by Lily White
I ran up the large half circle steps of the library and held my bag over my head to avoid the rain. Heavy drops splattered at my feet now that the sky was opening up.
Just as I made it inside, a chill wind grabbed the door and pulled it from my hand, the grey sky beyond releasing sheets of rain in a fast moving storm.
Surprised it wasn’t snowing yet, I wasn’t about to to grumble about the unusually warm weather. Only a few weeks remained before we were buried beneath the snow.
Feeling bad for dripping over the hardwood floors, I stopped in the bathroom to dry off the best I could with paper towels and emerged to find the quiet library brightly lit down every row of books.
I breathed in the air and laughed to myself. Kendall might hate it, but there was nothing like the scent of a library. In a way, it made me feel like I stepped foot into fiction and fantasy, into history and new worlds just waiting to be explored.
My mother used to bring me here every weekend when I was a kid to read me stories and go on adventures that kept me out of my brother’s hair while he was playing with his friends.
Memory assaulted me, the times I’d cried because I wasn’t old enough to play with Nolan or Soren. Wasn’t big enough to ride around the neighborhood on bikes or explore the forests like they always did.
In many ways, my relationship with Soren never changed because even now I was still crying for entirely different reasons.
Stepping up to the front desk, I waited for the librarian to look up at me, my gaze chasing the strips of silver that adorned her dark hair. When she did, the beaded chain of her glasses tapped against her chin.
“How may I help you?”
“I need to look up a drowning that occurred over ten years ago in Winter Ridge. I was wondering how I would go about doing that.”
“Ah, that won’t be a problem.” It took her a few minutes to push up from her seat, and when I thought she’d lead me in the right direction, she twisted around to point toward the back of the reference section instead.
“There’s a microfiche machine tucked into one of the booths over there. Every issue of Winter Ridge Chronicles has been scanned. All you need to do is use the computer to the right of the machine to type in keywords and it will give you a list of results as to which issue of the paper you’ll need. When you find that, head over to the large file cabinet and the films will be in chronological order.”
Thanking her, I hurried off to do as she said. After only a few different keywords, I located the right paper. Looking at the date, I realized that Emily had died only a few months before we moved here.
It took me a few seconds to figure out how to use the microfiche machine, but eventually the article rolled into view and I scanned what it said.
Sadly, there wasn’t much. Emily Callahan drowned at summer camp while swimming in Grey Lake. The article listed Vaughan’s Funeral Home and the date of her viewing, but nothing else about Soren or the rest of the family.
Unsure why I thought there would be more to the story, I put everything away and left the library with defeat weighing on my shoulders.
What was I looking for anyway? It felt like there should have been an answer to some question I wasn’t asking.
By the time I stepped outside, the rain had let up, but the sun had also dropped below the horizon. Twilight reigned, the sky a wash of dark blues and purple with only a touch of red in the distance.
I searched the parking lot for Kendall’s car, not surprised that she hadn’t returned yet. Shea was famous for taking her damn time getting ready. It looked like I’d be camping out on the steps for a while and I hoped they got here before my big brothers arrived.
To my left, a loud clatter caught my attention and I spun around to find a man I didn’t know. His arm was in sling and he had dropped several books he was having difficulty carrying. The poor guy could barely pick them up.
“Here, let me help you.” I bent over to grab the first book, but then another arm reached around me to sweep it from the ground before I had the chance.
Pushing to my feet, I smiled to see Jonah was here. He placed the books in the strange man’s hands, suspicion rolling behind his grey eyes.
“Do you need help getting those to your car?”
The other man shook his head. Quick to thank both of us, he hobbled off, tossed the books in a tan vehicle and drove away.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” I said. Jonah didn’t stop watching the car until it turned a corner and was gone.
Returning his attention to me, he offered his usual professional grin. “The guy reminded me of someone. That’s all. Nothing for you to worry about.”
Nodding, I scanned the parking lot again, but didn’t se Jonah’s car. “Did you walk here?”
“I’m parked around back.”
“Oh. Well, were you going inside for something?”
He paused, his gaze flicking out to the road before locking on me. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you. Do you have a minute?”
Confusion flooded me. “How did you know I’d be here?”
He looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “I’ve been following you.”
“Why?”
He didn’t get the chance to answer, not before an Escalade roared up, loud music rattling the windows. The doors flew open before the car was fully stopped, Soren and Grady stepping out first before Quinton killed the engine and followed behind them.
“Ah, shit. Looks like little sis is sneaking around trying to get her groove on again. What’s up, Mr. Federal Agent? Long time, no see.”
Leave it to Quinton to make a joke while Soren was staring Jonah down with pure malice behind his eyes.
“Not funny, Quinton.”
“I’m not trying to be, Sis. It’s just that we’re wondering why this asshole keeps stalking after you like you’re some kind of prize. Isn’t she a bit young for you, Jonah?”
Soren climbed the steps and moved me aside to get in Jonah’s face. Praying that he didn’t throw the first punch, I put up a pathetic fight before letting Grady drag me away.
Jonah didn’t say a word while staring Soren down, but it wasn’t like he’d had a chance.
“Why is it every time I give Olive a little space, you’re stepping in like you want her? Is there a reason you happen to know where she is all the time?”
It was impressive that Jonah didn’t flinch at the murderous tone of Soren’s voice.
“Probably because I’m watching her.”
Not liking the sound of that, I kept my mouth shut and waited for more information.
“And why are you watching her, Mr. Vaughan. See something you like?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he took a step back and eyed all three of the guys without revealing his thoughts. It was apparent Jonah wasn’t giving anything away, even when threatened. His gaze flicked to me.
“Can we talk?”
Soren’s shoulder’s rounded at the question and I wasn’t going to start this war again only to have to return home to be interrogated.
“Maybe another time.”
I could tell Jonah wasn’t comfortable with my response, but he didn’t argue about it either. “Another time then.”
Eyeing Soren one last time, Jonah turned to leave and Soren stared after him, not moving a muscle until Jonah was out of view.
“What was that all about?” I asked.
Quinton was the first to speak. “You should get in the car, Olly. We’ve got people coming over and Soren will need a few joints to calm down. Wouldn’t want more shit in your house to get broken if some asshole looks at you the wrong way.”
“But Kendall is on her way-“
“In the car,” Quinton repeated. He tipped his head in Soren’s direction. “Unless you think we should wait and Kendall can explain to him why you’re here all alone.”
I took one look at Soren’s expression and knew Kendall wouldn’t live long enough to explain.
“Fine. I’ll just call her.”
Grady released me and I walked to the car while Quinton walked behind me, his teasing voice low.
“Good idea, Olly. It’s nice to see you’re finally learning your place.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Olive
Hours later and my house had turned into the place to be on a Friday night. Not much had changed. It was just another classless soirée where a bunch of rich kids got together to drink and do drugs, fuck and torture each other for the fun of it.
I tried to avoid it as much as possible, especially because Soren was still pissed off after finding me at the library with Jonah. Several times, I’d gone downstairs expecting to find Camilla in his lap, a joint in her hand, her lips rounded as she exhaled a hit into Soren’s mouth.
It never happened. Each time I walked past the rooms where he was hanging out, he had his usual bevy of female admirers, however none of them had the gorgeous caramel curls and ridiculously perfect body of Camilla.
While walking down the hall, I wasn’t watching where I was going. My shoulder slammed into another girl who spilled her drink on my shoes and then yelled at me for it. It was my fault, I knew that, but still, why was she pissed to have to make another run to the makeshift bar in the kitchen when I was the one walking away smelling like a lush?
Outside, kids were jumping in the pool, mist rising off the surface of the water because Grady had discovered the heater and turned it on despite how much the power would cost. Guessing it wasn’t my problem since they promised to handle the bill, I watched girls swim around half naked, their fake breasts bobbing in the water, while a few exhibitionist couples fucked nearby them.
This was life in Winter Ridge apparently. A constant party full of delusional assholes who have nothing better to do than fuck up their heads and bodies, each one trying to outdo the other by how nasty they could be.
They called it popularity and status, but I thought it was nothing more than a study in Darwinism, nothing but a bunch of stupid idiots who’d were toeing the line between life and death. Sadly, the majority of these dumb fucks would soon be running large corporations or have a hand in politics making decisions that affected the rest of us.
Yippee…
I missed the bubble of youth where you could still believe the world was amazing. Where people told the truth and fairy tales could happen. Becoming an adult was the equivalent of having the blinders ripped off your face to learn that reality really was nothing more than bending over to take it raw dog in the ass without the courtesy of a lubricant.
Well, damn it. Wasn’t I a bundle of joy tonight?
I walked back inside intent to return to my room where I could brood without an audience because it was better to be miserable alone than while watching the world have fun around you.
Passing the family room, I peeked in out of habit. Soren and them sat in the center of a group of people, their heads bent over a makeshift table with white powder cut into lines. With a straw to his nose, Soren inhaled and sat up, his eyes closing as he pinched his nostrils together and passed the straw along.
I wasn’t sure why it surprised me to see what he was doing, or why I got pissed off. But when he opened his eyes again, I caught his stare with mine to deliver a non-verbal lashing that conveyed just how much I hated him in that moment.
He didn’t bother looking away from me when his hand curled over some brunette bitch’s hip so he could tug her down into his lap. And when she ran her mouth up the line of his jaw, he continued staring me down as if in challenge.
What did he expect me to do? Cry and run away? I had more self-esteem than that.
Instead, I waltzed into the room and up to the group, found a spot to stand near Quinton to chat up Chad Huxley for a minute. Chad wasn’t a bad guy, but he was just another one of the assholes with a nice face and decent dark hair. His dad was an investment banker from what I knew, and he lived in a house that put mine to shame.
“What are you all doing?”
Surprised that I was speaking to him, his grin was crooked, his eyes trailing down to my chest and back up. “Having a good time.” He pointed to the drugs on the table. “Want some?”
I felt Quinton go rigid beside me at Chad’s question. Breathing out, I looked down at the table and the white powder spread over it. My eyes then tracked to where Soren was busy making out with what’s her face, her little pink tongue flicking out to lick his ear while he whispered something.
“Sure.” Turning back to Chad, I smiled. Sadly, I had no idea what I was doing. I was never one for drugs or drinking, but maybe that was my problem. Spending an entire life going against the crowd was exhausting.
His smile split his cheeks and it freaked me out a little to see him so quick to walk me down a dark path.
“Here.”
Handing me a straw that had been cut at an angle, he pointed to a thick line to the left. I didn’t want to do this. Not really. And I opened my mouth to tell him never mind, but when I turned, he wasn’t standing there any longer.
A heavy thump against the wall behind me clued me in to where Chad had run off to.
“The fuck you think you’re doing, Huxley?”
Quinton held Chad to the wall with a forearm across his neck and I dropped the straw to race over and break them up.
I didn’t move fast enough, my waist caught by Grady just before he tugged me back and held me in place.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Olly,” he whispered against my ear, not giving much of a damn that Chad’s face had turned a concerning shade of red from lack of air.
“What’s the rule?”
Quinton slammed the back of Chad’s head against the wall and for a moment Chad’s eyes crossed from the pain. “We give you punks five little rules and you go and fuck up right in front of us.”
Five rules? I thought back to that night at the clearing and could only remember four.
“Task,” Soren called out. My head whipped his direction right along with the rest of the people in the room, but unlike them, I didn’t have an expression of malevolent joy on my face.
Every one of them was out for blood, it seemed, and judging by the way Soren shoved the slut aside to stand up and face Chad, they were going to get it.
Quinton released Chad who crumpled on the floor, his hands going to his throat as if his trachea had been crushed. Soren crouched down beside him and grabbed his collar, which did nothing to help Chad’s issue with breathing at that moment.
“Do you think you have the right to invite Olive to do a line when you know good and fucking well she’s off limits? Are you really that nice a guy or are you just trying to get into her pants?”
My eyes widened at his accusation. I had been the one to walk up and invite myself to the circle. Chad was only being nice by including me. And why was I off limits? Was that the fifth rule? One that was apparently unspoken because I didn’t recall hearing it that night in the clearing.
Chad was too busy coughing to answer Soren, his eyes bulging and red. Grady laughed behind me and said, “I think it just makes him stupid.”
Soren grinned. “You still have the rest of that bag left?”
Without giving him the chance to answer, Quinton tapped Chad’s front pocket and pulled out a clear, plastic baggie of the powder. He tossed it to Soren, Chad’s eyes following the exchange, his throat moving slowly as he swallowed.
After flicking the bag with a finger, Soren held it to Chad’s face. “Your task is to take this over to the table and do the whole thing. Line after line until there’s not a speck left for you to offer.”
Everybody in the room starting laughing, but I wasn’t sure why. I glanced back at Grady in silent question.
“It’s a shit ton, Little Sis,” he whispered. “Two lines are enough to keep you up for the night. But an entire bag? That shit will fuck him up for days.”
Or kill him, I thought.
No. I wasn’t going to let this happen. Not when it was my fault they were pissed off at Chad in the first
place.
Breaking Grady’s hold, I stepped forward. “Stop. This is stupid. Don’t make him do this. It was my fault. I came in here and asked to take part.”
“And since when do you do drugs?” Soren’s head slowly turned my way.
I shrugged. “Since today.”
“Liar.”
He stood up and the crowd around him dispersed like water. Holding my ground, I didn’t flinch or move away when he stalked toward me, didn’t blink or beg for his bullshit forgiveness like everybody else in the room would have done.
Tired of the crappy behavior these assholes seemed to enjoy so much, I tilted my chin in defiance and crossed my arms over my chest.
Unfortunately, Soren appeared to like the challenge because his dark eyes glimmered when they locked on mine. Without looking back at the poor kid still struggling to breathe, Soren yelled out, “Chad, table. You have a task to complete.”
“No he doesn’t.” I leaned left to stare down the idiot who actually started getting up to do as he was told. “Don’t move from that spot.”
He kept going anyway because, really, I had no authority in this circle.
I was in full panic mode when he dumped the contents of the bag on the table and grabbed a razor to tap out lines. My eyes locked to Soren’s, desperation to make this shit stop causing me to say something I knew I would regret.
“What do I have to do to make this stop?”
His eyes flickered with triumph and I hated him more for the advantage I knew he’d take. Already knowing the next word that would roll off his cruel lips, I could have said it for him.
“Pledge.”
This was it. The moment of truth.
“Fine.”
His pupils dilated and nostrils flared. I would have thought he was angry if I didn’t know he was enjoying finally backing me into a corner.
“But only if you stop this shit right now.”
Without taking his eyes off of me, Soren said, “Chad. Never mind, man, you’re good.”
Chad looked up from the table. “I am?”
“Yeah, pack up your shit and get out of the house. Make damn sure I never see your face around me again.”