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The Arduous Trip Homeward
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The Deal With The Devil No Brother's Keeper
SiennaGiovanni's hands are tight on the steering wheel. We bump along the road and after climbing one of the steepest hills, I see a lone structure in the distance. It's ten more minutes until we reach the long stone bridge that connects what appears to be an island, upon which the Adams house is situated, to the mainland.And I'm in awe."This is your...house?"He only nods once and when I glance at him, I see how his brows are knitted together.House.This house takes my breath away. It's not a house at all, but a fortress or castle, even. It must be hundreds of years old with stone walls that match the current color of the dark sky. And as we drive over the bridge, I wonder if we should, it's so old.I glance at Giovanni again and I see him differently. In Las Vegas, he's big. He's brutal. He's in command.Here, he's all of those things, but he's a Highlander first. Born and bred here. It's obvious now. Rough and rugged and fierce, but different.Less sophisticated, less polished.
The Deal With The Devil The Curse Of The First-Born Son
GiovanniSienna is taking in every aspect of the house as I lead her through it. Her mouth is practically hanging open, but she doesn't realize she's seeing it at its worst.It's strange to come back to the house in this state. I knew what I was doing over the last several years, but to see it in person is more difficult than I realized it would be. It's run-down and old. Something that was once grand, reduced. Humbled.I guess that's what I was trying to do to them. To my father. My step-mother. Declan.I shove that pang of remorse down deep and lead Sienna up the stone steps to the second floor and to my father's rooms.Two maids are rushing in and out, carrying his things out.I push the heavy wooden door wide and gesture for Sienna to enter. She does, quickly scooting to the side to let another of the maids with an armful of clothing out.I don't recognize the things she's carrying but know they're my fathers from the colors alone. Our colors. Strange the things you never forget.
The Deal With The Devil Battling Long Years Past
Giovanni"The Atlantic lies just beyond those cliffs. Climate's very different than Las Vegas," I clear my throat as I say."I've never seen anything like this," she says, turning to me, then scanning the room, the antique furniture that's been in my family for generations, the tattered rugs on the floor so necessary against the chill in these old stone estates.I walk into the second room, which should be a sitting room, but I see it's been converted into a huge closet stuffed to the gills with dresses and shoes and bags, all brand names I recognize. All wholly unnecessary and impractical for the Scottish Highlands. Many not even worn with tags still attached.This is Ann's work. Her pathetic legacy.I return to the main room, trying like hell to manage whatever the fuck is going on in my head and in my gut."There's a bathroom through here if you need it," I say, opening the door to find they had updated the bathroom with modern luxuries.Sienna walks toward me. "Are you okay?"I lo
The Deal With The Devil Sweet Little Nephew
Giovanni"Nice of you to join us," Declan says.I ignore him.Benjamin is sitting behind my father's antique desk and a man I don't recognize is standing beside him pointing to something on a document. He's introduced as Michael Smith, one of the attorneys of the estate.Declan watches me from his place at the far wall. He's leaning against it and has the bottom of his right foot resting on it. His arms are crossed over his chest and he looks so different to how I remember him. Older than he is.I wonder how he sees me.Last time I saw him he was fifteen years old. Benjamin has sent photographs over they years, but I threw most away.When my father married his mother and he became my brother, I was excited about the idea. I liked Declan, we were close, even.But that was when I'd thought he was my stepbrother, not a half-brother. We were friends before that, too. When my mother was alive.But with my mother's death, everything changed.And being back here, it brings back all those old
The Deal With The Devil Delicate, Quavering Ice
Giovanni"Who's that?" the little boy asks, pointing so his finger is inches from my face.Declan's face hardens when he turns his gaze to mine. "That is your Uncle Giovanni," he says, setting the boy down. "Meet your nephew, brother. James Declan Scott."James steps toward me and holds out his hand like a little gentleman."How do you do?" he asks. "I didn't think you were real."God. Can I feel like more of an asshole?I crouch down, take the boy's small hand in mine. "Nice to meet you, James. I can assure you I am very real.""You don't talk like us.""No, I don't.""Do you fly Giovanni's too?" he asks. "Like Grandpa? He said you did. He said you were good at it."He said that?My father was a falconer. I had just begun learning the sport when the shit hit the fan so many years ago."No, James. Not anymore," I say, straightening. I look at my grandfather. "I'm tired. Let's get this done.""Go find Alice, James. Help her with lunch," my brother says.James rolls his eyes. "Alice is
The Deal With The Devil The Devil's Brother
SiennaAfter Giovanni left, I took a long, hot shower then decided to lie down and close my eyes for a few minutes. Now, as I open them in the almost pitch-black room, I realize I must have slept for hours.I glance to the other side of the bed, but it's not been slept in. I wonder what time it is but there's no clock in this room. Pushing the covers back, I get up. I'm barefoot and the cold of the stone beneath the old carpet chills me.I walk into the alcove thinking the walls must be three feet deep. I wonder if that's for insulation or protection in times past. I look out the window at the utter darkness outside. The almost complete stillness.The moon is full, the wind a whistle that urges the clouds across the sky, the light an ominous silvery ghost-like thing spilling over the water and the hills.I think if I look hard enough, I'll see ghosts out there.Finding the latch, I push one of the heavy windows open and lean out. It's a cool night and I inhale the clean, fresh air.I
The Deal With The Devil Dangerous State Lines
SiennaHe stands there for a moment looking at me with surprise, but he recovers quickly and smiles, comes inside."You weren't introduced to me," he says, and I really have to pay attention to understand him because his accent is so heavy. "I'm Declan Adams, Giovanni's half-brother." He holds out his hand.I put my sandwich down, force myself to swallow the bite in my mouth and place my hand in his. "I'm Sienna.""Sienna. It's nice to meet you. You missed dinner.""I must have slept through it.""We didn't want to wake you. The maid said you were fast asleep.""Where's Giovanni?" I ask.He shrugs a shoulder and moves to the counter. "Who knows?" he asks, opening a cupboard and taking out an unmarked bottle of liquor. "You like whiskey?" he asks, turning to me.He seems different than Giovanni. Not as hardened."It's our own," he says, not waiting for my answer but taking two glasses and returning to the table to take a seat across from me. "Don't mind me. Eat," he says, pouring whisk
The Deal With The Devil Good Man Not
SiennaGiovanni's angry gaze turns to me and when he steps into the room, I see his clothes are wet, muddy even. He's not wearing a coat, and in his hand, he's got a half bottle of whiskey.Declan stands, turns his gaze to me. "Glad to meet you, Sienna," he says. "Let me know if you want me to take you into town tomorrow. It'd be my pleasure."I can tell from the way he says it that it's for Giovanni's benefit. To irritate him. Taunt him.And it works because Giovanni stalks forward, sets the bottle on the table and lunges for his brother.But he's drunk and Declan isn't, and he sidesteps him. I let out a scream, jump to my feet."Not used to our whiskey anymore, brother?" Declan asks."I'm going to kill you."I grab Giovanni's arm when he lunges again but I don't even think he can feel it. Feel me holding him back.Declan's face hardens and he steps toward Giovanni. The two are like giants, nose-to-nose and raging."I'd like to see you try," Declan says."Stop it. Both of you," I yel
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