The Apple Tree (37 page)

“
Good afternoon, Levi. It’s always good to see family.” Charles nodded toward the men behind him. “You can go now, this is a private conversation.”

“
Let her go. I’ll tell you about the curse.” Levi twisted his wrists against the ropes.

Charles raised an eyebrow. “Oh, good. I was afraid this would be difficult. Do talk.”

Levi took a deep breath, his eyes locked on Bianca. “It started with the apples.”

“
What apples?” Charles pursed his lips. “You’re not making any sense.” He turned around. “Anna?”

For the first time, Levi noticed his cousins Anna and Peter, standing in the darkness a few feet behind Bianca.

Anna stepped forward and pulled a lighter out of her pocket. Smirking at Levi, she flicked it with her thumb, revealing a dancing orange flame. “Where’s your shirt, Lee? This isn’t Chippendales.”

“
That wasn’t my first priority when I found out you kidnapped my wife.” Panic filled Levi’s body. He had no idea what Anna intended, but the look on her face told him it wouldn’t be good. He yanked his arms and the ropes dug into his skin.

Peter turned his head the other direction.

Anna grabbed Bianca’s arm and shoved the flame onto her index finger.

“
Stop!” Levi shouted.

Bianca’s arm jerked against the rope that held her and more muffled screams tore through the room.

“
I’ll tell you more! Just Stop!”

Anna released her thumb and the flame went out.

Bianca closed her eyes, her arm visibly relaxing.

“
There’s a tree on my land that has some sort of magic apples. I brought them to dinner and Anna made a pie out of them. We all ate it.”

Charles stepped closer and crossed his arms. “Magic apples? I was expecting a fountain of youth or a witch you befriended. Are you sure you’re telling the truth? Bianca’s safety is on the line.”

“
Yes. That’s the truth. And I didn’t do it on purpose. I didn’t figure out what caused it till much later.”

Charles turned toward Anna. “Do you remember making a pie?”

Anna scoffed and tossed back her black hair. “How the fuck am I supposed to remember a pie from a hundred and fifty years ago? I made a zillion pies”

Charles crossed the room and pointed a finger in Anna’s face. “Watch your mouth! You may stroll around town like a modern girl on your own time, but when you’re with me, you will act like the proper woman I raised you to be!”

Anna straightened and her face grew serious. “Yes, sir.”

Peter kept his head down and remained quiet.

Charles took a long, slow breath and his features calmed. He leaned against a workbench and addressed Levi. “Where did these apples come from?”

Levi kept his eyes on Bianca, trying to reassure her. “I don’t know how they originated. I just found the tree on the far end of the property. I had no idea what would happen when I picked them.”

“
I’m glad you’re finally sharing this information with us.” Charles stood and walked across the room. “Take us to tree and I’ll give her back.”

“
I can’t. I destroyed the tree.”

Charles narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists into tight balls. “Anna!”

Anna stepped forward, holding up the lighter.

“
No! I’m telling you everything!”

Charles gave him a cold stare. “I know you are, but now I’m angry.”

She seized Bianca’s arm.

E
xcruciating pain shot through Bianca’s wrist from the flame. Squeezing her eyes shut, she bit down on the rag in her mouth. Levi’s screams fluttered on the edges of her mind, but she couldn’t focus on anything but the blazing heat.

“
That’s enough.” Peter said from beside her.

Anna removed the flame.

A whoosh of breath escaped Bianca’s nose. She relaxed her hand, relief flooding through her as the cool air touched her skin. An angry crimson and fuchsia circle covered her wrist and the sight of it turned her stomach.

“
I say when to stop!” Charles slammed his hand on a worktable and narrowed his eyes at Peter.

Anna flicked the lighter back on. Her heeled shoes echoed on the cement floor as she walked around to Bianca’s other side.

“
No!” Peter shoved his sister away making her shriek and then began untying Bianca’s arms.

“
What do you think you’re doing?” Charles’ face twisted in fury.

“
Levi already told you everything and she doesn’t deserve this. It’s not right.” Both her arms were untied now and Peter knelt to release her legs.

“
I say what is right! Stop thinking with your cock for once, Peter!”

“
She’s a nice person and she didn’t do anything wrong.” Peter pulled the last rope from her ankles.

“
Anna, tie her back up.”

Anna stepped forward and Peter shoved her backward onto the floor. While Anna straightened herself with an incredulous look, Peter yanked the tape off Bianca’s mouth.

Stinging pain shot across her jaw and then relief as she took in a mouthful of air. Fully untied, she stood and took a step toward her husband, craving the comfort of his arms.

“
Dammit.” Charles pulled a handgun out of his suit jacket. “Listen to me!” He fired, hitting Peter.

Bianca jumped at the noise and a scream escaped her lips.

Peter fell to the floor with a grunt, clutching his stomach as a pool of blood formed on the concrete beneath him.

Charles pointed the gun at Bianca and sneered. “Now sit back down. My son will heal in a minute, but I’m guessing you won’t be so lucky.”

Bianca sat and her hands shook as she fought back the sobs that threatened to break loose.

Levi’s wide eyes darted between her and Charles and he struggled against the rope holding him down. If only she could hold him.

“
Re-tie her!”

Anna grabbed Bianca’s arm, twisting her thumb into the burn. Tormenting pain ripped through her wrist and a wail escaped her lips.

“
Stop!” Levi yelled. “Stop hurting her. Torture me instead!”

Charles laughed and crossed his arms, leaning against a workbench. “But this is much more fun.”

“
Oh, my God.” Anna looked behind her. She let go of Bianca’s arm and walked toward Peter, her mouth hanging open. “He’s not healing.”

Everyone in the room turned to look at Peter, still lying in a pool of blood. He coughed and a sputter of red liquid dripped from his lips.

Bianca’s heart dropped. How could he not be healing?

The evil expression left Charles’ face. He jogged across the room and knelt over Peter. “Why isn’t he rejuvenating?”

“
I cut down the tree,” Levi said, still tied to the chair. “It must have taken our healing powers.”

“
We have to get him to the hospital!” Anna said.

Peter grunted, blinking slowly. “No,” he whispered. “I can see Clara.”

Bianca stood from the chair with shaky movements and walked over to Peter. She knelt beside Charles, whose face contorted in anguish. The gun lay forgotten on the floor beside him.

“
I thought you would heal.” Charles clutched the fabric of Peter’s shirt.

Tucking the gun under her legs, Bianca leaned over Peter and placed her un-burnt hand on his cheek.

“
I’m sorry, Bee.” Peter smiled weakly up at her, clutching her hand in his. “But, it’s okay… I’m going… to be… with her.” He closed his eyes, taking a ragged breath, and then his chest stilled.

She swallowed, her throat tight, as warm tears ran down her cheeks, blurring her vision. Blinking several times to clear her eyes, she took one last look at the gorgeous man who had been both a jerk and a friend, and then turned away.

“
Give me your sweater. We have to press it to the wound!” Charles held his hand out to Anna.

“
We need to call 911.” Anna ripped her cardigan off and handed it to her father.

“
How are we going to explain this?”

Charles and Anna were still focused on Peter’s body as Bianca ran across the room toward Levi.

She tore at the ropes that held his arms as his gray eyes watched her, filled with relief and love.

Charles turned and a furious look crossed his face. He wiped his hands across his eyes, stood and stalked toward them.

“
Stay back!” Bianca pulled the gun from her back pocket and aimed it at him. Her hand shook and her heart pounded.

“
You won’t shoot me.” He took another step closer.

He didn’t know a thing about her. She pulled the trigger, hitting him in the thigh. He fell to the floor, groaning and yelling obscenities.

Anna made a terrible wail. She lifted Peter’s head from her lap, set it on the concrete and charged Bianca. “You bitch!”

Bianca turned just in time to see Anna tackle her, both of them falling to the hard floor. The gun flew from her hand, skidded across the room and landed next to a pile of tires. Bianca shrieked and yanked Anna’s hair, pulling her head backward.

Anna shoved her against the concrete and straddled her hips. “It’s your fault Pete’s dead!” She wrapped her hands around Bianca’s neck.

Bianca thrashed her legs and tore at Anna’s back as the pressure in her throat grew to intolerable levels. Her vision blurred and a fuzzy sensation overtook her, when the hands suddenly released. The weight on her body lifted and Bianca inhaled a lungful if oxygen, relief washing through her. She turned her head to find Anna pinned to the ground by Levi.

“
Let me go!” Anna thrashed underneath his weight.

“
Stay still. I don’t want to hurt you.” Levi lifted her and dragged her to the chair he’d been tied to a moment before. “But I can’t let you hurt Bianca.”

Bianca pulled herself from the floor and helped Levi tie Anna to the chair.

“
Let me go! You’re the ones who killed my brother!”

Levi knelt in front of her. “This isn’t you, Anna. I know you’re a good person. Bianca and I didn’t want Peter to die either, but you know that’s what he’s always wanted, since Clara.”

Anna dropped her head and a tear slid down her cheek.

Charles pulled himself up and staggered in the direction of the gun. Bianca dashed forward and grabbed it a second before him. She backed away, pointing the gun at his chest.

Levi stepped beside her. “Give it to me, Bee.”

She took another look at Charles, who slumped back to the concrete clutching his thigh,
and then handed Levi the gun.

Levi walked to where his uncle lay and stood over him. His eyes darted over his body and his lips quivered, like he searched for something to say.

“
You think you can just walk away from this, Levi? You took the tree and my son from me. One day when you least expect—”

Levi shot him in the head.

Anna let out a terrible piercing scream from the chair.

“
You didn’t have to do that.” Bianca clutched Levi’s arm and turned her head away from the bloody mess.

He nodded. “I know, but I’m not going to let him come back for you.” Careful to avoid her burnt wrist, he took her hand and they walked out the door.