The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek)(20)

“He wants her, Olivia. What do you think?”

“No,” she said.

“Either I kill myself or let him have her.”

“What a disaster,” Olivia said. “We should have left Hugh alone.”

Wes hung his head. She sat on his lap, straddling his legs, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

The worry in her eyes hurt him. Then there was the pain in his back. Not only did it burn like hell, but it itched. He scratched it, wincing as he did so. With a sigh he leaned back against the head board.

“I hate having you see me like this.” His entire body was sore from what Avalon’s mysterious power had done to him. He knew the Princes were wizards. It was one of the reasons their fathers were always in constant competition. Still, he never imagined Avalon could fly.

But how?

It was not a typical wizard power.

“It's okay,” Olivia whispered in between soft kisses on his lips. “We can get through this.”

“I can’t imagine how. He will hurt Evie to get to me.”

“We won't let that happen,” Adelaide said from his bedroom’s doorway.

Wes and Olivia turned to her voice. She stood there leaned against the doorframe in the purple robe she wore around the house. Her hair fell long over her shoulders in perfect waves.

“How are we going to stop him?”

Adelaide looked as if she hadn’t slept in days. It broke Wes’ heart to see her in such disarray.

Her eyes fixed on Olivia, and then Wes. “We give him what he wants,” she said and Wes felt a sickening feeling in the pit of is stomach.

“It’s about time Evie did her part for the family. At least he doesn’t want to hurt her.”

Olivia shook her head.

“No. He just wants to keep her, like a pet or something,” she said, her brows furrowed. “Let me try to handle it first.”

Adelaide stared at Olivia for a moment.

Wes had hoped that he wouldn’t have to use his wife’s skills again, but this was to protect Evie, and he knew Olivia was serious. She wouldn’t be talked out of it. Perhaps she could be successful.

She’d done it before… many times.

It was worth a shot.

Olivia did have her own talents. It was time to exploit them one more time. But this would be the last one.

“Fine,” Adelaide said, turning to walk back down the corridor. “We will tell Evie what’s been going on at Sunday dinner. We can’t keep it from her forever. She’s an adult now.”

Olivia nodded.

“Then,” Adelaide said. “You can go after him that night. But you’ll need to be discreet.”

“I always am,” Olivia said, flickering a glance at Wes that made the hairs on his arm stand on end.

Evil could be so beautiful.





DRAKE’S DINER WAS PACKED that night. Evie and Parker stepped inside the retro style diner with classic checkered floor tiles, red chairs, and white table and counter tops. The jukebox played popular hits from the fifties as cute high school girls and young women in matching pink dresses and checkered caps served customers.

The vibe was one of fun and friendliness until Evie showed up.

Evie breathed a sigh when all eyes seemed to turn to them despite the boisterous chatter that filled the air. It was as if the life had been sucked from the room when they recognized her. That was the bad part about knowing everyone. They knew all of your business. College kids, older adults, and even children stared at her as if she’d walked in there with horns on her head.

The whispers filled her ears, making her wish she would have stayed in the car.

There she is.

Look.

Why is she here?

Evie rolled her eyes.

Elliot, Parker’s dad, stood behind the counter with a checkered apron over his black slacks and white collared shirt. She loved that place. Everything fit with the theme of a cool diner from the movies her father used to love.

Elliot motioned for them to come forward to two seats he’d saved for them at the bar area.

Evie avoided the looks from everyone and sat down on her barstool. She put her elbows up and shielded her face by resting her chin in between the palms of her hands.

“Evie,” Elliot said with a bright smile. He came from behind the counter and gave her a warm hug.

For a man in his fifties, he was unbelievably handsome. He had such a friendly face that Evie couldn’t help but smile back. With salt and pepper hair and blue eyes, he looked like Pierce Brosnan to her. She used to always call him James Bond when she was younger. Evie figured Parker had good genes and would be as attractive as he was now as they grew old together.

“Good to see you, sweetheart,” he said with a charming Southern accent. He nodded to Parker as he went back behind the counter. “Glad you could bring your girl in to see your old pa.”

“What are you talking about, dad? You saw Evie almost every day when you were the groundskeeper at Scarlett Hall,” Parker said rubbing Evie’s back.

Pulling two glasses from the shelf, Elliot set them under the soda tap.

“That was a long time ago. I started to forget what her beautiful face looked like.” Elliot gave Evie a wink.

Evie grinned. “Thanks, Mr. Drake. I’ve missed you too. Is Sue around?”

“Naw. She went home early. She can’t seem to get rid of this awful cough she’s been having. And her poor nose keeps running.”