Page 110 of Relapse
“I hate myself for telling you this.” My heart picked up its pace as she sat back and stared at the sky. “But I have a feeling you already know your father’s not a good man.”
Did Daddy do something to her? I’d never forgive myself if he did.
A chill ran down my spine, making my shoulders straighten. “Why would you say that?”
“Stop lying, Harper.” Her hazel eyes swung my way. “I know who gave you those bruises.”
The words, “I fell,” just slipped out.
Jesus, Harper, just tell her.
“No you didn’t. You wanna know how I know that?”
I was pretty sure I didn’t.
Lana sat up and looked me directly in the eyes. “I know it was your father, because he…”
Before she could finish speaking, she was cut off by another voice singing, “Babies, babies, babies. I got me some babies.”
My brows knit at the opening patio door. “Who’s that?”
“Ugh, that’s just Ava,” Lana said and flopped back on her chair as if Ava Whitley was an annoyance, and not the crazy psycho daughter of the devil.
My pulse skyrocketed as the door swung open and a blonde sauntered out with a baby on each hip. My eyes flew around frantically searching for a place to hide before she saw me. Unfortunately it was too late for that. The blonde’s grey eyes landed on me as I squeaked and jumped back.
“Oh hello. Who are you?”
All I saw in Ava Whitley’s smile was pain and misery.
“Ava,” Lana waved at me, “this is Harper.”
I never wanted to disappear into a chair more than I did when Ava tipped her head and searched my face.
“Harper?” Ava looked up and crinkled her nose while bouncing the babies sitting on her hips. “Why does that sound familiar?”
Dear God, please don’t let her know who I am.
I damn near jumped into the pool when Ava’s eyes dropped back down to mine and narrowed.
“Do you know Mathers?”
Okay, I wasn’t expecting that.
“Umm…” I looked over at Lana, who just shrugged. “No?”
“Oh, okay.” Ava seemed disappointed for about half a second, then she turned her attention to the babies. “Who wants to see the pool?”
Weston just stared up at his aunt, while Winslow giggled and grabbed a handful of Ava’s hair to shove in her mouth. Brave kid.
Ava walked past us and I leaned over to whisper to Lana, “Who’s Mathers?”
The only person I knew with that name was some guy named Chase that Riley talked about. Though I didn’t see how Ava would know him.
“Don’t ask,” Lana grumbled. “There’s something about fires and a dragon.”
A dragon? Ava really was off her rocker.
“Are you sure she should be around the babies?” I got that she was their aunt, but was she stable enough? I mean, the girl was talking about dragons.
