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Several birds take flight from the surrounding trees, startled by the sudden interruption in their day, and I watch them fly off into the blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds that hover over the higher peaks.
Taking a long, slow breath, I try to let the peacefulness of this mountain overcome the complications and harsh realities that have been plaguing me.
It starts to work.
Tense muscles unwinding.
Shoulders relax.
Hands flex.
I close my eyes for a moment to take a few more deep inhalations of the clean air, then return my focus to the downed tree, staring at the rings in the trunk.
At least a hundred years old, maybe more. It stood proud and tall on this mountain for far longer than I have. Yet, I took it down so easily. If only that were possible in life, to eradicate memories instantly, to rid yourself of people who try to manipulate and control you.
It would make it a lot easier.
Another rustle of leaves and a snap of a twig draws my gaze back to the edge of the forest, but he’s better at hiding this time.
“Go.”
It’s a simple command, one he should follow, but he likely won’t. Stalking around the woods and the house, keeping an eye on me, and assessing his target. But I’m not going to let anything happen to Callista.
The only way to truly protect her now is to keep her at a distance, to ensure she stays safely ensconced in the house, anywhere I am not. So she doesn’t create more problems or interfere with things that could get her killed.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I curse as I pull it out.
I should have left this blasted thing in the trees where I tossed it, but I inevitably went back to retrieve it not long after. Because ignoring these texts and calls only draws greater attention to what’s happening here when I want all focus out there. On Callista’s father and what he’s doing to make amends for his massive fuck-up.
The message waits on the screen.
Do I need to handle this personally?
That tension and anger I thought I had finally relieved myself of rushes back with the simple question.
Because there’s nothing simple about it.
Despite my insistence that I will handle Callista and ensure she doesn’t cause trouble while she’s here, doubts still linger about my ability to follow through should she act.
If she tries to leave…
If she discovers something she shouldn’t…
No. I told you. I will handle Callista. You worry about her father and Rosewood.
I turn back toward the house, the third floor peeking up from above the trees only a few hundred yards away. Large windows look down on the valley, providing a perch from which to monitor the graveyard rather than simply enjoy the stunning vista.
A flash of movement there stalls my breath.
Callista…
She’s up there right now, enjoying the space I offered her, poring over whatever novel she’s found to keep her entertained, or maybe she’s found the box of supplies that finally got delivered this morning that I left for her as a peace offering. I knew our conversation wouldn’t go well, and I had hoped it might appease her somewhat.
But it’s a temporary solution to a much bigger problem.
She can’t stay permanently.
I need to get her off my mountain and away from me because I won’t be able to keep my hands off her for long.
