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“Who the fuck is calling?” Damien mumbled and I sighed.
“My mother,” I said and he opened his eyes, curiosity clear as day on his face.
“Answer it.” He said and I shook my head.
“No.” My phone rang out again and I stretched, intent on stumbling my way to the bathroom to shower before dragging my ass to my late shift.
The vibrations started again, and Damien grabbed my phone before I could stop him, grinning as he answered.
“Anya’s phone.” He said and I could hear the muffled voice of my mother through the speaker.
“Yes. She is right here. I’ll get her for you.” He said and I glared at him as he held the phone out, shaking it at me.
“Yes?” I said, slapping his arm.
“Anya. It’s good to hear your voice.” My mother said and I rolled my eyes.
“What do you want?” I said and she inhaled softly, my harshness not something she was used to.
“It’s your father. Austin. He… he had a heart attack and passed away.” She said and guilt rolled through me. Austin had always been good to me.
“Okay,” I said, knowing I was being a stubborn bitch right now.
“Well, the lawyer has said that the ranch has been left to you. We need you to come home, Anya. The fate of the ranch is now up to you.” She said.
I didn’t know what to say. I put her on mute and looked at Damien.
“My stepfather died. He left the ranch to me. They want me to come home to decide its fate.” I said and his eyes widened.
“Say yes. I’ll go with you. That’s a lot of inheritance, Anya. You might not have to work again.” He said and I winced. It wasn’t about money for me.
“Look. I know you don’t want to go but if you don’t at least make an appearance and get all the legal stuff sorted, this won’t go away.” He said and I sighed. He was right.
“Anya?” My mother said and I took her off mute.
“Fine. I’ll be there in two days.” I hung up before she could talk anymore, tossing my phone onto the bed, I walked to the bathroom, a sinking feeling in my stomach.
I guess you could only run from your past for so long before it caught up with you.
Anya Hart was returning to Devils Tooth Ridge but this time I carried my demons with me.
Two
Anya
Damienwhistledaswedrove under the metal arch with Devils Hart Ranch across the front.
“This is the true outback, isn’t it?” He said and I nodded absently, looking at the mountains in the distance that gave this area its name.
Devils Tooth Ridge. We were an eight-hour drive from the big city of Sinclair Bay, nothing but a small country town nearby and the sprawling lands of multiple ranches.
I had grown up on this ranch, a wild child running amongst the animals. I had more animal friends than people, not that I cared.
Once every few months Sergei had brought Mikhail to see us and even as I child I understood that the relationship between him and Mama had been complicated.
Austin had been my father in every way that counts.
As we drove down the long driveway, I watched the horses running in the paddock, the front paddocks had always been reserved for the studs and I noticed there were fewer than usual.
