Redemption Hills: The Complete Collection

39. Eden

THIRTY-NINE

EDEN

Do you remember…

My eyes blurred over as I held the piece of paper in my trembling hands.

What was I doing to myself?

I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. If I could even stand to read my sister’s words knowing she was gone. If I could spend one more minute thinking about Trent without breaking apart.

I’d had to get out of my father’s house. I’d been there for more than a day since Jud had followed me there yesterday morning.

Church had been cancelled this morning, and where my daddy normally supported and held up and cared for the congregation, they’d come to take care of us. There’d been a nonstop barrage of condolences and flowers and casseroles.

Yesterday, Tessa had immediately come running.

Refusing to leave my side.

Standing for me when I had no strength left.

She’d held me while I’d cried for what’d felt like an eternity. All day and all night.

Throughout the morning, I’d tried to put on a brave face and be there for my father, to smile and thank our visitors. I’d made it until about an hour ago when Tessa had found me hiding in the bathroom.

She’d told me to go lie down in my old room, and she’d cover for me.

Only, I’d slipped out the back.

Needing solitude.

Or maybe an answer.

A balm.

Some kind of hope in the darkness.

So, I’d come back to get the stack of letters from Harmony.

I needed to feel her again.

Find a way to understand.

To catch a clue or a line of information I had missed.

But what had shaken me was I’d found another letter in the stack. One I hadn’t noticed yesterday since it was different than the rest.

Rather than being in one of the large blue envelopes, it’d been sent in a small, plain white one.

I’d been frantic, anguished, ruined when I realized what it was.

Now, I had to squint to make out the words, the handwriting messy and rushed and filled with agony.

I could sense it.

Her fear carved into the paper.

Do you remember, Eden? When I was a horrible sister? When I ruined everything? I know you do. Of course, you do. Even though I don’t deserve it, I’m asking you to be there for me one last time. To believe what I’m telling you. It’s my last truth because I don’t have time for any more lies.

The end is coming for me. I know it. I’ve earned it. And I’m scared…terrified truthfully…but I’ve dug a grave I don’t think I can climb out of.

I’ve hurt so many people, you and Daddy and Trent.

Trent.

Yes. I saw you with him the other day. I’m supposed to stay away, keep out of sight, but I needed to see my son one last time.

Sorrow raked from my lungs. The pain so great. My knees knocked as I tried to remain standing in my kitchen. Gulping, I forced myself to keep reading.

He was the man I was set to betray, and he was the one who saved me after I committed the greatest sin. I cost him the life of his brother after I’d bargained his.

Money. It was always about the money.

But somehow, I’d found a speck of conscience that convinced me I couldn’t see it through. But I’d been too late, Eden. I couldn’t stop it.

Even after that, he’d saved me. Spared me. Taken care of me.

In the deal we’d made, there’d been one thing I’d insisted upon—I’d insisted that he move with Gage to Redemption Hills. Trent never knew the real reason, but I needed to know my child was close to the ones who loved me, to the only good part of me, like Gage might be able to feed from your nearness even if he never knew who you were.

But then I’d taken it farther and convinced Trent to send Gage to the school.

What I’d never expected was you two.

But I saw it, Eden.

I saw that you found each other.

I saw that you love Trent, saw that Trent loves you, and I saw that you love my son.

Not as a nephew, but as a child, and I’m begging you to keep it that way. Don’t look at him like the child your sister lost, but as the child of a man who deserves to be loved for the father—the man—that he is.

I swindled and stole and took from him for years. Now, it’s going to cost me my life because I was a fool and went back to Los Angeles about six months ago. I’d thought enough time had passed. My selfishness never knew any bounds.

Trent’s father was dead, after all. What did it matter?

And with the Demons, the drugs were always easy to come by. That place more like home to me than anywhere else. Where someone like me belonged.

But his father wasn’t dead, Eden. He survived. He’d been waiting, watching for the perfect moment to come out of hiding and hunt Trent down for what he had done.

And I was that moment.

Easy prey.

A million dollars, and all I had to do is lure Trent out. That’s what Trent’s father offered.

But I knew better.

That’s why I returned and took the money three months ago. I’d tried to lead Cutter and his crew astray, lied to them about where Trent was living, all while planning to disappear. Truly disappear forever. But Cutter and his crew stopped me before I could get lost. Forced me into revealing where Trent and his brothers were living.

They’d forced me into meeting Trent for my payoff.

I should have warned him then.

I should have, Eden, but I was praying for a way to figure out how to survive at the end of this. Yeah, selfish again.

But I’m already dead even though I’m going to fight it to my last breath.

Cutter is set on taking back what he thinks was stolen from him. Rebuilding his MC while cutting down their old enemies…and their friends. He wants supremacy. He wants revenge.

He wants Trent.

Cutter and three others are in Redemption Hills. Plotting and planning. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike Trent down.

Trent doesn’t know. Warn him. Call the police and get to a safe place. Please, please, please be safe. These people are not human, Eden. They’ll hurt anyone who gets in their way.

My phone is being monitored, and I’m praying these letters are getting to you. I wanted to tell you sorry to your face, but now all I can do is pray that I haven’t stolen another part of your heart.

Warn him, Eden.

Save him.

Love him.

Love Gage, too.

And in the end, remember that I love you. Just like I will forever remember your love for me.

Harmony

I dropped to my knees.

Gutted.

Shattered.

A sob ripped from my aching, raw throat, and I tried to find the air to breathe.

It hurt everywhere.

The sorrow had seeped all the way to muscle and bone.

She’d cost so much. But now I understood. I understood.

I scrambled to my purse to get to my phone, half walking, half crawling.

I dragged it onto the floor from where I’d left it on the counter and dialed Trent’s number for what had to have been the hundredth time in twenty-four hours.

He hadn’t returned a single call other than the one text saying he’d known he would ruin it.

Still, I’d tried. Tried to break through the barrier.

Each time, it would crush me all over again.

But this time, this time I choked on the fear. “Trent. Oh God, please answer.”

It beeped to leave a message. “Your father…he’s alive.”

I ended the call and forced myself into action, dialing 911 as I raced from the house and to the car.

I started it and flew out in reverse, then rammed down the accelerator when I put it in drive.

“Trent, my sweet warrior. Please.” I prayed it as I gunned it, needing to get to him as quickly as I could.

I had to warn him.

Needed to see him.

The operator came on and I explained the best that I could, all while my heart beat out ahead of me as I sped in the direction of his house.

And I realized right then, I no longer had any questions about this man. His intentions or who he was or his involvement with my sister.

I had one truth—one reason—I loved him, and I would do anything to protect him, too.