Page 28 of A Forever Love
“A business rival?” Mere raises an eyebrow, and I give a curt nod.
“He’s not a threat to you. He’s a nasty piece of work who despises me with unparalleled passion and seizes every opportunity to push my buttons. But even he has boundaries.” Before I can elaborate, our server approaches, dressed in the standard black pants, white shirt, and black waistcoat.
“Have you both decided on your orders, sir?”
I glance at Merida, and she nods, placing an order for baked rigatoni and a side salad.
“Same for me, with bruschetta,” I add.
Once the waiter departs, Merida grins at me. “You still struggle with ordering, I see.”
“Did the cat get your tongue when Hades held your hand? Or is this level of sass reserved exclusively for me? If you couldn’t land a punch, you could’ve at least thrown a snide comment about his looks.”
“His looks?” Her brows knit. “He’s handsome. What sort of snide comment would even fit?”
“You take that back right now.”
“I’m doing no such thing. In fact, it was you who sounded crazy. And where did you learn that menacing tone?” Mere remains unshaken by my narrowed gaze. “I’ll rip your arm off your body,” she mimics in a throaty tone. “Just so you’re aware, you came across like some jealous ex.”
“I’m not your ex, mittens,” I almost growl.
* * *
Uncle Connor is already seated with Kristy and Oscar Hawthorne at the Hawthorne estate when I join them in the evening. The opulent living room exudes an air of luxury, its grand proportions emphasized by soaring ceilings with intricate, handcrafted moldings that reach toward a magnificent chandelier, casting a warm, golden glow throughout the space. The walls are draped in sumptuous silk damask, displaying a delicate pattern that catches the light and adds depth to the room.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet us here, Carter,” Kristy says, her smile appearing somewhat muted as she reclines on the couch beside her husband. She’s clad in black pants and a blue silk shirt, complementing Oscar’s striped navy-blue suit.
My thoughts involuntarily circle back to Merida, a reminder that Kristy is the catalyst behind Merida’s relocation to Cherrywood. “I hope you don’t mind us inviting Connor.”
I glance at my uncle, the former CEO of Kings Security, my mother’s brother, and the man who adopted me officially when I was seven.
“Not at all, though I won’t mind finally knowing the reason for this meeting.”
The Hawthornes were pretty vague when they asked me to visit them in Cherrywood. In addition, they have one of the best security teams in the country, and nobody would dare to do anything to them in Cherrywood. Their revered reputation, crafted by generations before them, has solidified their royalty status here.
Oscar retrieves an iPad from the table and hands it over to me. It takes less than a moment for the reality to sink in as I examine the contents. The screen is filled with images of red-inked letters written in a childlike script and adorned with vibrant superhero stickers. Every page is addressed to Charlie, Oscar’s son. At first glance, it appears innocent, until I read in detail about Charlie’s favorite food, preferred sport, and beloved superhero comics. The writer of these notes clearly knows him well.
“Is this from one of Charlie’s friends?” I raise my gaze from the screen.
Kristy shakes her head slowly and finally hands me a letter encased in a Ziploc bag. “This is the latest one. It arrived about a week ago.”
I angle the plastic for a better view, revealing the words “I MISS YOU, CHARLES” written in the same red ink.
“Charlie’s been receiving these letters for about a month now. Initially, we brushed it off as some kid from his school attempting to befriend him.” Kristy’s expression twists with concern.
“Has he ever come face-to-face with the sender?” Connor inquires, his hand extended for the iPad and letter as I hand them over.
“No, never,” Kristy replies. “The letters just seem to find him. One popped up in his sports bag, one appeared on his school desk, and once, one was even tucked inside his lunch box.”
“That’s why we dismissed it at first.” Oscar plucks a cigar from its tray. “We assumed it was one of his classmates. You know, the Hawthorne name tends to attract some attention in this town.”
I’m aware Oscar’s downplaying the level of influence his family name commands in Cherrywood. Still, I hadn’t expected the reputation to manifest in such an unsettling way.
“And now?” I ask.
“The last three were found outside Charlie’s room, in his pants pocket, and on his bed.” Kristy’s face pales as she wrings her hands. “This is the reason we moved back to the Hawthorne estate. We want you to find whoever is behind this.”
“But you have a perfectly competent security team, Kristy.” Uncle Connor steals the words right from my mouth.