Lenora had never recovered after her little shock therapy incident, or at least not enough to still need these shoes. We’d sent her two towns over to be cared for in her vegetative state, lost in her own head for the rest of her days. Ezra was right, she didn’t deserve the release of death—she deserves to suffer. I seal each monthly cheque to the facility with a kiss and a fuck-you-very-much vibe especially for her—money well spent. The doctors say she’ll never recover, but that her brain function shows she’s alert to the world around her; a fate fitting for her if you ask me. Most of the residents have moved on to other facilities. Crazy Cathy ended up eloping with Clive, living out married life in a remote cottage in the woods—the word around town is that Clive’s mother is still getting used to her new house guest.
With the manor rightfully belonging to Ezra, and his inheritance reinstated, he decided on a new use for the property—one more fitting with what we want to achieve; it meant that a U-Haul of everything Blackwood Asylum stood for was needed, but it’s our home first and foremost.
Murder and mayhem is turning out to be a very lucrative side-hustle; it seems there’s a lot of bad men in the world who need punishing. Thankfully, Ezra is more than willing to take on the task. Top of my list as his second-in-command is to track down the girls Lenora sold and bring them home. I lost Raven’s trail three weeks ago in Budapest, but I won’t give up until I find her.
The clip-clop of horses’ hooves on the gravel driveway pulls our attention over to the pillared entrance of Blackwood; the handler politely asks the foreman to cease work so as not to spook them and the man calls lunch to his workers. Caleb and Cooper stroll out with their bags in hand, shoulder-checking each other as they throw out teasing one-liners, their smiles broad. The balding wheels of a small flatbed truck whine in the distance as the vehicle trundles down the long driveway, reminding me of the day I arrived almost a year ago. It circles around the new water feature we had installed, a brass plaque front and centre commemorating the girls who met their grisly ends under Lenora’s instruction. The tall shapely woman crafted in stone sits on a bench, gazing at a large wolf protective by her side.
A portly man with greying hair, one arm, and less than a handful of teeth in his head stumbles out of the driver seat of the truck, interrupting my thought process. A lanky teenager hops out of the passenger side, and the older of the two blurts instructions for the kid to hook up the box trailer Ezra had ordered in for the twins to transport their horses.
“So, you’re off?” I say as we approach Caleb.
He nods. Ezra takes his bag from him and slings it into the truck bed where Cooper is loading up the feed, vests, and saddles for the horses.
“Do you have a destination in mind yet?” Ezra asks Cooper.
“Hells Haven sounds nice this time of year, don’t you think, brother?” Caleb’s tone is playful, but I recognise the undercurrent of darkness that flickers to life in his question.
“Got to see a man about a girl,” Cooper adds, esoteric motives hidden behind his devilish grin that tells me that’s all the information he’s willing to share.
“Well, we’re here to help if you need us,” I say.
He shuffles forward towards me with his arms outstretched.
The possessive growl that tears from Ezra’s throat has everyone in the vicinity adopting the stance of living statues—even the guys loading up the horses stop what they’re doing.
“And you said you liked your head where it was,” I tease, moving in to hug him, just to see how far I can push Ezra before he snaps. A quick rough fuck to adjust my attitude is exactly what I need, and this is a perfect way to get it.
Cooper, knowing there is no upside to entertaining me and going against Ezra, holds his palm up against my forehead to keep me at bay. I sulk and cross my arms over my chest as I turn to Ezra and huff. Cooper drops his hand and steps back, stroking the white horse’s mane, ready to hop up onto it and ride off into the sunset if he needs to.
After a brief silence, Ezra grins at me and chortles, “Wise man,” as he stalks over and pats Cooper on the back. All signs of his beast gone as the darkness in his gaze dissipates and his mood shifts.
The guys leave with little fanfare, promising to call us if they need help tracking down their mystery girl. Ezra stands tall at my back and loops his arm protectively around my waist. As the truck pulls out of the wrought iron gates at the end of the driveway and turns left, a grey mustang with tinted windows pulls in from the right.
“Anyone would think we’re opening a hotel.”
“That will be my new prospective business partner,” Ezra comments as he dips down and plants a nipping kiss below my ear. The ghost of that sinful grin that tells me that he’s up to no good caressing my skin.
The car glides to a stop outside the main entrance. I wait with quiet curiosity as the engine dies out, and the passenger door swings open. A pair of sleek black heels touch the gravel first, delicate but sure. When she steps out fully into view, the air punches from my lungs.
Ezra dips down and whispers, “Surprise,” in my ear, and I squeal.
A breathless laugh escapes me as I rush forward into her waiting open arms. Her familiar vanilla and cinnamon scent fills my nose as I hug Suzy against my body the best I can, my face buried in her thick auburn waves.
The driver’s side door swings open and out steps her husband Jax. At 6’6, I wonder how he managed to fold himself into the small car in the first place. Tall, dark and murderous – my best friend has a type.
Refusing to let go of Suzy, I turn us so I can face Ezra over Suzy’s shoulder.
“Jax is your new business partner?”
“I’ve heard great things about him, Red.”
I glance back at Jax and note the scowl etched on his face.
“Don’t mind him, he’s pouting—we had to leave his motorbike at home.” Suzy rolls her eyes and stands back, holding me at arm’s length. “Enough about Mr. Moody Pants. How is my niece or nephew doing?” She bends down and runs her palm affectionately over my swollen belly, her ruby red stained lips pressed against the fabric of my summer dress as she whispers something to the baby growing inside me. Standing, she rund her thumb across my cheek affectionately. “Let’s chat nursery decorations over mimosas.”
I smile as we both glance down at my belly.
“I’ll have your share of the champagne,” she giggles heading towards the entrance. “We’ll leave the boys to chat business.” She throws back at me as she readjusts her purse on her arm.
