by Silla Webb
“But you said I should be home reading?” I question, tilting my head to the side in confusion.
“You know that man worries ‘bout ya, beauts. Believe it or not, he worries about Savannah, too. Which is why he called and gave me a heads up about the shit storm that’s about to land.”
Tabby approaches the table with a glass of sweet tea and instinctively Luke orders a double slice of peanut butter fudge cheesecake. We make small talk while we wait for her to return with the pie. Naturally, I get giddy with excitement when she slides the piece of delectably sweet pie in front of us. Pulling it directly in front of me, I lick my lips slowly as I unfold the fork from the napkin ready to dig in. Sliding a forkful of pie in my mouth, I moan around my fork as my eyes drift closed. Oh I’ve missed that taste. Luke reaches across the table with his fork and cuts off a sliver of cheesecake. Before he can lift the fork from the plate I slap his hand, causing him to drop the fork in a clatter.
“Luke Ashton, I don’t know what the hell you’re thinkin’, being bold enough to reach across MY plate trying to snatch a bite of my cheesecake. I’ll cut your damn finger off if it happens again.” I snap, poking my fork in his face. Lifting his hands defensively he chuckles to himself, muttering something about a crazy ass pregnant woman.
“I heard that, jackass.” I frown.
“Beauts, I ordered a double slice so we could share, not so you could hog it all.”
“You ordered a double slice, because I’m eating for two…not my fault you can’t count.” I shrug.
“Alright, you win. Eat ya damn pie and get it all off your chest. We both know that’s what you’re here for, right?” He implies. “I’m worried ‘bout her too, Carly.”
“Am I doing the right thing, Luke?” I ask, chewing on the corner of my lip nervously.
“Should that even be a question? Carly, look at it like this; if it were Drew who had paid that man off to destroy your mines you wouldn’t be second guessing yourself right now, would ya?” I shake my head from side to side. “So what makes Josh special? I’m tickled pink that the son of a bitch is goin’ down, because now we both know that we can protect Savannah easier. Will she be hurt once you tell her everything? I’m sure she will be. But keepin’ secrets can be forgiven, beauts.”
Scrubbing my hands over my face, I shake my head, trying to clear the doubt that clouds my thoughts. Taking a few more bites of pie, I shove the plate in Luke’s direction then pull back a long drink of tea.
“Oh, now you wanna share?” Luke jests, with a wicked smile on his face. He really is the sweetest broken soul you’ll ever come across and I thank God silently for letting our paths cross. He’s held my hand and saw me through many sorrowful nights.
“Lost my appetite. Thanks for the advice, Luke.” Leaning down, I kiss him on the cheek and I can feel the smile splay across his face as a rush of red heat covers his skin.
“Get on now, beauts. I’ll check on ya later.” He calls over his shoulder.
COURAGE:
cour·age noun ˈkər-ij,ˈkə-rij
: the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous
We’ve been home from vacation for a week, and the house has never been quieter. Josh ended up having to make another trip to North Carolina to tie up some loose ends on a business transaction for AHCC. He calls each night to talk to the kids before they go to bed. He said he’d be home by Wednesday, so I counted down the days til his homecoming dreadfully.
I sighed in relief climbing into bed alone last night. Assuming that he was out having celebratory drinks with Drew, a very common event after he travels, I didn’t think twice about his whereabouts as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. He wasn’t here and that’s all that mattered in that moment. When I woke up this morning and his side of the bed was cold, I began to worry. Don’t ask me why. Maybe there is still a small sliver of my heart that cares for him, loves him even, and I hate myself for just the very thought.
I nervously dial his number and my finger hovers over the send button momentarily before pressing it. He’s my husband. I have every right to call and check on him, right? The call goes directly to voicemail. Shrugging it off, I fix the kids breakfast then get them ready for day camp.
Going on about my morning routine, I switch the TV on a morning talk show for background noise while I clean the living room. I dust every nook and cranny, Windex the windows, vacuum the couch and polish the coffee tables. The morning show breaks for commercial and the local news gives an update of the daily headlines. I listen to the news-anchor mindlessly. Sabotage, destruction, charges filed, blah blah blah. Same old crap in small town Kentucky, just a different day. It seems like someone is constantly being caught up in legal trouble that the news piggy backs on. Any story that will sell I guess.
Suddenly, dread fills my bones. Turning towards the TV I see my husband being escorted in handcuffs into the county jail. The news-anchor finishes the brief story and the headline caption across the bottom of the screen reads “Moore charged with malicious criminal damage.”
I grab the remote pressing rewind to catch the full story, hoping to gather all of the facts before I overreact. Listening intently, my heart drops to my stomach and my breath catches in my throat. No. This can’t be true. I will my legs to move to the phone on the entertainment center and dial the only person’s number who can tell me truthfully what’s happening.
When Carly finally arrives a long thirty minutes later, I’ve deduced myself into a crying fit that has my chest heaving roughly in gripping anxiety. I can’t even breathe to tell her what’s upset me, but judging by the look of pity in her eyes she knows.
“Savannah, sit down sweets. We need to talk and what I have to tell you ain’t gonna be easy to hear.” She rubs small circles on my back, reaching me a glass of water. Taking a sip, I pull in a few ragged breaths trying to calm myself down.
“Carly, I’m so confused. Josh didn’t come home last night, then this morning I see him on TV in handcuffs. He was charged with some criminal damage charge. I-I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m really worried. I’ve called Drew and his phone goes straight to voicemail. I called AHCC and the receptionist hangs up as soon as I tell her who I am. What the hell is going on?” I wail.
“Savannah, listen closely and remember that I will always do anything that I can to protect you; which is just what I’ve been doing all this time. Can you do that, Sis?” She asks peering into my blood shot eyes. Nodding slowly, my breathing hiccups in my throat.
“Drew Varney ain’t exactly who you think he is. Yes, he’s Josh’s best friend and he is a competitor for Simon Energy. But it’s deeper than that. Savannah, Daddy hid so many secrets from us all of our lives and I don’t know if he did it to protect us or if he was just that ashamed of the mistakes he made. When I moved home, I was eager to clear everything out of the house that reminded me of Daddy. It was hard losing him, especially since we hadn’t spoken in so long, but I just couldn’t deal with the daily reminders that he was gone. I came across a large oak chest while I was cleaning out his closet.” She huffs a small laugh to herself as she shakes her head and I wonder what she finds so amusing at a time like this. “Oh the skeletons that I found in his closet.” She sings and my annoyance begins to grow stronger.
“Damn it, Carly. Just tell me!” I yell capturing my mouth with my hand quickly, not intending to be so hateful. My nerves are wearing thin.
Carly links her fingers through mine and looks down at our conjoined hands. “Drew Varney. He’s our brother.” Her eyes fall shut and a single tear slides down her cheek. I stare at my sister, awestruck and when a bubble of laughter falls from my lips I know I’ve heard it all now.
“Bullshit.” I laugh in her face. Carly turns around and pulls a slip of paper from her purse. Yellowed and ripped at the seams, she places the paper in my lap and watches me with a careful eye. My heartbeat thuds roughly against my ribcage as I pick the paper up and slowly unfold it. Reading each word over
and over the tears begin to fall.
Betrayal, deceit, hatred. Fury rushes through me and I don’t know what to do with all of the negative energy that flows through my veins. I’ve never felt this way before. My body tingles as a rush of heat slides up my back, but my limbs feel numb and lifeless.
Drew has been a part of our family for as long as I can remember. Almost every memory I have of the last ten years Drew is a part of. Our wedding, the birth of my children, family picnics and dinners. The friendship that he and Josh share is more like a brotherhood and the thought simply makes me want to gag. And I do. My stomach revolts with a twinge of utter disgust. I latch my hand over my mouth and rush into the bathroom, spilling the contents of my stomach in to the shiny white porcelain. Carly brushes my hair out of my face and presses a cool cloth to my neck as I rest my head on the lid of toilet stuck in obvious denial.
What the hell?
That’s the only question I can muster my mind to ask at the moment. I don’t understand how any of this can be possible, but I saw the proof with my very own eyes.
Standing on wobbly legs, I trudge back into the living room taking a seat on the couch. I curl my arms around a pillow, drawing my legs up in my chest, protecting myself instinctively. No, I’m not in harm’s way, not physically; but every word that will fall from her mouth is guaranteed to cut me deeper. “Tell me everything.”
Sitting beside me Carly starts at the beginning telling me about the hidden life insurance policy in the chest, to putting up a fight with James McCoy to learn the truth. She tells me that Drew seeks revenge of our family by trying to extort Simon Energy from her control. I can see the pain in her eyes as she speaks and I know that Carly felt she was protecting me by keeping these secrets. I teeter between fuming rage and sorrow listening to her, my mind twisted up in confusion.
When she tells me about being ran off the road, twice and attacked by Drew I seethe. The anger I feel is terrifying and I can feel my face flame with heat as my blood pressure boils.
“I’m shocked. I can’t believe I was just a pawn; and Daddy knew their plan all this time. Why? He knew Drew was his son, he knew the game they were playing. That son of a bitch knew the kind of monster I was marrying and he did nothing to protect me.” My voice shakes.
“Savannah, it’s so much worse than you can ever imagine. I don’t know if Josh will be arraigned today or not, but there is a good chance. The best thing we can do right now is pack some clothes for you and the kids and get the hell outta dodge. I can fill in the rest of the blanks later.”
“No! I want answers! What do you know about Josh being arrested? Simon Energy was mentioned on the news but I don’t understand the charges he faces and how the mines is connected.”
Sighing, Carly begins to pace the floor in frustration. “He paid a miner off to sabotage Black Ridge, Savannah. But it’s bigger than that, I just don’t have time to sit here and tell you everything. Please, just start packing.” She pleads and the anxiety in her eyes terrifies me.
Springing up off the couch, I go to the hall closet to grab two suitcases and shove one in Carly’s direction. Before we make it to the edge of the steps the back door slams shut. My eyes widen and I stare at Carly with my mouth agape.
“Savannah Marie, where the fuck you at?”
I swallow a lump in my throat as tears sting the back of my eyes. Hearing his voice, just knowing he’s inches from me sends cold chills snaking up my back. Suddenly, I realize it ain’t fear I’m feeling. NO! I’m pissed as hell and strength floods through me urging me to finally stand up and fight back. I drop the suitcase against the hardwood floors and walk over to the bookshelf picking up a tall brass candle holder and gripping it tightly in my hand.
Josh rounds the corner into the foyer and takes in the scene around him. Narrowing his eyes at Carly he grips his fists at his sides and mutters through clenched teeth, “Get the fuck outta my damn house, you fat ass bitch.” Walking past her he glances from the suitcase on the floor to the candle holder in my hand. He tilts his head to the side looking at me strangely before doubling over in laughter. He really is unhinged.
“Goin’ somewhere?” He chuckles as he approaches me. I grit my teeth, widening my feet ready to swing when he’s close within my reach. But Carly makes a stupid mistake, trying to play the hero. Rearing back with all of her might, she co-cocks Josh in the side of the head with so much force she swirls around on the balls of her feet staggering into the wall. “You stupid prick, you’ve hurt her enough!” She yells as she pushes off the wall and swings at him again. Solid as a damn oak tree, he stands firm with each punch she delivers to his face and chest, chuckling with each blow. “I’ll kill you if you touch her again!” She screams landing her fist to the bridge of his nose. Without hesitation, Josh reaches out and latches his steel grip hand around her throat, thrusting her up against the wall. Her eyes widen with fear as she struggles against him.
“Josh PLEASE! She’s pregnant, oh my God, please don’t hurt her.” I beg, but he’s not sympathetic to my pleas. Squeezing her throat tighter in his grip, he shoots me a wicked smile before smashing his fist against her delicate face. He drops her to the floor and steps back, cracking his knuckles.
Taking two wide steps he eyes the candle holder in my hand. I swing at him, but he catches my elbow in his fist, and twists my arm up high behind my back. Searing pain rips through my arm and I bite down on my cheek so hard that I taste bitter metallic as he twists my arm harder. My vision blurs as the hot pain radiates through my shoulder and down my back. Crack! My breathing stops and I fall lifelessly to the floor. I cry out, but my sob is broken as he thrusts the heel of his foot into my ribs repeatedly. Reaching down, he grips my hair in his fist and spits in my face.
“You fuckin’ whore. I told you didn’t I? I hope coal means as much to you as it does your fuckin’ stupid sister because you’re both about to be buried deep in the shit.” He whispers against my cheek. I see movement from the corner of my eye and Josh suddenly falls over top of me. His head snaps to the side and he stares up at Carly as confusion washes over his face. Stumbling up to his feet, he rubs his head swaying dizzily as Carly tries to shove him backwards.
“RUN SAVANNAH!” She yells. I try to force myself to my feet, but my body screams in protest. My right arm hangs limply at my side, and each breath I take feels like fire roils through my chest. I scoot to the corner and pull my cell phone from my pocket to call for help. Josh’s main attention is on Carly and I don’t have time waste. I can’t let him hurt her, but I have to call for help before he kills up both.
I scan through my contacts and my hand shakes nervously as I search for Colton’s number. Pressing send, it rings a few times before going to voicemail. A piercing shriek bellows through the foyer followed by a thud that shakes the wall. Thinking quickly, I dial Luke’s number and as soon as he answers I yell, “HELP!” Dropping the phone I look up in sheer terror at the monster approaching me. Clutching his hands around my throat he lifts me up to eye level, my feet dangling beneath me.
“Say goodnight, beautiful. ‘Cause you’re about to check the fuck out.” He fumes before crashing his lips against mine, kissing me with anger laced passion. This kiss terrifies me. I fight against him, clawing at his face as bile crawls up my throat as his tongue swirls against mine. He bites down on my lip drawing the blood almost instantly, then tears away quickly. He thrusts me up against the wall with so much force that my vision clouds and my eyes roll back. Crashing his fist into the side of my face, my breath stills in my chest as the world falls black around me.
Chapter 33
I pace the hospital floors impatiently waitin’ for anybody to let me know how Savannah and Carly are doin’. I’ve begged and pleaded with the nurse every way I know how, but since I’m not family they can’t release any information. As soon as I saw Savannah’s name flash across the screen of my phone, I knew she was in trouble, but I wasn’t prepared for what I walked into. Seein’ Savannah and Carly laying in two lifeles
s heaps against the hardwood floor nearly ripped my heart from my chest and it’s a memory seared so deep into my brain it will haunt me forever.
Colton rushes through the hallway of the hospital leaving a trail of grainy, black soot in his wake. I sigh in relief seein’ him enter the hospital. He was underground when this shit happened. Nearly knocking me over as he stumbles into me, he grips my shirt in his hands as his empty eyes plead with me. He’s silently searching my face for answers, answers I wish like hell I had. I open my mouth to speak, but the words escape me. Releasing my shirt he steps backwards and rakes his hand through his hair in obvious frustration, a loud tortured cry rattling its way out of his chest. Scrubbin’ his face with his hand, I can see the waves of emotions rollin’ through him. I can’t just stand back and watch him crumble like this.
Claspin’ my hand over his shoulder, I gauge his reaction before pullin’ him into a hug, tryin’ to offer him the strength that he needs. Holdin’ onto me for a brief moment, he pats my back then releases me before steppin’ over to the nurses’ station. I can’t sit still, so I continue to pace the floor keepin’ a close eye on Colton. He barks out at the nurse then punches the top of the counter before stompin’ past me and out the double doors.
I give him a few minutes alone to compose himself before goin’ out to check on him. He’s sittin’ on a bench holdin’ his head in his hands. I take a seat beside him and remain quiet while he sulks. Minutes pass before he finally looks up and the misery that yells from his dark eyes is frightening.
“I’ll kill him. You know that.” He spits through clenched teeth, grippin’ his fists together tightly on his thighs.
“Man, focus on Carly. Let the police handle Josh.” I warn him shakin’ my head. I know he’s pissed, but he ain’t thinkin’ with a clear head. “Think about your family, Colton, before you go off half-cocked.” He stands up, stretches his arms over his head then rolls his head from side to side. I mock his stance, meetin’ him toe to toe.
