By my third smoke, my shoulders relax. Darkness creeps over the house, yet I’m still here, forced to live another night in hell. The only comfort is knowing the Bennetts won’t hurt one of their own. The town’s twins, Gareth and Gavin, were thick as thieves. Jesse and Jack are the next generation of wolves to join their pack, like soldiers trained on a mission for revenge since that fateful night.
Belle whines at my side. I ruffle her head again. “I know, girl, I miss her too.” My heart thrashes in my chest, screaming for me to go get my girl, make her see reason, but it’s better this way. I can live with being a monster. I’ve lived with it for the last nineteen years while keeping Ali’s secrets.
32
VIOLET
With my belly in knots, I drive towards the Lake where Jesse works. A sickness creeps up my throat of how my cousin touched me, even if he did only graze my mound and help take my knickers off, thank goodness. A shudder jerks my body. He couldn’t have known. They don’t know we’re related.
I park my mini outside the glass fronted cafe. Jack is helping a family out of a leisure boat on the pier, and he gives me a wave as he pulls his hood over his head. I hadn’t noticed the pattering of rain hitting my face, washing away my tears.
My entire body vibrates as I pull the door open. Jesse stops wiping a table. A smile spans his face when he catches my eye. I step into the warmth. Cinnamon and coffee fill the air, making my shoulders relax.
“Hey, Letty. Haven’t seen you for a while.” His smile fades as I get closer. “What’s wrong?” His hand cups my cheek and I tremble beneath his palm.
“Did you know?” I search his eyes for any hint of recognition.
“Know what?” A crease forms between his brows.
“Your uncle, Gavin Bennett.”
He stands straight, expanding his chest. A scowl turns his sunshine features to a cold dark winter. “What about my uncle?”
“Kane.” I can’t get the words out. I need to know what he knows.
“If you’re asking if I know your fucking dad killed my uncle, then yes I know. The whole fucking town knows, didn’t you?”
I shake my head. “I just found out. And I told you he isn’t my dad.”
“Guardian then, or whatever you call him. Makes no difference.”
“He was my dad.” The words fall out with a sob. Tears prickle the back of my throat like I’ve swallowed a cactus.
“You just said he isn’t your dad.” Jesse’s face grows more confused by the second. I’m not explaining this very well. I can barely make sense of it myself.
“Your uncle is my biological father.”
Fear paints his face. His crystal blue eyes swell like a whirlpool in the depths of the ocean. “So you’re my…my…” He runs his fingers through his blonde hair, pulling it back from his forehead. “Fuck. We’re cousins?”
My head absently nods, still trying to make sense of it all. “I just found out. I didn’t know where to go. Kane lied to me.” The realisation that the man I loved has been lying to me this whole time hits hard and another sob escapes, along with more tears when I blink.
Jesse pulls me into his broad chest. The smell of him reminds me of our time together, making my stomach turn. “I’ll get you a drink. Are you hungry?”
“A little.”
“Latte and cake?”
I force a smile and a nod.
Light rain taps against the glass and a family opens the big glass doors, stepping into the cafe. Marie steps from the back and serves.
Jesse brings my latte and a large piece of Victoria sponge. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
A group of ramblers enter to get out of the rain. “Back in a minute.” Jesse squeezes my hand reassuringly, then rushes to serve the new crowd.
Jack enters next. Water runs off his yellow Mac and his dirty blonde hair. “Letty.” He gives me a nod, then takes off his raincoat, hangs on the back of the chair next to me and goes behind the counter. He returns with an Americano, the steam curling from his cup as he warms his hands around the mug and sits down next to me. “Long time no see.”
