Page 56 of Cryptic Curse

“Yeah.I mean, why else would he do it?”Eagle swallows and puts down his controller.“And what if it’s like, hereditary, you know?I mean, Dad’s supposed to be this huge pillar of the community.He’s the patriarch of our family, and he’s always been our rock.”

An uncomfortable silence settles over us.I don’t think my father was depressed.He certainly didn’t show any symptoms.

But would I even know?

Nah…too easy.

“I don’t think whatever Dad is going through is hereditary,” I say.“I don’t think he was depressed.He probably just felt cornered, like there was nowhere else to go.”

Eagle’s eyebrows shoot up.“What do you mean?Do you think Dad’s into somethingbad?”

Fuck.

The last thing I need is to start my brother down that road.It’s only a hunch on my part anyway.I’m usually much better at keeping my theories to myself.I started up the Nintendo to get Eagle to relax and talk.Fuck it.I let my own guard down too.

“No, no,” I say.“What I mean is that he’s probably just overworked.Look at what’s happened over the last decade.Cooper Steel nearly went bankrupt, and he had to work hard to save that company and get it profitable again to avoid thousands of layoffs.Plus he runs the ranch.Falcon went to prison, Nana died, Raven got sick.It’s been tough, E.”

Eagle visibly relaxes a bit and picks up his controller.

Good.

He bought it.

I wish I could.

But I know Austin Bellamy isn’t the pillar of society everyone—including my brothers and sisters—believe he is.

I witnessed him do something heinous years ago.

Dad explained it away, and I was just a kid.

I never told anyone.

But I’ve also never felt at peace with my father since then.

And I probably never will.

18

DANIELA

Lunch break comes, and there’s a small dining area with several round tables set up for students.Most of the young men and women are already seated, eating and chatting with new friends.I scan the room, feeling oddly out of place.These people are mostly older than I am, though a few look young enough to be fresh out of high school.

I make my way to an empty table at the far end, but Jordan waves me over.

I smile and join them.He’s sitting with two women.

“Daniela, hi,” he says.“Meet Gina and Lavender.”

I recognize both women from class.They were partners in the kitchen.Gina is a pretty woman with dark skin and eyes, and Lavender… Well, she lives up to her name.Her skin is fair, but her hair and her nails are light purple.

Already I’m embarrassed about the lunch I brought.Simple ham and cheese and a Tupperware of fresh blueberries.Gina is—seriously—eating sushi out of a bento box, and Lavender is noshing on a quinoa salad that looks like something out of a gourmet cookbook.

“Hi.”I set my simple lunch down in front of me.

“So you’re the one who blew everyone away with your chopping skills,” Lavender says with a smile.“Jordan wouldn’t shut up about it.”

“He’s exaggerating,” I say, though I can’t help but feel pleased.