he wants to hurt me, almost feel his fists slamming into my ribs and back.
“We’re done here for today,” Archer barks back.
“I’m still the sheriff in town,” my father volleys back, and I swallow thickly.
Men like my dad, Anthony, Archer’s mom, they all think they’re above the law, that nothing can stop them from doing whatever they want. And for years, that power has gone unchecked because they control the inner workings of this island. But the tide is turning. Archer and Davis have been buying up properties for the last handful of years, and have become real players on Wild Haven Island. Just like everywhere else in the world, money talks.
“That’s an elected position, isn’t it, Scott? I’d be careful how you talk to the citizens of Wild Haven. Might come back to bite you someday.”
With that, Archer hurries us into his ATV, nearly launching me into my seat before he hustles around to the other side to get in. I hear shouting from behind us, but Archer already has us turned around and tearing down the path before the words can catch up to us.
Once we’re far enough away that I know my dad can’t catch us on foot, I release a long, weary breath. The only thing that was keeping me from collapsing in that clearing was adrenaline. Now that we’re out of immediate danger, it’s gone. My arms and legs grow unnaturally heavy, and there’s a tremor in my hands as I clasp them together in my lap.
“Lena, talk to me. Are you good?” Archer reaches over and drops a warm hand to the back of my neck. His fingers rub and gently massage my muscles in a way that I’m sure he means to be innocent, but my mind goes straight to the dirty place.
“Yeah. Just…” I don’t even know how to finish that sentence. Just exhausted, scared, angry that Scott Marsten still has the power to make me cower. I give up trying to find the right word and change the subject. “Something burned a giant circle into the ground in the glen. He accused me of doing it.”
“What? Why? That’s weird.”
I shrug, but even that movement feels like a lot of work. It’s exhausting constantly feeling on edge all the time. “He doesn’t really need a reason to blame things on me. That’s just how he operates.”
Archer’s worried gaze falls on me and I close my eyes, so I don’t have to see it. We’re already back at the edge of town. The streets here are mainly for pedestrians. There are no cars allowed on the island, but many locals have ATVs, like Archer. Or they use golf carts and bikes to get to the farther reaches of the island. Some just hop in their boats and use the water to get around.
It’s still early, so Archer doesn’t have to worry about people wandering the streets as he drives me back to my apartment.
“Why did you go out this morning, Lena? Do you think it’s a good idea to be wandering around after everything that happened last night?”
