Chapter 1 - The Bucket in the Garden
The first thing Everett saw through the garden gate was the empty bucket in Marla’s hands.
The second was his granddaughter.
Tessa stood in the middle of the stone patio completely soaked.
Cold water streamed from her pale-blonde bob, down her rosy little face, and over the coral-orange dress plastered against her small body. Her white sandals stood in a widening puddle.
She was trembling.
Marla lowered the bucket and looked at the five-year-old with a satisfaction that made the cruelty worse.
“You probably remember it well by now, don’t you?!”
Tessa’s face crumpled.
She turned toward the garden gate.
“GRANDPA!”
Everett pushed it open.
The moment Tessa saw him, the terror in her expression changed into desperate relief.
He started toward her immediately.
Cole stepped into his path.
His own son.
Thirty-eight years old now. Broad-shouldered. Strong. Wearing the same rust-red shirt Everett had seen him in at breakfast.
“What the hell is going on?” Everett demanded.
Cole didn’t look at Tessa.
“She deserved it.”
Everett stopped.
Behind Cole, Tessa shivered so badly her teeth were beginning to chatter.
Marla placed the bucket beside the outdoor table as if what she had done were perfectly ordinary.
Cole advanced.
Everett stood his ground.
“Move.”
Cole’s mouth twisted.
“You don’t run this family anymore.”
He came closer.
Everett planted one boot against the stone and drove a single straight kick into Cole’s stomach.
WHACK.
Cole flew backward and crashed directly into the stack of rattan chairs beside the blooming bushes.
CRASH.
The chairs collapsed around him.
He remained conscious, stunned and furious.
Everett did not strike him again.
Marla screamed and charged.
Everett turned just as she reached him and delivered one decisive open-handed slap across her face.
SMACK.
Marla spun sideways, staggered backward, and dropped into one of the remaining rattan chairs.
She sat there shocked, one hand against her cheek.
Everett was already moving away from both adults.
He crossed the patio and went straight to Tessa.
The little girl raised both arms.
Everett picked her up, ignoring the cold water soaking through his dark green polo. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and buried her face against his shoulder.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured.
Tessa’s whole body trembled.
Everett looked over her wet hair at Cole and Marla.
Then he lowered his voice.
“Did they do anything else to you?”
Tessa tightened her grip around him.
Her voice came frightened and broken against his neck.
May you like
“There was... one more person!”
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