Southern Hospitality
12
Visitation
Nervously, Derek adjusted his tie and he watched Chloe's fingers stroke the fabric of his tie tenderly, unable to miss the shaking in her hands. Derek quirked his mouth at her and she blushed brighter than a cherry, her eyes wide and innocent; he couldn't help the chuckle that rose. "It'll be fine," he told her, rubbing a gentle hand along her back.
She muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a profanity when a car honked outside.
A black SUV had pulled up and, if he squinted hard enough, he could make out the long, tapered fingers of Chloe's aunt gripping the steering wheel.
"Take a deep breath, okay?" He squeezed her shoulder and she laughed, the anxiety fading from her baby blues.
"Okay," she replied, smoothing down the front of her sundress carefully and meticulously fluffing her hair.
His hand wrapped around the doorknob and he pushed the door open, letting the dogs bound out and sniff the new car.
The driver door popped open and Libby yelped, wiggling backwards.
A tall, gaunt woman stepped out, red-brown hair piled into a bun at the top of her skull as she flicked up her glasses, pushing them up the bridge of her nose. The woman was dressed in a striking pantsuit with straps winding around her throat, holding up the top half, her heels clicking.
"Aunt Lauren!" Chloe called and he watched her hair bounce as she hopped down the steps and embrace the peculiar woman.
Swallowing passed the anxious lump in his throat, Derek closed the door behind him and slowly made his way over.
"Derek, my aunt, Aunt Lauren, Derek. His dad owns the ranch," the blonde explained with a wide, megawatt smile.
"It's very nice to meet you," Lauren said in a cool, crisp voice, her blue-grey eyes assessing him in a calm, unnerving manner.
"It's a pleasure." Derek awkwardly waited for her to extend her hand but settled for nodding his head at hert, lest she think him rude. He may not have been the most polite guy when working on the ranch but meeting a cute girl's aunt was top priority and he was pulling out the stops. "My father is inside, if you'd like to meet him." He turned away and was up onto the porch in two steps. "This way, Dr. Fellows," he offered, holding the door open.
Chloe shot him a warm smile.
Lauren's cool face never broke.
"Oh. It's you," Kit said, glancing up sharply as he brushed off his button down. He did not extend his hand.
"I wish I could say it's nice to see you again, Christopher," Lauren replied stiffly.
Confusion welded up inside Derek. "You two know each other, I take it?" His voice came out scratchy as Chloe flitted to his side, tucking herself against his side.
Lauren's cold eyes narrowed. "Indeed. He, Jennifer, Steve, Zachary and myself were all in the same graduating class," she explained smoothly, her hands pressing out any wrinkled in her pant legs.
He felt lightheaded.
"Za...chary?" Chloe echoed Derek's sentiment.
"Yes." Lauren paused, cold eyes piercing him. "His father, Zachary Cain."
"Isn't he—" Chloe began.
"A serial killer?" Lauren leaned against the counter languidly, smiling sardonically but her eyes remained fastened to the green ones. "Yes, he is," she murmured, more to him than to her niece, "and he was the most charming one I've ever encountered. On the surface, he was charming and handsome; however, bubbling underneath was a violent rage that terrified everyone who knew his wrath." She crossed her arms, her collarbone protruding. Her harsh gaze never faltered. "Of course, I treated your mother. I had my suspicions when she came in with bruises and broken bones. They were only confirmed when she knocked on my door all those years ago, cradling you in her arms, babbling about something Zachary had done to you."
"Shut up," he whispered as memories flooded him, knocking the wind out of his lungs and forcing him to his knees. Bleary-eyed, he pushed himself to his feet and swayed where he stood. His stomach clenched when he saw the bored expression on Lauren's gaunt face but there was a fire alive in her eyes. Just like him, he thought and stepped back. "Get out," he hissed, drawing himself to his full height.
"Der—"
"I won't be reminded of what that bastard did to me. I know you all see me as–as that monster's son and I know that's what I am." Something in his gut seized at her stormy look.
"Now get out." It was Chloe who said it this time, startling her aunt.
"Chloe, I know his father. That man is a menace." Know. She said know.
"Know?" he echoed dryly, feeling a dam burst inside him. A cold chill drifted down his spine, sinking claws into his skin. Perspiration rolled down his face.
"As in he's still here?" He couldn't help the way his voice deepened, growing rough.
Lauren's calm expression faltered, realization dawning in her cool eyes and she pushed off the counter, standing taller than Kit. She looked like she was about to say something when the doorbell rang, the sound echoing throughout the house. By the pale look on her face, she'd done something.
Cold dread filled his hands as he fumbled for the door, taking a minute to collect himself.
When he opened the front door, he froze. Every nerve exploded in a shattering flurry of ice and pain as he stared up at the incredibly tall man; he was all shoulders, nearly blotting out the sun. His short-cropped black hair clung to his skull, so close he looked like a skinhead or prison inmate. His face was gaunt, his brutally sharp cheekbones cutting harsh lines, his jaw covered in stubble. Derek struggled to breathe as the man looked up from his Blackberry, thumb pausing mid keystroke. A smile broke out across his face, nearly splitting it in two halves.
Derek dug his nails into the door, barely registering the people behind him. "Derek Souza, don't you recognize your own father?" the man asked with a huge grin that didn't reach his black eyes. He looked smart in his black suit and loafers; maybe he just came from a business meeting of killing people with his secret organization of other killers.
"Lauren, Christopher." Zachary Cain's smile faltered when he spotted Chloe. "Jennifer?"
"Wrong," Derek growled and moved back, flexing his muscles to slam the door in Cain's stupid face.
"That…that was—" Chloe started but a loud slam interrupted her.
Derek had closed the door right in his father's face. "Tell me why he's here before I tear out your throat," he snarled and spotted the unadulterated fear on Lauren's pale face. Even Kit looked shaken by his actions.
Tough, he thought darkly as he turned his dark eyes to Lauren, who looked shell-shocked. "Explain."
She took a deep breath and her stony gaze met his as she fixed her expression to cold, detached. "I invited him."
Derek didn't even register his hand hitting the door nor the glass crunching.
