Page 6 of Kidnapped Bratva Virgin

“That’s interesting, but maybe not that unusual. Jackson’s been a long-time client of mine, and he was a real character, I guess you could say. I can take you there now if youdon’t have any plans after the funeral. Sorry about all the crazy people propositioning you. It’s quite the place Jackson owned.”

“Right.” I take a quick look around the open field and the fresh plot of Jackson Knight. A few older people are lingering and sobbing, which I find strange given I don’t know of him at all. “I can’t wait to see it.”

“Alright, then, it’s settled. I’m ready when you are, Ava. I’m local, born and bred, so I can point out some of the highlights of Raven’s Peak while you’re here.”

“Okay.” Stealing a deep breath, I follow Aiden to his navy-blue BMW and sink into the passenger side, glad to be out of the cold. As we pull off, we travel down a gravel road back to the main highway, if you could call it that. It’s more of a sealed back road, lined either side by wild forest and a low foggy mist giving it aTwilightappeal.

“We are just outside the city limits of Raven’s Peak. The Peak cemetery is the only one in town. The nearest one is located in Mont Cleary, which is about twenty minutes over the hill.”

I find Aiden’s commentary fascinating and want to know as much about Raven’s Peak as I can. Ravens fly above the car and I point to one breaking into a smile. “Is that the reason it’s called Raven’s Peak. I think I’ve seen at least twenty of them already.”

Aiden chuckles, tapping the wheel as the forest gives way to open, green and gold fields. I take in the sporadic sightings of lodge style cabins along the way, wondering what it would be like to live such a life. “You would be right. There’s no big legend behind it. I’m sorry, but if you ask, it’s named that because there’s a magic here—namely by way of natural resources.”

“Hmm, interesting. You said Mont Cleary is over the hill? Mountains?”

Aiden ducks his head, pointing forward to a large, ominous peak causing me to gasp seeing the mountain ridge that doesn’t seem to end in front of us. This place is straight out of a postcard, and for a moment I’m speechless in admiration.

“Wow. That’s Raven’s Peak?”

Aiden nods. “Yep, that’s Raven’s Peak. Welcome.”

“This is so amazing. Wild like you say,” I respond in quiet admiration of the place.

“Sure is, but what’s funny about Raven’s Peak, even with a population of under three thousand, is it has a world of natural resources right there in those mountains. Look out on the right, we’re coming up to the family estate now.”

The sealed back road winds to a T-junction where Aiden turns right to a large, locked timber gate with a keypad. Craning my neck out the window through the fog, I marvel at the huge expanse of open land, floored by the sight of the property I’ve inherited. I watch as he punches in a number and the gate swings inward, giving me a closer look at the house.

The house is cozy, and the brick is a mixture of colorful stone and timber with a wraparound porch, including land as far as the eye can see. All around the border of the home is an evergreen forest and a sense of peace and tranquility that instantly gives me an understanding of why my father enjoyed his childhood here. “This is majestic. I can’t believe it.”

“Uh-huh. That’s a word for it. All ten thousand acres,” Aiden remarks, his eyes shimmering with pride as we park out front of the oval driveway.

Slowly, I ascend the porch stairs, studying every nook and cranny of the place as I go. I touch the railing and the exterior, loving the huge timber bay windows, wondering how much sunlight bathes the lounge in the morning. “The place might beover a hundred years old, but it’s been kept in good condition by Jackson. If there were ever any repairs to be done to the fencing or for security purposes Jackson would see to it,” Aiden explains.

He steps ahead, opening the door to an immediate open space. There’s no long corridor, just two open spaces left and right. One seems to be set up as a sunroom and the other has a set of stairs dipping into another entertaining area. Automatically, I feel at home, and from the outside the place looks like a small thimble compared to the rest of the land, but inside it’s deceptively large and long.

“Right. Is it two story?”

“Yes, but the second set of stairs to the upstairs level is behind the kitchen, which is ahead of you,” Aiden points out.

“Did Jackson live here?” I ask, noticing the lack of presence in the house.

“Hmm, he wasn’t here all that much. It was more of his holiday base, but he always made sure everything was kept in pristine condition.”

I finger the childhood photos on the shelf, miffed at my father standing by the side of a stern-looking man and a blonde woman with kind eyes. “Wow. It’s so big on the inside. Is this Jackson in his younger years?” I ask, holding up the picture.

“Yes. He was quite the looker in his day.” Aiden smirks as I regard him.

“Who is the lady?”

“Your grandmother. Her and Jackson were married for forty-two years until she divorced him and ran away with a musician to Portugal. Quite the story, but it was at that point Jackson vowed to never get married again.”

“Wow! She’s pretty. Doesn’t really seem like his type.”

Aiden chuckles scrutinizing the photo and placing it back on the shelf. “No. She seems too carefree for Jackson, maybe that’s why he married her.”

As we sail through each room, my heart swells feeling some affinity for the property and finding myself wanting to stay awhile longer and enjoy it. “Aiden,” I say, turning around with a smile, “do you think I can stay a night or two here?”

Aiden stops near the kitchen counter regarding me for a moment. “I don’t see why not. This all belongs to you now, Ava.”

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