The Butterfly Box_A SASS Anthology

by Anthology

  “I wonder what it is like now that he’s all grown up.” I glance down to find Spence waggling his brows, but has no clue that I’m wondering the same thing.

  He was amazing and special at seventeen; I can’t imagine what he is like at twenty- seven. He’s got to be completely mind numbing.

  Stop it, Anna. No thinking about sex in a tree …

  Sex with Derek in a tree …

  Derek’s hot naked, sweat drenched muscular back pressed against the tree with my legs wrapped around his waist as he relentlessly pounds into me.

  I sigh and lean against the tree, heavily.

  Oh, Derek.

  “Anna!” Spence’s whispered shout jerks me out of my lustful thoughts. “Anna!”

  Shaking my head, I blink down just as the moose run away. “Spence.” I whine and start to climb out of the tree. I can’t stand it when he doesn’t shut his mouth.

  “It wasn’t me!” He shouts again. “It was … that thing!” He points to across the clearing as something familiar creeps from the shadows.

  Derek.

  It takes me a few minutes to convince Spence it is safe to come out from behind the trees and see Derek in his purest form. I was a little scared the first time I saw him like this, but once I knew he was still inside my fear vanished.

  Derek let’s out a whimper and starts to shift back to his human form. “Spence …” I wave him over. “Get something to cover him up, please.” I snap my fingers as I try to think of something we could use to cover Derek with.

  Not like I haven’t seen him before and Spence does have the same equipment.

  “How about this?” Spence tosses me an emergency blanket from my pack just as Derek finishes shifting.

  “Thank you.” Derek quickly wraps the blanket around his waist, leaving his heaving and sweat stained chest for our pleasure to view. But I don’t get a moment to do so because he pulls me to his chest in an almost punishing embrace.

  “You are not going back to your dad’s house.” He kisses my forehead. “I don’t want him near you ever again.”

  “Derek, it’s okay.” I try to pat him on the back, but my arms are locked between our bodies.

  “It’s not,” he pulls back, fresh tears pour from his eyes. “It really isn’t okay, Anna.”

  “W … what happened, Derek?”

  “He did it Anna, he killed them.” He pulls me closer before I can really take in the intensity of his words.

  Amos killed them? Who…

  Oh, God! No.

  “He told me he tampered with the truck to make it look like an accident.”

  “When did you talk to him?”

  “When I came by to ask you out on a date. Anna, promise me you won’t go back there without either Spence or me.”

  I can’t promise him that, because I have more questions that need to be answered. Amos is the only person who can answer them. I need to do this on my own. Spence and Derek aren’t going to like it.

  IT TOOK ME almost all night to calm Derek down once we got back down the mountain and to his house. I told Spence to head back to our hotel room for the night, I wasn’t going to leave Derek. I ended up being held close while he wept quietly. I can’t imagine what he must be going through. He finally had this wound mostly healed only to have it reopen.

  His mom was the love of Amos’ life? That’s the reason behind why Amos became such a bitter man. Why marry my mom and have me only to never get over the heartache?

  And to know that my father was the reason Derek lost his parents breaks my heart. I hope he does the right thing by going to the police and hopefully something can still be done about a double murder that happened well over two decades ago.

  To think Amos has been trying and has succeeded this far on keeping us apart. What will he do to keep us apart for good?

  It is just after dawn when I finally know Derek is sound asleep enough for me to leave and give my so-called father a piece of my mind and get the answers I need from him.

  I’m not scared of him, not anymore.

  My temper is just reaching its max when I reach the house. Since I didn’t have my car, I just walked. It isn’t that long of a walk and it gave me plenty of time to get what I needed to say put together in my head.

  “What the hell is wrong with you!” I barge into the house. I find Amos in his usual spot in his recliner.

  “Morning to you, too.” He struggles to get out of his chair and wheezes.

  “Quit with the pleasantries.” I march up to him. “What in the hell is wrong with you?”

  He tries to bark a laugh, but it comes out as a vicious string of coughs. “He took her from me, so I’m taking you from his son.”

  “What gives you the right?” I shake all over. “It never had anything to do with me, did it?”

  “Annabelle …” he grasps his chest, but I won’t let him come up with some excuse for himself, never again.

  “Did it?”

  “No!” He rushes out, clinging his weathered hand to his chest, wrinkling his shirt more than it already is. “I never wanted you! Or your mother!” He is gasping for a breath now.

  Something shatters inside of me. I knew he never cared, but why ruin a wonderful woman’s life, why bring a daughter into this world that you would never love?

  And all my questions fall to the wayside when Amos tumbles to the floor at my feet, his walker being taken down with him in a loud thud.

  “Can’t … breathe …” He wheezes.

  I drop to my knees when it hits me what is happening. “Oh, no you don’t.” I pull him up and start to roll him onto his back just in case I need to administrator CPR. “You don’t get the easy way out!” I scream at him and then start pumping his chest and breathe into his mouth when his chest stops moving.

  He can’t get out of what he has done, Derek needs justice. Gram needs it. And so do his parents. I try for a few minutes, but when I go to check for his pulse, I find nothing.

  I drop back to my knees, my butt resting on my feet as I stare down at my father’s lifeless body.

  He wasn’t the greatest, but he was still my dad and I just watched him die.

  ROLLING OVER, I search for Anna only to find the sheets cooled and the bed empty next to me.

  “Shit!” I shoot up into a sitting position and she is nowhere to be found. Her pants are gone and her boots are no longer on the floor. After last night I never thought she would leave me again. “Shit, shit, shit!”

  I leap out of bed and shuffle to put some clothes on. I was too exhausted when we got home to attempt to put any clothes back on. I fell to my bed and pulled Anna to me. She had only removed those two pieces of clothing before I grabbed her.

  I hope she knows how much just being close to her meant to me last night. I needed the calming effect she has on me in a way I never knew I needed before. Even if it was her father, the actions of that man do not reflect on her at all …

  Mother fucking shit!

  Get her!

  It finally occurs to me why she isn’t still here with me. She went and did the one thing I asked her not to do. She went and saw Amos, I know she did!

  I snarl as I pull my pants up and grab my phone to call and rip her a new one.

  “Come on, answer woman.” I get socks on and shove my feet into my boots. It takes me a moment to realize these are my clothes from yesterday. I was so out of it last night I rode down the mountain in my own truck naked.

  “Well, hello little bird. Did you have a fun wild night with that hunk of yours?” Spence laughs sleepily into the phone.

  “Spence?” I’m confused. I know she put her number in my phone, did she put Spence’s in instead?

  “Derek!” Now, my anger is calmed by the panic in his voice.

  “Yeah, why do you have Anna’s phone?”

  “Oh!” He laughs nervously. “She gave it to me last night to charge it while she took you home. I woke to see her not in her bed this morning.”

  “She wasn’t in mine when I w
oke up.” I grab a t-shirt and take off out of my room.

  “What do you mean? She’s isn’t here … where …” he pauses. “That dirty little bitch!”

  I’m not sure why but it makes me laugh hard as well as snarl with anger at someone saying something hurtful about my mate.

  “She went to Amos’ house alone, didn’t she?”

  “I believe so.” I look out the window in the staircase and see my truck in the driveway. “And she walked there.”

  “I’m leaving the hotel now.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you there.” Ending the call, I put my shirt on and fling the door open. “Gram, don’t be surprised if you get a call from the police department.” I pull my hat down low as I rush out the door.

  I barely hear her confirmation before the door closes behind me. Leave it to my Gram to be cool with the whole arrest thing.

  I waste no time getting to Amos’ house and skid to a stop by the curb when the view of an ambulance and two police cruisers block the front of the house.

  “What the fuck!” I slam my truck into park and cut the engine. I hop out just as Spence pulls up behind me.

  “I’ll call you back.” He hangs up when he gets out and walks over to me. “Sorry, that was Darling. What is going on?”

  “I’m not sure, but we are going to find out.” I don’t feel on edge, meaning my wolf doesn’t sense anything wrong with Anna. “How is she?”

  “Surprisingly calm.” He shakes his head. “Did Anna do this sort of thing when you two were younger?”

  “All the fucking time.” I shake my head and weave my way through the cars.

  “I’m glad to see some things don’t change.” He laughs, but it is a dry one with no humor. “That’s how we met. She saved the gay guy from a bunch of jackass jocks who didn’t know when to stop.”

  “Annabelle saved you?”

  “She sure did. We’ve been misfits together ever since; we’ve been inseparable.”

  “I’m glad she had you.” I clap his shoulder as we finally reach the side walk.

  “She was always thinking about you. She told me all about you at first when she said she was still healing, but when she would get this distant longing look in her eyes, I knew she was thinking about you.”

  My hackles raise and my wolf starts to growl deep inside of me. The smell of death comes to my nose and I’m driven forward until a police officer and a paramedic stop me and Spence right behind me.

  “I’m sorry gentlemen, but you can’t go any farther.”

  “Annabelle Daniels? Is she okay?” I’m panicked. Nothing can happen to her and I wouldn’t put it past Amos to do something to his own flesh and blood.

  The paramedic regards me before finally answering. “Yes. Who are you, sir?”

  “I’m her boyfriend.” Because that’s all I can claim at the moment. Sure, she’s my mate, but I can’t tell humans that. I would be committed.

  “And I’m her brother.” Spence speaks up from behind me. I forgot he was back there. He might as well be her brother.

  “All right, you two may go in.” Spence and I pass, but the paramedic stops Spence once more. “I’m sorry, sir, but your father has passed.”

  “Thank you.” Spence nods and we rush in to find Anna sitting on the couch with an officer.

  “Derek! Spence!” She stands and rushes into my arms.

  “What happened?” I kiss her hair and bury my nose into it, I need her scent around me.

  “He had a massive heart attack. I couldn’t … I couldn’t save him.” She whispers, “he’s gone.”

  Maybe I’ll end up in hell someday for feeling the relief seep into my very being. He can’t take Anna from me now.

  IT’S AMAZING TO see how empty and isolated a person makes themselves until they are gone and the funeral comes and goes. No one was at Amos’ funeral beside Anna, Spence, Gram, and myself. Darling couldn’t make it and I don’t blame her.

  It’s only been a few days since he passed and we have already everything cleared out of the house with an auction, Anna settled the rest of his bills, and the house was put on the market yesterday morning. We wasted no time getting all the vile memories erased and gone.

  We are just packing up the last of the family things Darling left behind this afternoon. I just came downstairs to get some water for us and I’m on my way back upstairs when there is a knock at the door.

  Confused, I answer it and find a delivery man holding a bouquet of roses.

  “Anna Daniels?”

  “No, Derek Sumerland, Anna’s boyfriend.”

  “Oh, umm … well these are for her.” He thrusts the flowers in my face and makes a quick retreat.

  I slam the door and instantly search for the card.

  My sweetest Anna,

  I’m so sorry for your loss. I can’t wait to hold you in my arms again.

  My deepest love,

  Dean x

  What the fuck is this?

  I slam the flowers onto the counter and turn with a snarl just as Anna comes down the stairs.

  “Wow, I thought you were getting water not flowers.” Her beautiful smile does nothing to damper my anger. She reaches on her tip toes to place a kiss on the corner of my mouth because that’s all I’m giving her. She doesn’t even notice the rage rolling off me.

  “Who is Dean, Annabelle?”

  “What?” She stiffens confirming my worst fear. “No one.” She’s lying to me. I never thought …

  “Who the fuck is Dean, Annabelle?” I roar. “You’ve been getting calls you ignore when around me and now these fucking flowers.”

  She looks down at her hands and whispers. “He’s no one to me, Derek.”

  “Yeah, the fucking note suggests otherwise.” I walk past her to the door and I slam it as I leave.

  I don’t know where to drive to other than our place. I drive out there and beat against my steering wheel and dashboard.

  Calm yourself.

  I should have known better.

  You know you can trust her.

  How can you say that?

  Look into her eyes, numb nuts. She wasn’t lying.

  Since when did you become an expert on women?

  Not women, I know our mate. You should too.

  I sit back and think of what my wolf is trying to say. He has the ability to sense things I can’t. Maybe he is right.

  Of course I am.

  Not helping.

  No, the only help you need is starting your truck and going after her.

  Maybe I should let the both of us cool off.

  I don’t think that is a great idea.

  I wait an hour and a half before I head back to talk to Anna and apologize to her. But when I get back there no one is there, the house is empty except for the real estate agent, Dawn.

  “Where did Anna go?”

  Dawn looks up at me from her clipboard as she walks through the house. “I’m sorry, Derek. She dropped off the keys with me, gave me her number, and said she was heading home.”

  Fuck!

  Damn you for waiting.

  “Thank you.” I hang my head and walk with shame all the way back to my truck. “Fuck!”

  Get her back.

  HE’S AN ASSHOLE. A fucking asshole who apparently can’t trust a single person in his life. Why did I think things would be fine between us? Everything was going great after Amos’ death. We didn’t have anything to worry about.

  Sure, I didn’t tell Derek about Dean and all the phone calls, but that’s because I was ignoring them, hoping they would stop.

  I wipe my eyes and sit up on the couch in my mom’s living room. It looks like Derek and I were never really going to work out. If he can’t trust me, it is going to make us hate one another when I’m gone for a job.

  Fucker.

  I don’t know who I am more mad at; Derek for not believing or trusting me or Dean who can’t seem to get the clue I don’t want to be with him or around him.

  I know I should have listened to Sp
ence and waited for Derek to cool down and come back to talk, but I ran like a coward. Only now, I’m lying on my mom’s couch moping.

  “Get off your ass and deal with the world like the rest of us, banana.” Spence kicks my legs off the coffee table as he walks past to sit next to me while he goes through the mail.

  “He’s right, little bird.” Mom comes in joining the bandwagon with her tea tray. “Thank you for getting the mail, sweetie.”

  “No problem, mama bear.” Spence continues to look through the rather large stack. Since the three of us share a mail address, my mom gets mail tenfold.

  “Anna, you should at least call Derek to explain.”

  “Mom …”

  “Oh!” I’m halted from my whine. “A letter for you, my dear.” He gracefully hands over an envelope to me. Rolling my eyes, I flip it over as I open it and see Dean’s too beautiful of handwriting for a man font scribed across it.

  Great.

  “I’ll deal with this later.” I fling it to the coffee table and cross my arms.

  “Come on, banana, we have a shit ton to do and pictures to go through.” Spence slaps my knee after sharing a look with my mom and grabs the letter as he stands.

  Groaning, I stand with him, kiss my mom’s cheek, and begrudgingly follow him upstairs. I really need my own place to live, but it makes no sense since I’m barely state side.

  I take my seat at the giant computer desk, also known as the space station, to start going through shots we both took while in Fetterman. There aren’t many shots to go through, so halfway through mine, I find myself looking at an old photo album.

  I stop on a picture of Derek and I my mom took of our winter formal. I was only fourteen and happier than I ever thought possible. I didn’t know that in two short years everything would change.

  No matter what happened in the years we were friends and then dating, I was never lonely. He was always there for me. When I was upset with something Amos said or did, Derek was my constant.

  “Call him, Anna.” Spence whispers to me, jolting me from my revere.

  “He has a temper now, one he never used to have.” I whisper as I flip the page and laugh at the picture I find. It’s one I took of Derek at the lake; he is suspended in air as he falls backwards into the water. I was soaked after he fell in but I got this amazing picture as a reward.