Page 117 of False Promises

“Call me when you have a minute. I’ll see what I can do in the meantime, okay?”

I huffed my frustration. “Yeah, I’ll do that.”

With my fists clenched at my sides, I tilted my head back and exhaled.

* * *

When I arrived at Green Mountain, most of the lingering anger from my phone call with June had melted away. And I tried to forget what I’d just learned about another one of Savannah’s evil deceptions. She had not only been feeding information about my whereabouts to the press, but she actually found an ally in a person close to me. Teaming up to play me behind my back all this time.

The news of their association shouldn’t surprise me, yet I couldn’t believe how low people were willing to go for a taste of power, fame, or money. A recipe for disaster. These people didn’t deserve a moment of my thought anymore. I was done with opportunists trying to control my actions and using me for their own twisted games.

The sight of Dahlia and Jack waiting for me eradicated every remnant of fury in me.

“Carrrrter,” Jack said running my way.

Here. Them. They healed all the pieces of my broken heart.

How could I have limited my time with them for so long when I needed them the most?

I raked my hand through my messy locks. The ones I hadn’t cut in months. Savannah had fucked with more than just my sanity over the years we were together.

The idea of spending time with my family had brought my hopes up. For a better life. A better future. A better everything.

After I pulled my beanie back down on my head, I exited my truck and lifted the boy into my arms and held on to him.

My lips curled up.

Peace invaded me.

And all the demons dissolved.

Dahlia announced they would stay with me for a couple of days, and just like that, I turned back into the Carter Hills version of me I loved and respected. The one I recognized. The one I was proud of.

Surrounded by the people I loved, I found my groove back. My momentum. My life.

And in the last few weeks, I’d even started writing songs again. I had many things to say. Many emotions to express. Two years of struggle to share.

I was ready to conquer the world again.

Later, outside my cabin, fishing something from the trunk of my SUV and filling my lungs with the distinctive and addictive mountain air, I spotted Dahlia and Jack sauntering my way after they returned from a walk. They joined me, large grins stretching their lips, mirroring mine. In one swift movement, I picked up Jack to twirl him around, his laughter shooting doses of happiness into my heart.

With one arm draped over Dahlia’s shoulders, I pulled her to me, kissing her temple.

That’s when I felt eyes on me.

Was I being paranoid? Nah, I could feel the warmth on my skin even from a distance.

I knew someone had moved next door for a month but had yet to spot the woman staying there.

A sudden surge of heat ran through me.

My pulse kicked up.

Trying my best to be subtle, I cocked my head to catch sight of whoever was watching me.

Had a stupid fame-chaser found me? No. How could they? I had a gate installed. And people renting the two cabins on my property had to go through thorough background checks.

And right now, one was being rented by that woman and the other by a group of businessmen having their annual retreat. They came here every year, and I never had trouble with them in the past. Anyway, they barely ventured out of their cabin, busy with workshops.