Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set (62 page)

Her eyes traveled over my body, seeming to take in every detail. “You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman. I’m so proud.”

I swallowed hard. “You’re dead. I’ve been to your grave.”

Her delicate facial features hardened. “That’s Stuart’s doing.” Her voice was harsh, biting. Then her eyes darted to Devin, back to me, and her face quickly softened. “No matter. I’m here now. That’s the important thing.”

“Is it really you?” My eyes stung as I reached out and touched the woman’s bare arm, which felt smooth as silk. She was more beautiful than the pictures I’d savored over and over in my photo album. In person, she practically glowed. Except for the addition of a few squint lines, I couldn’t deny this really was the woman from the photo albums.

But, it couldn’t be. She’d died when I was four. Had Devin used an old photo of my mom to do one of those total makeovers and fool me? He had to have done that. There was no other explanation. My dad would never have lied to me all these years.

Numbness enveloped my body. He’d lied to me about mind reading. I couldn’t deny that. He knew other things he wasn’t telling me. But, would he have lied to me about this?

My ears filled with heavy vibrations, then a voice filled my head.
It’s gotta be Aunt Colleen.

I jerked up then and glanced at Drew who up until that moment I’d almost forgotten was even here. I wiped my eyes quickly and stared at my cousin. Who in the world was Aunt Colleen?

Your mom’s twin.

My mom’s what?

“Darling?” The beautiful woman ran her fingers down my arm. “Aren’t you going to give Mama a hug?”

All my life I’d been told my mom had died of an aneurysm. I’d worried I was having an aneurysm myself when I started reading minds. Was she alive? I didn’t know what to believe.

The look Drew and I exchanged apparently hadn’t gone unnoticed because Devin stepped forward. And he did not look happy.

“Get that one out of here.” Devin nodded toward Drew and then motioned Chuck forward. “We don’t need her anymore.”

I shrieked like a hysterical child and grabbed onto Drew like she was my lifeline. “You can’t take her from me.”

My mom—or the woman who looked like my mom—turned to Chuck and shook her head so minutely that I almost wondered if she’d done it. But she must’ve, because Chuck backed off and resumed his beefy stance against the wall by the front door. Who was in charge here? Devin? Or the woman who appeared to be . . . my mother?

“I have a lot of questions.” I swallowed, looked up at the woman, but held onto Drew tightly.

“That’s completely understandable.” The woman reached out, slipped her silky hand into mine and squeezed.

I glanced down at the woman’s left hand in mine and I wished she’d given me her other hand so I’d know the truth. Adrenaline coursed through me then—an energy that came from her hand and flowed completely through me. Was it true?

Mama.

Was she was sitting right here in front of me? Alive? But, it didn’t make sense. My lip trembled and my eyes welled. “Why would Dad tell me you died?”

She frowned then and her eyes filled with anger. “Stuart’s a selfish man. I made a mistake before you were born, darling.”

I watched as she traced a smooth circle on the back of my hand, causing my eyes to dry and my lip to be still. “Tell me.”

She gazed into my eyes. “I left your father. You see, Stuart . . . confused me. He promised me things that, at the time, I thought I needed. He took me away with him when you were still in my belly.”

My breath caught as I remembered this rang true with what Chuck had told me.

She traced a finger up my arm. “I never should’ve allowed him to break up our family like that. It was wrong of me.” She paused a moment and then her face lit up. “Devin’s your real father. Now, finally, you can get to know each other like you always should have.”

My eyes traveled to the man beside us who still held a scary looking gun in his hand. My shoulders stiffened. He gazed at me with disinterest, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here, and—if I’m not mistaken—like he was annoyed.

Not exactly father-of-the-year material. Completely different than Stuart—than, er, my dad.

“Huh-uh. I don’t think so.” I stood up and pulled my hand away, dragging Drew with me. My dad may keep secrets from me, but I’d take him over Devin any day of the week. “No way.”

“We can discuss the details later, darling.” She sighed and her beautiful face tensed. “You’ve had a long day. We all have.” She reached a hand out to me. “It’s time to go home.”

I stared at her hand, but couldn’t bring myself to take it. Long day? She didn’t know the half of it. And she hadn’t given me any answers yet. Other than that Devin was my real father. Actually, that one had come from Chuck. “You want to take me home with you?”

“Of course.” She let her hand fall gracefully to her lap and gave me a look that asked how I could think otherwise. “That’s why I came here. To find you and take you home with me. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

That’s not your mother. You know that, right?

I glanced at Drew, confused, then turned back to my mom. Her face glowed in front of me and I suddenly felt like a hole in me had been filled. “Where have you been all this time? Why’d Dad tell me you died?”

“Stuart’s not your dad!” she snapped, her face contorting, eyes blazing. She took a deep breath and her taut features smoothed over instantly. “That man lied to you, Kylie. He kept you from me. Told you I was dead. He put up a tombstone. How sick is that? Devin, your real father, would never do something like that to you.”

No, he just threatened to shoot me. That’s so much better.

How does she know he put up a tombstone?

Drew had a good point. “How do you know Dad put up a tombstone?”

“I already told you, Stuart is not your
dad
.” Her face turned red as it hardened. “Stop calling him that. Be a good girl, Kylie.”

What, did I look like a toddler?

Devin came over and put a hand on my mother’s shoulder and the look he gave her set me on edge. It was part lust, part warning, and one hundred percent creepy. “Don’t rush her, Sandy.”

“You’re right.” She nodded and seemed to regain her cool, relaxed composure. She took my hand in hers and squeezed it. “This must be difficult for you, honey.”

I wiggled my hand from her loose grasp. It’d be easier if she didn’t go from sweet to scary in two seconds flat. So different from my rational dad. “This doesn’t make sense. None of it does. Why would he tell me you died?”

“He’s a selfish man. The sooner you understand that, the better off you’ll be.” She paused a moment and seemed to think. “Maybe he told you I’d died so you wouldn’t ever look for me. So he could keep you all to himself.”

I considered what she said. My dad did like me at home a lot, but selfish? That didn’t fit. He was constantly thinking of me whether it was to cook me spaghetti, help me with my homework, or whatever. He even watches
The Count of Monte Cristo
with me sometimes. And he can’t stand books being made into movies.

Thinking of my dad made me realize he was probably out of his mind with worry right now. I mean, he freaked out if I even stayed out after dark—so, all night? He had to be losing it. It made me feel bad for sneaking out yesterday without at least leaving a note. No, she was wrong. He wasn’t a selfish man at all. “My dad loves me. He shouldn’t have lied to me, but I’m sure he had a good reason.”

The fine lines between my mom’s brows deepened. “Oh, really? He was hiding you from your own mother. What kind of a loving father does that?”

Don
’
t tell me you’re buying any of this.

I didn’t even acknowledge Drew this time. I was too busy thinking about snapping twigs. “You were at the cemetery last night, weren’t you? You saw me there.”

For the first time, she looked worried. “I wasn’t spying on you. I just . . . wanted to come talk to you, darling. I would have, believe me. But you were with that boy.”

“The cop.” Devin chimed in using a tone that made it clear hanging with a cop was not a good thing.

“He’s an assistant detective.” Oh, yeah, that was pertinent information. My eyes burned as I thought of Trip. “They hurt him. Bishop and Chuck. Did you know about that?”

She shook her head immediately. “Of course not. I don’t condone violence.”

I gave a half glance at Devin’s right hand. “He has a gun. The guy you say is my father is holding me against my will.”

She paused for a moment. “Do you want to leave? Is that what you really want?”

“Yes,” I said, even though I wasn’t sure what I wanted.

She stared pitifully at her lap. “Devin and I are your family. All we’ve ever wanted was to find you, to bring you home. But I realize we can’t make you want to be with us.” She swallowed hard. “The gun is for our protection. Nobody’s going to stop you from leaving if that’s what you want.” She brought her gaze up to me. “It’s your choice.”

Relief washed through me. I was free. Then came the guilt. Was my mom back from the dead? Had she been searching for me? If so, when she finally found me, I deserted her. What kind of daughter did that make me? “I’m sorry.”

Be sorry as we haul booty out of here.
Drew was edging toward the front door, pulling me along with her.

The beautiful woman stood as well, her hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes brimming with tears. “I’m sorry, too. You’re my baby girl. I love you.”

My heart ached at her words. Drew jerked me to get my feet moving again.

“You can’t imagine how much I’ve missed you all these years.” She held her arms out in a desperate gesture. “How torn apart I’ve been, wondering if you’re all right.”

Drew put her hand on the door handle, but I hesitated. I wanted to go, to be free, but what if she was telling the truth? That she loved me and had been looking for me all this time? Chuck made no move to block us which proved they weren’t going to keep me against my will, right? That could mean she was being honest with me.

“All Devin and I want is for us to be a family. That’s why we searched for you. That’s why Aaron and Charlie helped us find you.”

A lump formed in my throat. What was she doing with these guys? I was afraid of them. Of Chuck, Devin, and especially Bishop—wherever he was. But, for some reason, not of her. How was I supposed to know what’s real? “Is that the truth? You swear?”

She nodded and her silky hair fell alongside her face. “I’d never lie to you the way Stuart has. I’d never keep anything from you.”

No lies. No secrets. Having my mom. What else was there to think about? “Promise?”

Are you out of your mind?

“I promise.” She took a step toward me and held out her satin, smooth hand as Drew inched me closer to the door and out of her reach. “Please, Kylie. You can go if you have to but won’t you consider coming with us? We love you.”

I heard the handle click as Drew opened the door and a moment later I was yanked out onto the porch. We were free. I was safe. So why did I feel guilty for leaving? I pulled my hand away from Drew. “Wait.”

“Don’t let Colleen pull one over on you,” she whispered in my ear. “Have you forgotten being taped to a chair?”

I turned to Drew and pleaded with my eyes. “I can’t leave her.”

There, I’d said it. I’d made my choice. Instantly after the words left my mouth, police cars flooded the unpaved drive. One after another they skidded to a halt in front of us, sending dust flying through the air.

Drew’s message to Lynn had worked.

She pulled at me but I brushed her off and shook my head. “I can’t go with you. I’m sorry.”

She gave me a desperate look then turned and bolted toward the uniformed cops who were stepping out of their vehicles with their guns raised.

Someone gripped my shoulder painfully, yanked me back into the house, and slammed the door.

Chapter Sixteen

“That hurt!” I glared at Chuck.

He ignored me and turned to Devin. “Aaron’s got the car at the house. Want me to call him on the cell? Have him pull around the back?”

Devin cocked his gun. “Let’s get out of here first before they surround the place.”

The blonde woman stepped forward and clasped my left hand. “I’m glad you stayed. Now we need to hurry.”

“We should’ve kept the other girl, too.” Devin frowned at her like she should’ve known better. “She seems to have some kind of power unlike the little one.”

Little one? My body went numb. “Wait a minute. You’re talking about Amanda, aren’t you?”

The three of them turned to me. At the same time, footsteps clomped up the front porch.

She reached behind my back and locked the deadbolt. “We’ll talk about everything later, darling. Trust me. But, we need to get out of here. Now.”

I watched in shock as Devin lifted something from his back and then handed her a gun. She pulled back a lever thingy, which I assumed put a bullet in the chamber.

“What happened to not condoning violence?” I shrieked.

“There’s no time. We must go.” She motioned the gun at me. At me!

My hands shook and tears filled my eyes. It would be so easy to pretend my mom had come back from the dead. She looked just like her. Part of me wanted to curl up in this woman’s arms like I’d done when I was little.

But with all the lies and secrets I’d discovered in the last few days, I knew there was one person I could trust. Myself. The obvious difference between this woman and my mom was love. I didn’t feel it.

My lower lip trembled. “You had them take Amanda first. Then Drew. You only want me now because you know I’m the mind reader.”

Someone pounded on the front door and we both jumped. “Police! Open up!”

She pulled my hand and I yanked it away. “Tell me it’s not true.” A tear escaped and slid down my cheek. “You didn’t help them kidnap Amanda, did you?”

“That’s enough. I don’t have time for these questions.” Her face went dark and she swung around behind me and shoved the gun into my back. “We’re leaving and you’re coming with us. Down the hall. Move it.”