“I have some ideas, but I don’t want to know. Jo and I keep no secrets from each other. We vowed to each other that no matter what else happened, we would always tell each other the truth. Flynn knows that, which is why he keeps me in the dark about a lot.”
“Cym thinks he was with some bad men the other night. Thugs.”
Phillip closed his eyes as if he had a sudden pain. “Whatever he’s into, I think he’s in over his head.”
“You should tell Lord Barnes.”
He looked at me for a long moment. “Would that be best? I don’t know.”
“Lord Barnes built this town. If anything is threatening it, he should know what it is so he can fix it.”
“Have you ever known anyone closely who seemed to make trouble for themselves? A man who has everything and yet seems to want to sabotage himself?”
“I certainly have.”
We went quiet, both in our own thoughts. My ears perked up when I heard the others talking about the ski competition.
“We’ve got men from all over the country coming,” Flynn said. “This is going to be one of the ski events of the year before you know it.”
“Any Europeans?” Theo asked.
“None thus far.” Phillip got up from the window seat to stand closer to the fire. “And the response from American skiers hasn’t been as robust as we’d hoped. But if all goes well this year, maybe we can attract more next time.”
“We will,” Flynn said. “Once they realize what they missed out on.”
“It’s a long way to come for a ski race,” Lord Barnes said.
“Especially given how hard it is to get here,” Flynn said. “If it weren’t for the road up from Louisville, we would never have been able to do this.” His eyes flashed. “I told you all building that road was necessary.”
“I didn’t want it. Still don’t,” Lord Barnes said. “But if you think it’s bringing you more business then I suppose I should. There was something so nice about thinking of Emerson Pass as a community without strangers.”
“People came on the train, Papa. Same thing,” Flynn said.
“Yes, but motorcars make everything different,” Lord Barnes said. “I wonder how long we’ll be a small town?”
A commotion from the foyer interrupted our conversation. Jasper’s voice came to us first. “Sir, they’re enjoying a family holiday. You’ll have to come back.”
Whoever was there with him said something I couldn’t hear. A second later, the double doors to the library burst open and two men in blue suits walked in as if they’d been invited.
We all stood. The hairs on the back of my neck did too. My stomach dropped. They were the same men we’d seen outside the club the other night.
Jasper moved around them. “I’m sorry, m’lord. I couldn’t stop them.”
“Quite all right, Jasper.” Lord Barnes strode across the room and introduced himself. “I’m Alexander Barnes. What can we do for you?”
“Name’s Roland Fossi. This here’s my business associate, Marco Chetta.”
Lord Barnes shook each of their hands. “What brings you to my home on Thanksgiving?”
“We’re here to see Flynn.”
In the light of the room, I could see them better than I had the other night. One was of average height and slightly rotund with doughy cheeks and hard eyes. The other was tall and wide, larger even than Isak or me. A bulge in his jacket told me he carried a pistol. Not unusual for these parts, but it made the palms of my hands sweat. These were dangerous men. Violent men. What did they want with Flynn? I swallowed as bile moved into my throat. Something was very, very wrong.
Flynn came to meet them. His eyes shone with anger, not fear. Was that wise?
“You’ve got nerve coming to my family’s home,” Flynn said.
“We told you loud and clear what we wanted,” Rossi said. “You give it to us and we go away.”
“And I told you my business isn’t for sale.” Flynn’s voice brought the image of an icicle breaking off from the side of a house and falling to the ground.
Instinctually I moved to Lord Barnes’s side. Despite his height and good health, he suddenly appeared older to me. The tension in his face alone was enough to have aged him ten years.
Rossi stepped closer. The scents of cigarette smoke, gin, and the bottom of a cast-iron pot emanated from him. The smell of violence.
Isak and Phillip came to stand on either side of Flynn. Theo, as he always did, kept his head and went to stand near the cabinet where I knew Lord Barnes kept his rifle. We might appear civilized, but the lot of us had grown up in these woods and knew how to shoot a gun.
“Our mountain’s not for sale,” Phillip said.
“We’re not talking about your slopes,” Rossi said.
Chetta grunted.
“Flynn, what is this?” Phillip asked, fear making his voice sound higher than usual. “What are they talking about?”
Flynn ran a hand through his glossy brown hair. “This has nothing to do with you, Phillip. This is my business.” He pointed at Rossi. “Let’s take this outside. My family’s enjoying the holiday.”
Rossi didn’t move for a several seconds. I wasn’t sure he would, but in the end he nodded at Chetta. “Don’t keep us waiting.” Their shoes clicked on the hardwood floors before they disappeared into the foyer.
“Flynn?” Lord Barnes asked. “What are you doing?”
The front door slammed shut.
“It’s nothing to worry about.” Flynn shrugged as if there were nothing that particularly concerned him.
Lord Barnes raised his voice. “Two thugs just walked into my home. I’d say that’s something to worry about.”
“Papa, I’m a grown man. This is my business, and I’ll take care of it. I’ll be right back.” Flynn crossed the room and disappeared into the foyer. The door slammed a second time.
“What do we do?” Theo asked. “Should I go out there?”
“If you go, I should go too,” Isak said.