House of Fire (Unraveled Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the rest of the faculty stared
and applauded a fifty-something man with his pants hiked up to his chest and
black rimmed glasses set on his large nose. Delany had missed his name, but she
was sure he was from the Math Department.
    “I want to welcome a
special surprise guest of mine,” President Givens began, lifting his hand to
the back of the room as more applause erupted, and heads turned in the
direction of his hand to a man in the back of the room. His hair speckled a
silvery black, his grey suit pressed into a pristine straightness, his stride
smooth and confident. Holston Parker .
    Delaney’s throat
crawled as he neared her, each step sending her body into a deeper state of recoil.
The last time she had set eyes on him was in Evie’s attic loft. She had been
curled up on the bloodied cot, her body beaten and unable to escape his wrath. It
was their first official meeting and, subsequently, the introduction to her new
life in his control. Now only ten feet from her, his eyes narrowed in on hers,
watching, studying her face. His unflinching stare made his presence known. She
averted her eyes down, feeling immediately angry for her downward glance. Coward.
    “The man responsible
for this masterpiece, this endowment upon the university, and a good friend of
mine, Holston Parker.” President Givens welcomed him with a firm handshake and
the yacht club, upper arm pat that every businessman and member of the good old
boys’ network was well rehearsed in.
    “Thank you, President
Givens, for letting me intrude on your luncheon. I was in the building,
ensuring the final touches will be ready for our grand opening in two days,
when I heard the first clatter of the Four Clovers restaurant,” he began,
displaying his first smile to the crowd.
    The corners of his
mouth burned in Delaney’s mind as she reached for her knife. Her fingers ached
to slash the smile from his face, the facade he had mastered during his climb
to the top. He had the whole town fooled, the university groveling at his feet,
and she was playing to his whims. An understanding, he had said. Most
people call it blackmail .
    “I am more than
pleased to bring the most deserving individuals the opportunity to dine for the
first time in our facility. I hope you are enjoying the atmosphere, the
elements.” He made a grand gesture toward the glass that sent Delaney reeling
in her seat. “ And most of all, that you enjoy the meal brought to you by
the freshest ingredients in the student garden. It’s been a long, beautiful
journey to bring this facility to the campus. I look forward to many more years
of celebration of scholarship here at Leighton,” he finished as he stared at
Delaney one second too long, his eyes penetrating her skin as June gave her a
sideways glance.
    Holston handed the
microphone back to President Givens with a nod and another ritual shoulder pat
before moving toward the crowd. Count President Givens in his circle. Delaney inhaled, feeling the burn in her lungs as he passed her. This time, her
eyes steadied on him as he passed. She wouldn’t let him defeat her again. It
was petty, she knew, yet she counted it a small victory all the same.
    “You got an extra
stare, Ms. Jones,” June whispered. “You know, he’s single and loaded.”
    “Never,” she
whispered back, her words disappearing into the applause as if she had never
spoken them at all.
     
    4
     
    June 14 - 6:30 p.m.
     
    “It’s right here,
what more do you need?” Evie accused, her index finger slamming onto the glowing
screen in front of her as soon as she heard the front door open. She stood up
from the kitchen table and walked to the foyer, her bare feet pressing against
the softness of the cork floor. The headline read, “Missing Man, 38, from Green
Bay.”
    “You have no idea
that it was him,” Ryan replied, walking into the cottage. Ryan’s quaint home
was located on the foothills of Lofoten’s mountains, an unlikely find for a fisherman
of his status.