Climbing out of my SUV, I shut the door and beeped the locks. As I strode towards the old-timey store, the same one my father had taken us to so many times before, my steps faltered. I hadn’t seen her in fifteen years, but I would’ve recognized her anywhere. The long braid down her back, the high cheekbones tinged pink.
“Addie,” I called.
My cousin whirled around, her eyes going wide. “Evie?”
I didn’t think, I simply launched myself at her, wrapping her in a hug. “I missed you.”
She stiffened in my arms, pulling away. “What are you thinking coming back here?”
“Mom left me the mountain property.”
Addie’s gaze jumped around the parking lot. “You should sell it. Go home to Seattle.”
Her words stung—a hell of a lot more than the ones from Hayes. “I knew some people wouldn’t welcome me back, but I honestly didn’t expect that from you.”
She grabbed my arm. “That’s not what I mean. I’m so glad to see you. But not everyone will feel the same.”
“Adaline. Step back from that traitor.”
The voice cracked like a whip through the asphalt, and Addie immediately dropped my arm.
My gaze rose to meet the cold eyes staring back at me. “Uncle Allen.”
He spat at my feet, thankfully missing my shoe. “I’m not your uncle. If it were up to me, I’d take payment for your betrayal with a switch.”
Addie flinched behind him, and heat rose to my face. Anger for everything I knew he put Addie through with his fear tactics and cruelty. “You forget,” I said in a low voice, “I’m not a child anymore. I know how to fight back. Don’t start something with me that you can’t finish.”
Addie paled as Allen’s face turned a shade of red I’d never seen on a human before, but I stood my ground. When I went to live with my sister, I’d felt powerless. I was so terrified that I barely slept. It didn’t help that my uncle and brother had shown up to Jacey’s home and my school multiple times to make a scene. They couldn’t simply let me go. In their minds, I needed to atone for my sins.
Even after Jacey and Kevin had moved us to a place that Allen and Ian didn’t know about, I was still on edge. I’d felt as if I were losing my mind, piece by piece. Jacey had finally sat me down and told me that I needed to find things that would make me feel safe.
I’d built that wall of safety, brick by brick. I’d thrown myself into self-defense training with a single-mindedness that I knew sometimes scared Jacey. I’d begged Kevin to continue the firearms training my father had started. Dad’s fixation on preparedness and self-reliance had been the one gift he’d left me with. When my classmates were all building profiles on the newest social media app, I refused to be in a single photo.
I’d become obsessed with making sure my family never had a way to find me again. I’d relaxed over the past five years, easing my restrictions, living life more freely, and no longer constantly looking over my shoulder. But I hadn’t relaxed a single thing about preparing for something bad to happen. The events all those years ago had taught me that bad things could happen to anyone.
And as I looked at my uncle, who spluttered and raged, I hoped he’d take a swing. He had no idea what would be waiting for him if he did. My eyes focused on looking for the signs. The weight shift. The angle of a shoulder. The retreat of an arm.
Allen’s hands balled into fists, his knuckles bleaching white. “You will have to face what you’ve done. I can’t believe you had the audacity to come back here. Just wait until Ian hears.”
The sound of my brother’s name made me flinch. My hand wanted to curve around my ribs protectively. I could still hear the crack of bone. Feel the steel-toed boot meeting my torso time after time. I could taste the blood in my mouth. But for all the pain I’d endured that night, I wouldn’t wish it away. Because it had been the thing that’d freed me. The last straw that gave my mother the push she needed to send me to Jacey. The final breaking point that let me let go of every last tie to my family.
At least, that was what I’d thought. Until the letter. A collection of words on a page that had made me realize I hadn’t moved on. There were ghosts I still needed to exorcise.
I didn’t look away from my uncle’s face. “If Ian wants to come for me, let him come.”
Addie shook her head. She stayed silent, her eyes begging me to stand down, to be quiet. But those things had never been my strong suit, and now I was even better equipped to fight my battles.
Allen sneered. “You think you’re better than us, with your fancy education and worldly ways. You haven’t lived here in a long time. That mountain can bite, girl. And we might just help it along.”
“I don’t think I’m better than you. I know I am. But not because of anything I have. Because I don’t prey on those weaker than me. That doesn’t make you strong. It makes you an asshole.”
Allen’s hand lashed out, aiming for my cheek. I was ready with my block, my other hand poised for a palm strike to his nose, but Allen’s palm never made contact with my skin. Tanned fingers wrapped around Allen’s forearm. I followed the limb up to a face with dark, haunting eyes. Eyes that had held so much judgment just yesterday. Now, they were full of anger, but that rage wasn’t directed at me. It was solely focused on my uncle.
“That, Mr. Kemper, is attempted assault.”
Allen ripped his arm from Hayes’ grip. “I was trying to teach the girl some respect. You don’t need to intrude. It’s a family matter.”
“It’s a matter of law.” Hayes inclined his head to a female officer. “Deputy Young, please take this man into custody.”
A woman whose face spoke of her Native American heritage stepped forward, and she began reading Allen his rights as she placed him in handcuffs. Allen blustered and threatened. When none of that worked, he turned his head towards Addie. “Get Ian. Now.”
Addie quickly nodded and headed towards Main Street, barely sparing me a glance, her eyes wild with fear. I wanted to reach out, to pull her to me. To tell her to run in the opposite direction. But she wouldn’t have heard a word I said. Allen had her just where he wanted her, under his thumb.
I glared at Hayes as his deputy placed Allen in a squad car. “Was that really necessary?”
His eyes flared. “You would’ve preferred he hit you?”
“Yes. Then I would’ve been within my rights to kick his ass.”
Hayes was silent for a moment. “Or you could’ve been seriously hurt.”
“Which probably would’ve had you dancing a jig.”
A cool heat filled Hayes’ eyes. “I may not want you here, but I take my job seriously. That means if any citizens of this county are at risk, I’m going to step in.”
I searched his face, looking for any signs of deception. There were none. This town was lucky to have someone who cared so deeply for its people—even those he despised. “Well, you’ll be happy to know you can take me off that list of people to worry about. I can take care of myself.”
A muscle ticked along Hayes’ jaw. “You haven’t been here in a long time. Your uncle’s and brother’s beliefs have only intensified. They think the law doesn’t apply to them.”