Page 66 of A Moth to the Flame (Utopia #1)

Chapter

Forty-Five

CORDELIA

“You know what? I can ignore every horrible thing I’ve ever thought about that man.” Neveah tips her head to the side. “His body could make me forget that he’s an unforgiveable asshole.”

Even Hope unabashedly ogles the sight in front of us.

Namely, Duke Castellaw, sweaty, shirtless, and flexing his plethora of muscles.

All while operating some kind of very dangerous-looking electric saw in front of Granny’s homestead.

The dang thing is so loud, and he’s so focused on his task that he hasn’t even noticed us staring at him for a small eternity.

What the hell is he doing ?

“He definitely has power,” Hope murmurs. “I feel entranced in the filthiest way. Against my will.”

“I feel like Delia has the power to pull us out of it,” Neveah mutters. “Please tell me that list we made at The Flame is true. He’s packing a micropenis and doesn’t know how to use his tongue or fingers, right? Right ?”

I shake my head. “How would I know any of that? I’m not even sure what the hell he’s doing here! ”

“Oh, thank God,” Hope breathes.

“He could convince me to catch baby fever,” Neveah says louder.

A cold chill runs down my spine. I scoff. “You don’t really mean that. No one should ever make babies with him.”

A piece of wood clatters to the ground, startling all of us.

Duke finally notices our little trio when he bends to retrieve the lumber. He swipes his shirt from a nearby toolbox and wipes his face.

“How’d it go?” he calls out.

Hope gives him a super dorky thumbs-up.

Neveah scowls.

I’m not sure what to say or do.

As Duke approaches, I’m half expecting him to ignore me, too. Then again, he’s the only one who never did.

Which is worse? Being invisible or being hated? I brace myself for either option.

“What in the actual fuck are you doing at my house?” I seethe, deciding it’s better to go on the offensive.

A familiar scowl darkens his face. “Don’t you remember?”

“I remember everything,” I snap. “How could I forget the way you tortured me for half my damn life? Who gave you permission to come out here and do…whatever the fuck it is you’re doing?”

His jaw ticks before he grinds out, “Did you hit your head when you were in town?”

I glance at the two women still flanking me, as they have been all afternoon. “Is this part of his revenge plot for me egging his truck? Did he rope you two into this?”

Hope says, “Yes?” at the same time as Neveah grunts, “Nope.”

I step away to glare at his maybe-accomplice. “I can’t believe you, Hope. You were always the sweet, quiet one. What did he offer you?”

I sway on my feet again. Shit. I’m really dizzy.

Duke places his hands on my shoulders to steady me, then glances between the other women. “What’d you do her? Why doesn’t she remember anything from the past month?”

I shake off his hold. “Where the hell do you get off touching me?”

“Cordie…” He actually looks deeply, deeply offended. “Do you really not remember anything that’s happened between us? ”

My stomach rolls so hard that there’s no way to hide my curdled expression. “Uh, yeah. I remember it all, you absolute piece of trash. How dare you step foot on this property after the shit you pulled at my Granny’s wake?”

“You mean the night you egged my truck?” he says flatly.

I roll my eyes. “That was the least you deserved after all you put me through. Be glad I didn’t find a baseball bat or a can of spray paint.” I bat my eyelashes at him and grin my most evil smile. “I could’ve done so much more damage to your ego.”

“I think maybe you’d better collect your things and go, Duke,” Neveah emphasizes with a bite to her tone. “You’re obviously not welcome here.”

Duke smiles at them like he’s got a dirty little secret. “I’m always welcome at my own damn house.”

I sway on my feet again.

Hope makes a choking sound.

Neveah turns bright red. “Prove it.”

“Happy to.” Duke spins and storms toward the house.

I blink at the gaping women. “It never even went on the market. I didn’t have time to list it yet.”

“Come on.” Neveah grabs my hand and drags me through the front door.

Duke is standing at the ready to meet us, holding a very official-looking paper in his hand as he glares. “See this? It’s the deed to the McCoy homestead, in my name.”

I sink onto the couch before I pass out.

Neveah strides forward to rip the paper out of Duke’s hand. She’s silent as she reads. Her smile is smug when she glances back up at him. “Where’s the other deed, Duke? This isn’t the important one.”

Huh. It only now occurs to me how behind I am on big-girl things. Have I even checked the mail in the past month? The electric and water bills are probably overdue.

I blink back into the present when Duke produces a second paper. His smile is sharp when he croons, “You mean this one?”

Hope openly gapes at him like he’s some strange, new creature.

“Oh, fuck,” Neveah mumbles. All the blood drains from her face as she stares at the page with large signatures scrawled in red at the bottom. “We messed up. Big time.”

“I really don’t feel well,” I murmur. “Can I get some juice? Or water?”

Hope snatches the second paper out of Duke’s hand then scans it, her eyes moving back and forth as she takes in the information. While she’s reading, Duke disappears into the kitchen.

“How did you even get this?” she calls out to him. “Neither of you should’ve known anything about this.”

“She made a deal with the Devil.” Duke grins as he reenters the room, handing a glass of orange juice to me.

I take it with genuine gratitude and chug. My mouth feels like cotton right now, and I’m not sure whether I’m seconds from blowing chunks or passing out.

Neveah rushes toward me. She crouches down and crowds my space, and I lean back.

“Delia, did you really sign the deeds over to Duke? Both of them? Do you remember doing that?”

I blink at her and shake my head. “What are you talking about? Why would I sign anything over to him? I hate him.”

“She hates me so much that she made me a deal I couldn’t refuse,” Duke says smoothly. “Even if she doesn’t remember it, I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“This isn’t going to hold up with the most important people,” Hope insists. “ You have to know that.”

He shrugs. “I’m sure we can come to an agreement that will be beneficial to everyone.”

I cut a glance toward him, narrowing my eyes.

A ball of black fur races from the back hallway, climbs into my lap, and hisses at Neveah.

“Oh, hi, pretty kitty,” I croon, smoothing my hand down his back. “Where’d you come from? You’re too friendly to be a stray.”

Hope shakes her head. “The cat can’t go with her.”

“I figured.” Duke crosses his arms and shrugs. “That’s why he’ll be staying here, with me. ”

“You think you’ve won something, but you have no idea of the hell you just brought to your new doorstep,” Neveah says.

He shrugs again. “Bring it. I’m ready.”

“So, you say,” she scoffs. “But I highly doubt you’ve thought of all the repercussions of your actions. You’re a rookie in this game.”

“You know what?” I sigh and splay my arms and legs out.

“I’m tired. I feel like I’ve been on a month-long bender.

I want the hell out of here. This is just one more problem off my plate.

This house probably would’ve sat on the market for years anyway.

Honestly, if the check clears, then I’ll consider this the most generous thing Duke’s ever done for me.

” I roll my head back and forth against the couch.

“Granny always said I shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, even if that horse drugged me out of my mind to get his way. ”

“Gingersnap…”

“For the love of God, grow up and stop calling me that. We’re thirty, not thirteen.”

Neveah glares at him. “Don’t worry about a thing. We’ll pack up what you need from here, so you don’t have to stay with this cretin.”

He rolls his eyes and leans against Granny’s old recliner. “Call me names all you want, but I’ve won this round fair and square. How’s it feel?”

“I feel really fucking weird,” I admit, before realizing I said that out loud.

I wince. The last thing I need to be showing any of these people is weakness. I just can’t ignore the feeling deep in the pit of my gut that insists something isn’t right. Something’s about to go off the rails in ways I haven’t considered.

“You can stay with me tonight,” Hope offers. “We’ll load up your car tomorrow morning then follow you to Charleston, so you won’t have to do it all alone.”

“You want…to help me?” I shake my head. “I don’t understand. One minute, I’m crying into my whiskey at The Flame, mourning Granny, and the next, it’s like I woke up in The Twilight Zone.”

Granny always said if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is .

“Who cares? It’s happening. You’re going to have the most amazing life, Cordelia McCoy,” she swears.

She says it with such conviction that I almost believe her.

My amazing life isn’t going to come true unless I start making things happen for myself, instead of waiting for a magical spell or wishing at a well.

Wishes aren’t a replacement for hard work.

I meet Duke’s heavy gaze directly and say as firmly as I can, “Look, I’m not sure how drunk and desperate I’ve been for the past month to sell this place to you, but just because you own it now doesn’t mean you can run me out on a rail.

I’ve lived here my whole life. Give me a few hours to collect my things and say goodbye. ”

He nods, his jaw ticking like a time bomb waiting to explode. “Do you want any help loading up your car?”

“Not from you.”

“Would you like us to stay and help?” Hope asks.

“No.” I shake my head. “Thank you for the offer, but I really would like some privacy before I leave Utopia for good.”

Why does this moment feel so damn wrong? What am I missing?

What am I forgetting?

“Okay, Delia. We’ll be waiting for you at Hope’s.” Neveah offers me a sympathetic glance before turning her attention toward Duke. “This isn’t over, Castellaw.”

He studies me intently in a way that makes goosebumps race across my skin before he turns to leave with the others. “Yeah. I think it might be.”

I breathe a sigh of relief when I’m finally, totally alone.

And then I get to work packing for my new life.

I’ll figure out the rest as I go.