Merciless Hunter (Dark Syndicate 4)

46

Olivia

The gentle breeze lifts the ends of my hair and I gaze out to the vast expanse of the grounds covering my home.

This is the first time I’ve been out here like this in years.

Out on the porch sitting on the wall while I continue writing the plot for my book.

I stopped doing this when Jude took over and the grounds were covered with guards. Sitting out here and trying think of my ideas lost it’s savor as all I saw before me was misery.

Today it looks like the old days and I’m homing in on another first in a while as I use one of the little notebooks Dad got me. I have a stack of them. some used, some not. This is one from the pack he would have given me before he was killed.

I’ve been out here for a long time.

Inside the house, Mom and Amy are finishing the rest of the Sunday roast and Eric is still looking through his things that came in from storage yesterday.

His presence here feels like old times again, although knowing him he’ll most likely hang out here for a little while with us and then get his own place again.

I plan to do the same eventually. I think the whole Jude experience affected me and Mom in similar ways because he was so abusive toward us, so I want to make sure she’s stable in her mind before I head out.

I’ve been thinking of going in a different direction with my life which means I might not be working at Markov Tech much longer. It’s my legacy, but it’s not me.

I’ve been home for well over a week now and things seem like their falling into place in my mind.

Almost like Jude never existed, especially at work. The atmosphere feels different, like when the sky clears from the dark angry clouds after a heavy storm. The air is light and the tension gone. Like we can hope again.

Eric’s return caused a big stir. Jude made us feel unimportant, but something like the C.E.O, and rightful heir, of a renowned weapons and technology company returning from the dead is big news.

Things are still changing, all for the best, but my mind is still fractured because I can’t get Aiden out of my mind.

I think I’m supposed to at least try and forget him, but I can’t.

This week is one month since I met him. I never knew a person could have such an effect on another.

I can’t get him out of my head and it’s becoming clear as the days go by that maybe I can’t because I don’t want to.

I’m drawn from my thoughts when the front door opens and Eric comes out with an envelope and a muffin.

He looks more like himself without the beard and longer hair. Just a little older. His boyish looks are still there, but there’s an air of maturity in his face and his eyes that can only come from life experiences. That hard kind. I still wonder what he must he have gone through all those years.

We haven’t spoken about it in any depth yet, and I’m not sure if we will. I figured he will tell us what he wants us to know, everything else will be the painful things a person locks away.

“I stole this for you,” he says with a bright smile handing me the muffin.

We used to do that all the time when we were kids.

Mom would make a batch of muffins for desert but we’d get to them before dinner and hide away somewhere to eat them.

“Thank you.” I set my book down and gaze at him. I still can’t believe he’s here.

“You are most welcome.”He sits in front of me and stares at me with adoration.

“She knows you know.” I giggle.

“Who knows?”

“Mom. She knows you took the muffin. She always knows and probably cut you some slack this time because she’s happy to have you back.”