Page 25 of Haunted

A few minutes later, I pull up behind Theo’s car parked at the curb in front of our parents’ house. I take a moment to pull in a couple of deep breaths until I feel in control again. Getting out of my truck, I walk up the driveway, and without bothering to knock, go inside. Mom’s always insisted that her house is open to her kids, and if she hears us knocking, she’ll kick our asses.

I find Mom, Dad, Theo, and Aria in the kitchen sitting at the table finishing up dinner. The minute my eyes meet Theo’s, the anger I pushed away on my drive over comes back.

“Heya, Uncle Luca!” Aria says loudly, waving a hand that’s holding a biscuit.

“Hey, boo.” Through my anger, I manage to give her a genuine smile. Aria brings the good out in people.

“Luca, honey, pull up a chair, and I’ll make you a plate.”

When Mom stands from the table, I hold up my hand.

“I’m not here for dinner, Mom,” I tell her, keeping my voice even. She still senses my turmoil and turns to walk over to me.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I keep my voice quiet, so Aria doesn’t hear. “Do me a favor and take Aria in the backyard.”

She frowns; looks at Dad, then Theo, before bringing her eyes back to me.

“What’s going on?”

I grab the hand she placed on my arm and give it a gentle squeeze. “Please, Mom. We’ll talk later. I need to speak with Theo.”

After searching my eyes for a moment, she gives me a silent nod and walks around the table to Aria.

“Hey, munchkin. Come help Gamma pick some flowers for the table. These are looking a bit old.”

She holds her hand out for Aria to take. After stuffing the last bite of her biscuit in her mouth, she grabs Mom’s hand, hops down from the chair, and they both walk out the back door to the fenced-in backyard.

The minute the door is closed, Dad demands, “What’s wrong?”

I don’t look at him; my eyes are pinned on Theo as he watches me with tight lips and a frown.

“She’s awake,” I say bluntly.

He jumps from his chair, hitting the table with his thigh and jostling the dishes. “What?” he shouts.

“Who’s awake?” Dad asks, sounding confused and coming to his feet slower than Theo.

“Keep your voice down,” I growl at Theo.

“She can’t be awake.” His voice is quieter, but no less astonished.

“Will someone tell me what in the hell is going on?”

Dad’s irritated tone has me looking at him. He’s tall, not skinny, but not bulky either. In his latefifties, half his body covered in tattoos, full beard and mustache, he can be intimidating. As kids, he was our hero, the smartest man we knew, and scary as hell when he was riled up. Not that he ever lifted a hand to us, but he was strict, demanding the respect that was due to him and our mom, and never putting up with any bullshit from us kids.

I respect the hell out of him, and he and Mom have a right to know they have a daughter-in-law they’ve missed for seven years.

I bring my eyes back to Theo. “Either you tell him, or I will.”

His eyes narrow into slits, and for a minute I think he’s going to push my hand. Theo may be the fun-loving, carefree one of the family, but he’s also a little shit at times and can be just as stubborn as Ella.

Indignation darkens his eyes before he turns to Dad. “I’m married.” Dad sucks in a sharp breath, but before he can say anything, Theo continues. “I met her years ago, we fell in love, got married, and were going to leave town because of our different backgrounds. Before we could, she was attacked. She’s been in a coma ever since.”

“Wait,” Dad barks. “Slow the hell down, Theo. How in the fuck do your mother and I not know this?”

Shame flickers on his face before his jaw tightens. “We were going to tell you all before we left. You know how things are around here, Dad. I didn’t want Jules part of that. I didn’t want that staining her life.”

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