“I’m so sorry,” she replied. She bent her knees into a squat and picked up my keys from the floor. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I really didn’t.”
“How did you get in?” I asked. My heart was beating fast. “I should call the police.”
Virginia shook her head. “No. That’s not necessary. I’m sorry I startled you. It was important I not be seen. I wasn’t sure when your shift ended.”
I put my hand out and her own brushed against mine as she handed me my lanyard the keys were attached to. “You should have just come back later. You broke into my home. How did you get in? Am I going to have to fix a window or something, because my landlord will probably kick me out, if that’s the case. And that’s the last thing I need.”
I was angry and confused. What kind of entitlement she had! Typical rich Charleston lady. They thought they had the right to be anywhere they wanted to be, laws be damned.
“I promise, nothing was broken,” she assured me. “Your landlord actually let me in himself. I told him I was a friend of yours.”
“And he bought that?” I asked. “That’s messed up. He can’t just let people into my place. Shit. I’m going to need to find somewhere else to live. I’ll never feel safe now.”
I was trembling a bit, but at least it appeared I wasn’t in any sort of danger. But what did she want?
I walked over to my micro fridge and pulled out a water. I could feel her eyes following me. She sat back down on my davenport as I opened the bottle and took a long swig.
“Wow,” I said, sarcasm stinging my tongue. “Make yourself at home, why don’t you?”
Virginia sighed. It wasn’t the exasperated kind. It was the kind where someone has something they have to say and they’re not sure how to say it.
“I know, this is so invasive,” she said. “I didn’t want it to go this way, but recent events have had to speed up things a bit.”
“What are you talking about?” I shut the fridge with the heel of my foot. “I don’t even know you.”
“You remember me though,” she said, in a tone that told me she didn’t question my knowledge or memory. She was very sure of this fact. It bothered me how assured she was.
“I mean, you look familiar,” I replied. I never liked to show my cards. Sometimes playing dumb can be the smartest thing to do.
She smiled. “It’s okay, Briar. I promise you, I mean you no harm. But others do. That’s why I’m here.”
I rolled my eyes. “And who would care about me? I mean if you actually knew me, you’d know that couldn’t possibly be true.” I paused, a thought hitting me. “You’re not related to Marla Muchow, are you?”
Virginia shook her head. “No, certainly not.”
“Well, that’s the only person I can think of who would want to harm me. And maybe my 10th grade English teacher who tried to blackmail me into letting him feel me up to get a better grade on my Silas Marner paper. I’m guessing he winces and grabs his balls every time he thinks of me after my knee to his groin gave him my response to that proposition.”
Virginia chuckled a bit. “Oh, Briar. You are truly something. You always have been.”
I stared at her, my eyes narrowing.
Okay. This wasn’t cute anymore.
“Are you trying to mess with me?” I asked, walking toward her. “Because I don’t need this bullshit. You don’t know crap about me. Nobody does. So if this is some sick joke— “
Virginia put her hands up. “Never, Briar. I would never hurt you. That’s what I’m trying to say. I’m here to protect you.”
“From what?” I spit out angrily. “I could have used protection a long time ago. But no one came for me. So I protect myself. If someone is planning to hurt me or screw with me, I can handle it. So please. Go.”
I turned from her and walked toward my door.
“You’re Briar Givhans,” she said. “You were two years old when I had to leave you. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Not a minute goes by when I don’t think of you.”
I turned to her, shocked to my very core.
“Are you…” I said.
“It’s complicated,” she replied. “I know that’s not fair to say, but it is. There is so much to your story, Briar. And its finally time for you to know it. But I don’t have a lot of time here. I wasn’t kidding when I said there are others who wish you harm. We need to leave here as soon as possible.”
I pushed my back against the wall next to my stairs and slid down to the floor.
“Why didn’t you take me?” I asked. “When you came to the home? Months ago? Why now? And why should I trust you? You abandoned me.” I was trying my hardest not to cry. I could feel my lower lip quivering. I bit down on it to stop.
“I was going to,” she said. “But before I could, I was told it wasn’t safe. That I was being watched. I had to pretend I hadn’t found you. And that I didn’t know where you were. To protect you.”
She walked over to me and I could see genuine sadness in her eyes. She was so exquisitely beautiful. Yet something was different about her. She almost seemed like she could be from another time.
I shook my head. I couldn’t allow her to charm me. If that’s what she was doing.
“That doesn’t make a damn lick of sense,” I said. “And I’m not going with you. I don’t care who’s coming for me or why the hell they’d want anything to do with me. I’d never want anything to do with whoever left me to rot in Goose Creek. Never.”
Virginia nodded. “I understand that. I respect it. But I know more than you know. And it’s my job to make sure you’re safe. So if you won’t go of your free will, I will have to make you come with me. It’s not what I want to do though, just so we’re clear. I don’t ever want to make you do anything. But in this case, since it’s about your safety, I will be forced to.”
Her eyes were pleading. “Do not make me do that, Briar. Please.”
Why should I show her any mercy? Besides, I was curious how she’d ever make me go anywhere I didn’t want to go.
Before I could say anything, she sighed.
“It’s not about showing me mercy,” she said. “And if you’re curious to know how I can do it; I can show you.”
Before I could ask her how the hell she could know what I was thinking, everything went black.
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Acknowledgments
This project has been a long time coming. First, I want to thank the readers who have been passionate about the Belles and who have also been so patient with me as I get their story just right. I write this for all of you. Thanks for giving me a chance. I can’t wait to give you more stories about these amazing women.
I would not be where I am without the help of my friends. I am fortunate enough to be close with some amazing authors who root me on and constantly encourage me. Author friends are truly a must in a business that can feel so isolating. Thank you to Linsey Hall, Augusta Blythe, Frankie Love, Jenn Falls, Boyd Craven, Wayne Stinnett, DK Holmberg, Jenna Wolfhart, Abby Brooks, Tammi Labrecque, CN Crawford, Max Lockwood, Liz Burleson, Lee Dobbins, Angela Mizell and the whole of IAC. I am sure I am forgetting someone, but I hope not. I absolutely would not have been able to get this project done without author friends. Thank you also to NINC for being the conference where I met some of these beautiful people. NINC changed my author life and I can never thank the organization enough simply for existing. Soulmates aren’t just for romance. They’re for friendships too, and I am lucky to have found many of my soulmates through writing this series.
To my husband, Greg. Oh, my darling. I wouldn’t have any of this without you. You are an author’s dream spouse. You’re just anyone’s dream spouse really, and I can’t believe how lucky I am that you somehow picked me. I love you for all time.
And finally to Charleston. You’re a city that haunted my dreams from the first time I visited you when I w
as 19 years old. You are the main character of this series in many ways and I will never tire of all the stories and legends that live in your history and memory.
I am blessed beyond measure. Thank you.
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