When Devils Sing(113)

CHAPTER 49ISAIAH





The island was burning, and Isaiah could only think of his father. He ran through the trees, bursting through the woods and into the open air. He couldn’t look back. He couldn’t hesitate. He needed to get off the island alive and expose Lake Clearwater to the world. He had to believe Reid was successful, that everything they’d done wasn’t for nothing.

When Isaiah reached the edges of the party, there was only unbridled panic. Lake Clearwater residents clambered around like ants toward the boats, screaming and shouting among the rapid explosion of fireworks.

“Isaiah?”

A hand grabbed Isaiah’s shoulder, pulling him close. Dad.

Laurence hugged him tight, and Isaiah thought everything would be okay. But then his father demanded, “Where were you?”

The question threw Isaiah off-kilter as he pulled away, bodies swarming all around them. He studied his father’s face, and he only saw fire and fear reflected in Laurence’s dark eyes. He knew where his son had been—he knew everything. Isaiah could see it now, clear as day.

“You know,” Isaiah whispered.

Laurence could only shake his head before he pulled Isaiah through the crowd, his grip ironclad as they raced for the water’s edge.

NEERA

“GET IN THE goddamned boat, kid,” Grant hissed, tugging Neera behind him.

As the fire burned through the island, Neera refused to flee. She sank to her knees on the shore, forcing herself to become deadweight. The heat from the distant flames grew stronger, warming her wet face. “I’m not leaving without my mom!”

Grant let out a frustrated cry, his eyes searching the crowd. He was frantic, the fire a shock to not only him, but all of Lake Clearwater’s elite. “There!” he shouted, pointing toward the tree line.

Neera craned her head over the frenzied bodies, finding Jason and her mom running toward them, the fire not far behind.

She made to run after them, but Grant held her back. Painful seconds passed before Kiran was before Neera. Neither one hesitated to hold each other, refusing to let go.

A few frantic minutes later and the four of them were on Grant’s boat while the fire engulfed the island before their eyes. Neera looked around the polluted water, struggling to find a familiar face in the onslaught of boats. She breathed a little easier when she saw Isaiah and his father a few yards away, safely off the island.

She then thought of Sam and Reid, hoping they made it out alive. But there was no way to know, not then. Not that night. Instead, she had to sit by Grant Langley’s side and watch as the heart of Lake Clearwater burned from the inside out.





EPILOGUENEERA





Neera Singh sat in a dressing room backstage at Ithaca House—Nashville’s premier club for fresh, up-and-coming talent. Like herself.

It’d been two months since she signed with Grant Langley, yet he still had her playing small venues. Testing the waters with her peculiar skills.

Bigger venues were on the horizon, but Neera was fine to wait. She’d performed every night for weeks now, and the music was beginning to take its toll. Truthfully, it was already wearing her to the bone, taking more than it gave back. She couldn’t imagine playing for crowds in the thousands. What would be left of her afterward?

This is what I wanted, Neera reminded herself.

After all, her family was no longer in debt from Blind Bucks. Her advance from signing the record deal had covered it all. Nanaji, finally, had sold the motel, allowing him and her grandmother to experience the joys of retirement. Though they were still figuring out exactly what that looked like. Her mom still bartended by choice, but not by necessity. She’d even enrolled in classes at a local community college in Nashville.

“This is what I wanted,” Neera whispered aloud as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She took extra care to cover the dark circles growing beneath her eyes with concealer.

A knock sounded at the door.

“It’s open!”

A moment later, Isaiah Johnson appeared in the doorway of the dressing room, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hands. “This is fancy,” he said by way of greeting, taking in the room. “Also, these are for you. It’s customary, right?”

Neera rose from the chair, greeting him with a tight hug. “You made it,” she said into his chest, grateful to see a familiar face.

“Of course.” Isaiah squeezed her in response, then pulled away. “I couldn’t miss you on the way up to Massachusetts.”

Neera looked past Isaiah, half expecting some of his family to be trailing in behind him. “You’re not making the drive alone, are you?”

Isaiah shook his head. “My mother’s in the car on a work call and my father … he’s flying in tomorrow. He and I aren’t on the best of terms right now—after everything that happened. With all of us together on Move-in Day, it should be … interesting.”

“I can only imagine.” Neera returned to the makeup chair. “Are you excited to start school, at least?”

Isaiah waved his hand dismissively. “It’s no big deal. But look at you—look at this. You’re living the dream, Neera.” A playful look danced across his face. “Have you heard from Sam?”

Neera pulled out her phone. She showed Isaiah a photo of Sam and her brother on a white-sand beach in the Gulf of Mexico. There was a modest little shack behind them. “They’re all moved in.”