AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I leave the Hobgoblin without a backward glance.
Chapter Four
Fiona
I wouldn’t believe a home like this existed if I hadn’t seen it on Carol Ann’s phone. I was envious when I looked through her pictures, thinking I’d never know this place in person.
She came to my house on the first of November, black eyeliner smudged on her unwashed face, brimming with stories, eager to share the descriptive details of the wild All Hallows’ Eve party she’d attended the night before.
A twelve-hour event complete with Madam Glasgow, the famous fortune teller with a podcast solving cold cases, a chocolate champagne tower as tall as a light post, and midnight hot air balloon rides overlooking the city.
The photos of the hot air balloons left me bitter with envy. While Carol Ann floated above the city, I held down the island, heating leftover beef stew with Dad and worrying over my arch nemesis, the garden weevils.
Over tea and chocolate cream biscuits, I hung on her every word that chilly November morning as she went on about the castle-style mansion that was Callum and Freya Burnes’ new home. Carol Ann, of course, took the opportunity to dress like an adult film star—but the photos of her sexy nun costume weren’t what had me staring, opened-mouthed, at her phone screen.
It was this very house that we have arrived at. And those pictures are no comparison to the real thing, the stately home I’m seeing now, in person, with my own two eyes as we pull up to the Burnes siblings’ Glasgow home.
Thank God Carol Ann came over to share her stories over endless cups of tea; it’s the sole reason I can place where I am.
I sigh with relief, knowing that the Hoax of Glasgow has not abducted me.
The driver lowers his window, and a crisp and salty breeze freshens the cab, carrying the faint scent of seaweed and brine. He punches a code into a box, and the gate slowly opens, its hinges creaking softly in protest as we drive over the pebbled drive leading up to the grand castle-like home.
A chilling realization dawns on me as we pull onto Burnes land, my momentary relief evaporating.
Suddenly, everything falls into place.
My father's addiction must have led him to borrow money from these ruthless families. And now, I am left to pick up the pieces, working tirelessly to pay off his debts while trying to maintain this home that is not truly mine.
And the man I’m to work for…is Callum Burnes.
My heart races with fear as the van screeches to a sudden halt just past the gates. They slam shut behind us with an ominous clang, the sound reverberating through my bones like a death sentence. Trapped and helpless, I realize with dread that this is only the beginning of my imprisonment.
Tightness edges into my throat, and I swallow hard as the driver raises the window. Stuffiness fills the van instantly, making it hard to breathe.
The driveway is lined with towering evergreen trees, their branches swaying gently in the sea breeze. As we approach, the sun shines through their branches, casting a golden hue over the stone facade of the majestic house. The castle-like house stands tall and imposing, with turrets approaching the sky and ivy creeping up its walls like nature's tapestry. Stained glass windows glint in the fading light, casting colorful patterns on the lush green lawn surrounding the estate.
It’s beautiful.
But it is filled with dangerous men.
And one man in particular known for his cocky smile and the glint of chaos in his eyes. Callum is handsome in a dangerous way, ink on his fingers—K-I-N-G—for the gang he belongs to, the Kings, who rule our wee island.
And now, he’s expanded the reign of his power to the city.
At the front of the home, a well-tended, landscaped garden contrasts with the stone façade. A fountain stands proudly at the center of the round drive, sparkling water droplets shooting up into the dusk lighting.
I cling tighter to Mam’s bowl as we finally stop before the broad stone steps. They lead up to a glossy black door, a small circle of stained glass in its peak.
The front door of the place that is to be my new home?
And Callum…is he to be my new boss? I think of the soft-voiced professor and the milky cups of tea we share while poring over hours of research.
The thought of cleaning or cooking under Callum’s stern gaze, his eyes watching my every movement…
Those eyes…
Heat flashes over my face, and the thought of his deep gaze penetrates my insides; warmth creeps in other places.
