Page 159 of Terror Tuesday
The Von Dovishs.
So when his son started tracking me, I let it happen. He was decent at it. Good, even. But not good enough to fool me.
Olivia had changed. I saw it behind her eyes. The fire that had once been there in high school, that slowly dimmed as she aged? It was back in full force. She was stealthy, but strong.
And I knew the look behind that kid’s eyes, too. One that stated he was desperate for my daughter. The same one I wore when I fell in love with her mother. He’s a man from a great family and one who I felt could protect her as well as we could.
So, I struck a deal.
But he still needs to understand that he cannot makeonemistake with my daughter.
Heavy boots clomp up the dock and climb onto the Chris-Craft—a boat that never sees winter skies if I can help it. But Valen should learn to fish in the middle of December.
At least, that’s what we told him.
Ryan slings an arm around his shoulders, leading him onto the teak floorboards, then into one of the cream-cushioned seats.
“Life jackets?” Valen asks.
“You don’t know how to swim?” Henry asks, taking up the driver’s spot.
He hesitates for a second. “Yeah…I just. Sorry. I’ve never gone fishing like this.”
“You fish a lot?” Ryan asks him, grinning.
I settle into the passenger seat and pull up my fish locator app.
“I mean, in the summer. We have ponds. Creeks. That sort of thing.”
“So not arealfisherman, then,” Aiden mutters with a sneer, settling into his chosen seat.
I’m not sure it’s possible for the boy to look more uncomfortable, tucked between Olivia’s brothers. And perhaps someone less of an asshole would protect him, but I’m quite enjoying myself.
“You normally do this on Sunday dinners?” Valen asks with wide eyes.
I nod at Henry to take off, making the rest of the conversation impossible until we can stop and anchor.
Once we reach the center of the lake, things are quiet. Almost peaceful… I let time lapse as everyone soaks in silence. Then, I give Aiden and Ryanthe eyes.
The boys stand and stretch for a moment, open the cooler, and pass around chilled beers. Valen takes one and pops the top with a hiss. I decline the offered beverage and cross my ankle over my opposite knee.
Henry slides over to grab a fishing rod, but I stop him with a hand on his forearm. “Not today,” I whisper low.
He looks confused. “Then…what are we doing out here?”
“We have a surprise for your sister’s boyfriend,” I say, not smiling.
My youngest son’s grin gleams in the winter sunshine. “Oh, cool.”
I hold up a finger to tell him to keep quiet about it, and he nods subtly, bouncing on his toes like he’s excited to share in the plan. But his brothers didn’t tell him for a reason. Henry’s too pure for this world.
“How did you meet?” Aiden asks Valen, and I know it’s because he wasn’t able to get any footage of their early interactions. Other than a masked man rescuing Olivia from the madman in the Terror Tuesday cottages. At least, that’s what Aiden saw on camera before he had to hand over the videos. For that act of bravery, I’m grateful.
Still…
The kid needs a lesson about what it means to be associated with the family of Cardell.
“In class,” he says, tossing back his beer, mimicking Ryan.
