Love's Cruel Redemption (The Ghost Bird #12)(124)
I said nothing. I didn’t know what to think. Volto often left masks as his calling card. He didn’t leave his actual mask.
He looked at it and then put it back closing the door, keeping his hand on the car for a minute, before looking at me. “Don’t say anything. Not yet.”
I didn’t know what he meant at first. His grim face, however, told me his thoughts were much more serious than worrying about Volto leaving things behind to spook us.
She was the right height.
She had access to our homes.
Max wouldn’t bark for her if she were around the house.
Volto sometimes wasn’t around for stretches of time. She kept odd enough hours, we wouldn’t know when her schedule started and when it ended.
She might have had access to viruses that made us sick last fall.
So many things. So many reasons why it could be her...
Maybe she wasn’t as ignorant of the Academy as we all thought she was.
I didn’t want to go there with my thoughts, but I agreed with Nathan.
We needed to look into this.
Thank you!
Thank you for downloading this book!
For new release and exclusive Academy and C. L. Stone information sign up here: http://eepurl.com/zuIDj
Connect with C. L. Stone online Twitter: https://twitter.com/CLStoneX
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clstonex
If you enjoyed reading Love’s Cruel Redemption, let me know. Review it at your favorite retailer and/or Goodreads
Books by C. L. Stone The Academy Ghost Bird Series: Introductions
First Days
Friends vs. Family Forgiveness and Permission Drop of Doubt
Push and Shove
House of Korba
The Other Side of Envy The Healing Power of Sugar First Kiss
Black and Green
Love’s Cruel Redemption Unsung Requiem (Coming Soon!)– Turn the page for a sneak peek!
The Academy Scarab Beetle Series Thief
Liar
Fake
Accessory
Hoax
Tempest (Coming Soon!) ––––––––
Other C. L. Stone Books: Favored
Spice God
Smoking Gun
READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE NEXT BOOK IN THE ACADEMY GHOST BIRD SERIES
The Academy The Ghost Bird Series
Unsung Requiem
?
Book Thirteen
?
Written by C. L. Stone
Published by
Arcato Publishing
Prelude
VICTOR
––––––––
The rear gardens of the Morgan estate in downtown Charleston had been transformed for that evening’s outdoor banquet. Large white tents went up near the pool. The yellow three story building had party prep set up crews streaming in and out. A stage had been set up with a large grand piano taking center stage. Large tables were being rolled in on carts from a truck. All of it was rented for this one night.
The noise starting up so early in the house would have woken anyone up, including the neighbors.
Victor Morgan stood by, trying to avoid looking at anyone directly. His fingers fiddled with the cuffs of his sleeves. It was still early, and with it being late January, the air was cool. Being inside was awkward with people streaming in and out, even if he hid himself away upstairs. Out here, it was just as awkward.
He wanted to help out, but his mother was watching. She’d scold him for not letting people do their jobs and being in the way. What she wouldn’t say is don’t let anyone see you doing that. You’re a Morgan.
Standing around was irritating, though. He didn’t need to be here. Everything was taken care of.
He’d attended dozens of these sorts of events before, some in tribute to himself, like this one.
So why was this one more annoying than the others?
Because it was his birthday.
Although it felt more like he was the bystander, because all this wasn’t for him, really. It was for his parents. Their friends. The press popping by on the sidewalk trying to take photos of the event.
It wasn’t for him. Not now and never had been. It was a photo op for anyone involved.
“Victor?”
The sound of Sang’s voice calling his name lifted him out of bitter thoughts. She was here early.
He turned as she was finishing following the walkway from the rear of the house to the edge of the gardens where he’d stood.
Nathan and Silas followed behind her. He couldn’t see what vehicle they’d brought with them. With the driveway taken up by set up crew vehicles, they must have parked along the street and gone around. He hoped there weren’t any press by the gate they entered from.
Nathan and Silas wore similar dark slacks with light sweaters, Nathan’s in a deep burgundy, and Silas with a dark blue.
Sang wore a short but lovely gray skirt and a long sleeved white sweater. Together with the boots, it was elegant. Her lovely hair spilled out of a clip in a different way, with loose curls added to the locks framing her face. Did Gabriel add those in or did she do that? Those were nice.
The ensemble was missing something though. He couldn’t quite figure out what it was.
He smiled as she approached, reaching for her hand. “You’re early,” Victor said.
Her fingers interlocked with his. Her hands were warm. And soft. “We’re not in the way, are we?” she asked.