Page 11 of Blaze

“Yeah.”

“Are you aware of how the town was founded or its history?”

“No.”

“Then you need a crash course while I drive.”

“Okay.”She twists to look at me.“You’re acting strange.Should I be worried thatyouare the axe murderer?”

I chuckle.“No, baby.Not even close.I don’t own an axe.”I give her hand a squeeze.“I’m going to give you the very abridged version.The town was founded by a family with the last name Wilde.”

She giggles.“Fitting.”

“True.It was over a hundred years ago.Fast forward to now.The last patriarch of the family was Amos Wilde.He died several months ago at ninety-five.There had been a rift in the family about fifty years ago when his wife, Carolyn, died.His four sons moved away and never returned.”

“That’s so sad.”

“It is.”I glance at her before making a turn.“Anyway, Old Man Wilde had a sizable mansion and owned most of the town, and he left all of it in his will to his grandchildren, whom he had never met.The catch is any grandkid who wants to claim their piece of the inheritance has to come live in Wilde and manage the town and estate for ten years.”

“That’s kind of odd.”

“I suspect odd doesn’t even begin to describe Amos Wilde.”

“Interesting family history,” she comments.

I glance at her again.

Suddenly, her dark brown eyes pop wide and her mouth drops open.“Oh, wait.You’reone of the grandkids.”

“Exactly.I moved here two weeks ago from Chicago.I’m the sixth grandchild to arrive.”

“Is that where you’re taking me?To the mansion?”

“Yes.I didn’t want you to freak out when we arrived.Keep in mind my cousins and I are regular folks who have gotten swept up in this madness.What we’ve learned is that our grandfather was a very strange, eccentric old fart who hoarded his money while letting the house and town fall into disrepair.The six of us have taken on the task of renovating the mansion and the businesses in town to help return Wilde to its heyday.”

“That’s awesome.”

I smile at her, thinking that went well, as I pull onto the road that leads to the estate.“We’re almost there.”

“I feel like I’m intruding.Your cousins are not going to want you bringing a stranger into the family home.”

I chuckle.“Baby, my cousins are going to be elated.Trust me.”I roll down the window and wave to Stanford, the guard at the gates.After he opens them for me, I pull through and round to the back of the mansion to park.

“Holy fuck, Blaze,” Vicky mumbles, sitting taller in her seat, her head bent to peer out the window.

I pull up alongside my truck and shut off the engine before turning to face her.“There’s one more thing you should know before we go inside.”

Her eyes are wide.She’s gripping the door handle so tight her knuckles are white.

I draw in a deep breath, uncertain how she’s going to take my next piece of information.“My cousins all arrived here single.They have met and married their wives in Wilde.”

“I thought you said your grandfather died a few months ago.”

“He did.”

She narrows her eyes.

Trying to lighten the crazy, I grin.“The joke is that there’s either something in the water or the paint that makes all who live here…hmmm…” I’m not sure how to tell her.“…I think the best word is desperate.”