Bound by Obsession (Shadowed Souls #2)

14. Chapter Fourteen

H uffing, I lean my forearms on the timber railing and stare longingly at the horizon. Another day in paradise, and I can’t wait to leave. A salty breeze tingles my nostrils on a deep inhale as I try to ease the tightness of my chest. Rhythmic lapping of waves in the distance are only broken by the occasional squawk of a seagull hovering overhead and diving into the sea in hunt for its breakfast.

Rounding the porch, I hop down the steps and walk across the golden sand. My sneakers sink slightly with each step towards the shore as I enjoy the cool gentle winds before the sun rises and brings another fresh winter’s day with it. The sky blends from the palest pinks to purest blues. I pull out my phone to take another photo for the ‘Avery Collection.’ The day I can actually share the images with her can’t come soon enough.

Avery would love it here, and I wish for the millionth time I’d begged my mom to bring her along. Every mile that stretched between us had wretched out another piece of my heart, leaving a trail from here to Waversea. With the days of driving and three motel stopovers, I lost track of exactly where we actually are, and the lack of signal doesn’t give any indication either.

Checking my ponytail is secure, I adjust my sports bra and stop at the water’s edge. Pushing my phone back into the hidden pocket of my black lycra leggings, I roll my neck and start to stretch my arms in large circles. The freezing water laps against my shoes, a shiver rolling through me. I’ll be sweating soon enough. Stepping forward into a lunge, I continue my usual lacrosse warm-up routine, making sure every muscle is properly stretched for my morning jog.

Starting slow, my feet slap against the recoiling waves as I follow its edge along the darkened sand. Before long, my arms are pumping and breath is visible in heated puffs. My calves burn as I push harder, my mind drifting to wonder what Avery is up to right now. I hope she’s managing to hold her own with a house full of men, although even Wyatt had seemed to be softening last I heard.

I skid to a halt seconds before colliding with the high metal fence marking the edge of the rental’s property. I’d been so caught up in my thoughts, I almost hadn’t noticed I’d already ran the two miles. Looking up, I see a bird fly overhead, having the freedom to travel beyond the fence. Not for the first time, I wonder if this ‘vacation’ is more of a prison sentence.

Checking the time on my phone, the screen lights up with a notification of thirty seven voicemails and my stomach plummets. No . I’ve trekked up and down this godforsaken beach countless times trying to find a signal, and somehow I missed it. Tears fill my eyes as I desperately tap the screen but I have no bars again, I can’t even listen to the voicemails Avery has left. Falling to my knees in the sand, I hover over the device and pray for a miracle. I just need to know she’s okay.

As the sun peeks over the sea, I give up hoping I might get to hear my best friend’s voice and rise with my mood soured. Banishing my troubles, the only way I know how, through exercise, I push myself to my limits running back towards the house. My feet fly over the sand as the sun rises higher in the distance. Returning to the spot I stood in previously, I bend to rest my hands on my knees, gulping in mouthfuls of air and focusing on evening out my erratic heartbeat.

Glancing back at the beach house, I can’t help my scowl. No matter how much I’ve tried to enjoy myself, a niggling feeling is keeping me in a constant state of unease. In all of its luxury, something about the house feels off. Mom makes good money, but surely almost three weeks here has amounted to a small fortune, yet she still hasn’t given a clue as to when we might finally return home.

Both stories of the exterior are painted a powdered blue, with the loft bedroom I have claimed poking out at the top. Huge bay windows cover every back wall, ensuites included, to allow all rooms the spectacular views of a seaside sunset. I don’t know why we needed to travel so far for a rental with six bedrooms but maybe it was all that was available at such short notice. Noticing mom’s shadow pass by the kitchen window, I head back inside.

“How was your run?” Her cheery voice greets me as I walk straight for the refrigerator, grabbing a bottle of water and downing half its contents. Already in her bikini top and linen shorts under a silk kimono, mom places a frying pan onto the electric hob. The rich glow to her skin from sunbathing blends with her free-flowing brown locks.

“Same as yesterdays.” I answer blandly, leaning against the granite counter and deciding to keep my voicemails secret for now. With the protective way mom’s been acting, she might confiscate my phone if she thinks I can use it for anything other than photos.

Contrasting with its surroundings, the interior of this place is magazine worthy. Pristine white cupboards line the kitchen wall, a double door chrome refrigerator matching the shiny appliances covering the counters. A shiny glass table fills the center of the room with enough chairs to seat twelve comfortably.

“Well don’t just stand there. Fetch the bacon and eggs.” She orders, despite the fake smile she’s grown accustomed to wearing lately. Huffing, I take my time guzzling the rest of my water and refilling it from the filter jug. Returning with her ingredients, I hop up onto the counter beside the hob and watch her make our breakfast.

“Mom, seriously, when can we leave?” Her smile falters as she clenches her jaw impatiently.

“I will have to return to work soon, but not yet. You should be having the time of your life. No school, no stress. What more could you possibly want?”

“Avery mainly. I didn’t realize we’d be gone so long and it’s almost Christmas. I can’t spend the entire festive season without–”

“Oh, enough of this!” my mom shouts, her brown eyes flickering furiously at me before she schools her features. Sighing deeply, her smile reappears and she leans over to grip my hand. “I’m sorry. I just want to enjoy our time away from reality. As soon as I hear we can return, we will.”

“Hear from who?” I question, jerking my head back. This is the first time I’ve heard her speak of anyone else being involved with our beach getaway. Judging by the roundness of her eyes, she hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Flicking her hand through the air to end our conversation, mom busies herself cracking eggs into the pan while I hop down to make some coffee. It’s not like I have anything else to be doing.

“What shall we do today?” Mom asks. She plates up scrambled egg and bacon onto bone-china plates and carries them over to the table with a stack of buttered toast. Following with two mugs of steaming coffee, I sit beside her and open my mouth with some sarcastic reply when a sound cuts through the silence. A sound that’s not the sea lapping or a seagull, not the coffee machine or water heater humming. No, it’s the screech of tires on the dirt path. Mom looks at me as if I’m about to bolt. She’s right.

Flying out of my seat, leaving the screams of my name behind, I rush to the front door and fling it open. There’s a monstrosity of a white vehicle looming over my mom’s mini, something akin to a SUV before it was modified. A faint ringing in my ears is too delayed, because if there was any danger, I’ve just ran into the center of it.

Luckily, the only danger here are the rasping coughs of those falling out of a white SUV, holding their noses and wafting their hands through the air. Garrett slides out of the cab last, looking over at me innocently.

“Bad beef jerky,” he shrugs, as if that explains everything. I watch the scene as an outsider, the others coming back to themselves one by one. Large blue eyes flick up to the house and then land on me, flowing blonde hair falling about her slender shoulders. My heart swells, a choked gasp escaping me. Avery . I’m running again, vaulting the porch steps and wrapping my arms around her middle. She’s here, she’s really here.