AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m met with a long pause, and then a deep exhale. “Did you talk to her?”
“Unfortunately. She accosted me at Dad’s grave.”
“Dad’sgrave? What were you doingthere?”
I clear my throat, dread flooding through me as my brain scrambles to change the subject. “Does it matter? The point is, Mom’s here and I have no idea why.”
“There has to be a reason. Something she came back for. No way would she come all the way back here just to see you.” A sharp gasp fills the receiver at the same time my heart plummets into my stomach, and I close my eyes, steeling myself against the truth. “Jules, that’s not what I meant, I’m—”
“It’s fine. You’re right, anyway. Nothing we can do about that.” Clearing my throat a second time, I turn and look out the window as the tree line blurs past. “I just wanted to warn you.”
“Thanks,” she mutters, and I hear a dull female voice call out over an intercom. “Jules, they’re calling me back to this appointment, and you know how they are about cell phones in waiting rooms. If Mom happens to show up at the house, don’t let her in. We don’t need her negativity tainting our air supply. I wish she’d kept her shady ass in Texas.”
Nodding even though she can’t see me, I start my goodbye, but she stops me. “Uh, one thing before I go. I think I saw Kieran Ivers being discharged from here earlier.”
“Discharged? What was wrong with him?”
“Well, Jesus, Juliet. I don’t know, I didn’t ask him; I’m kind of busy carrying around a small horse and peeing every ten seconds. I don’t even know for sure if it’s him, but I know your room’s been suspiciously quiet lately.”
My face scrunches up. “Uh, gross. Are youlisteningto us?”
“Not on purpose! The walls aren’tthatthick, you know. Only our room is sound-proofed. When I’m in Poppy’s room or the office, I can hear every—”
“Christ, okay, I get it. Thanks, pervert.” I click the end call button as she bursts into a fit of giggles, the events of my afternoon dissipating as I consider the fact that Kieran wasdischarged from the hospital.
I lean forward, asking Benito to reroute us one more time. He looks like hereallydoesn’t want to go where I’ve instructed him, but he starts toward the outskirts of town anyway, an ever-obedient guard dog. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I pull up the most recent string of texts with shaking fingers, trying to calm myself.
Selma: Yes, hospitalization is usually serious. Most people, especially in King’s Trace, can’t afford the kind of bill that’d result in.
Me: But being discharged is probably good, right?
Selma: Presumably, although it could just mean they’re unable to do anything more for that person.
Selma: Why? Is everything ok? Caroline and the baby?
Selma: Why are you even asking me this? I’m not a doctor.
Me: I just needed some reassurance and your name was the first to pop up. Thnx, xoxo.
Chewing on my lip as the gothic mansion comes into view, I lock my phone and sit back in my seat, my breathing chaotic. My throat feels tight, restricted, as Benito pulls in front of the concrete stairs leading to the front door of the Ivers mansion, and I’m pushing the door open and rushing them before he’s come to a full stop.
Fisting one of the bronze lion knockers, I bang against the door with every ounce of strength in my body, until my bicep tingles and the pounding resonates between my ears. It opens slowly, revealing Fiona in a denim skirt, a slight smirk stretching her red lips.
“About time.” She steps back and gestures for me to come inside. “Up the stairs, last door on your right.”
I don’t say a word as I book it up the grand staircase, my hand brushing against the solid railing, nerves eating at my insides. The hallway feels endless as I tread down it, one step at a time; my palm connects with the closed wooden door at the end of the hall. It’s not shut all the way, so I push it gently, the sight inside stealing the air from my lungs and putting it back all at once.
Kieran’s jade eyes meet mine, a passionate fury in their depths; they burn me as I cross the room to where he lounges in bed, back against the headboard, shoulder wrapped in gauze and plastic, the skin around the bandages inflamed. Bright red, proof that this devil is still very much human.
“Kitten,” he breathes as my knees graze the edge of the mattress; his arm comes out, beckoning me, but I don’t move.
I can’t. Not yet.
“Did you kill him?”
His eyes narrow, questioning. Head tilts, searching. Recognition flickers in his pupils, but he doesn’t budge. Doesn’t offer me a way out this time. “Did I kill who? You need to be more specific, love.”
Because he’s killed so many people.
