11. Sociopath
Sociopath
Zephyr
T alk about a welcome home. My body complains as I stiffly rise to my feet, joints popping the entire time. Maybe I should’ve called ahead, a more rational voice speaks up in my head. But where’s the fun in that?
My smile returns. Zade’s certainly something when he’s coherent and pissed off. There was a fucking inferno blazing in the green flames of his eyes. Maybe I’ll needle him further to see how far I can push him. Though, I don’t know what I’ll do if he snaps and decides to make good on his threats.
My cock throbs with phantom pain, remembering the word “castration” leaving my brother’s lips. Damn. He went straight for the balls. Literally.
Soriah glances between me and Zade’s retreating form, looking conflicted on which brother she should check on. I walk deeper into the house and run my gaze down her body. Warmth settles low in my stomach. She’s definitely not the awkward teenager I’d left behind four years ago.
And maybe like my brother, she’d avoided me during family holidays because I think I’d remember when her hips widened into curves and high pert tits replaced the flat chest of the little girl she used to be.
She’s all grown up now, and blood rushes to my cock at the realization. Giving up on watching Zade walk away, she glares at me, crossing her arms over the chest I was just admiring.
“What are you doing here? You never come home unless Mom threatens bodily harm if you don’t show,” she quips, shooting a fleeting glance at Zeke, who strides into the house and shuts the front door.
I prowl closer, fascinated with the flush spreading across her face.
“I heard you had an uninvited nightly visitor. I came to help. Isn’t that what big brothers do?” I ask, voice dropping into a husky tone I hadn’t planned on adopting.
What the fuck is happening here? And why am I not stopping it?
Her flush deepens. My gaze drops to her full lips and the teeth peeking out to worry the bottom one. I want to replace it with my own. I barely resist the urge, jerking my head to movement in my periphery.
Zade stands in the kitchen doorway, eyes promising murder if I take another step closer to Soriah.
Oh, it’s like that.
I glance back down at her to find an angular face aimed away from me, brown eyes seeking out my twin. A muscle jumps in my jaw. Figures. He’s got Mom wrapped around his fingers, so why not Riah, too?
I can’t fucking win and whereas before it didn’t bother me. Now? My hands curl into fists, fighting the temptation to yank my sister close and claim that delectable mouth for myself.
Zade can’t have every damn thing.
Touch her and I’ll finish what I started , he signs, hands moving so quick I don’t think Riah caught the message, but I did. He always signed fast for me, like I wasn’t worth slowing down for or worth talking to if I couldn’t decipher his meaning.
I’ve seen him slow his hands to an excruciating pace when communicating with Emilia, Lauren, Bella, and Tito, the least fluent members of our family in ASL, since they don’t spend nearly as much time around him.
I want to run over there and fucking strangle him.
“Zade—” He flips a middle finger at Zeke.
Probably for bringing me along, since he didn’t think to inform me that my sister was in danger.
I give her a sidelong glance. Technically, she’s not really my sister, but the glare she aims back at me says she won’t fall for my charms as easily as my usual prey.
I do like a challenge. And it’d piss Zade off.
Soriah
A strange heated look enters Zephyr’s blue eyes, and I quickly avert my gaze.
He’s always unnerved me, but now, it’s dialed up to ten.
Maybe it was because of the altercation Zeke and I tried to break up.
Or maybe it’s the way his lean body fucking prowled, muscles shifting with each movement, belying barely leashed power.
For all the world, he looked like a panther, and I was his unwitting prey.
I don’t like it.
Zade’s aura screams comfort, safety, and mind-blowing orgasms. Zephyr’s implies I might die before the climax. And I am not going to be one of those women who fucks brothers.
To prove a point, I stride away from Zephyr, giving him my back, and walk over to Zade, who’s glaring at his twin, arms crossed over his broad chest. His eyes flick to me briefly, heat and possession burning hot in his gaze before returning his glare on our “guests”.
Zeke offers his usual grin. It’s too wide, flashing all of his even, white teeth.
The look in his eyes holds hints of deranged amusement, lending credit to the unstable energy he emits.
A bleached mohawk, black painted nails and spiraling tattoos up his hands and forearms scream “don’t fuck with me. ”
Why did Zeke bring Zephyr or vice versa? Neither are exactly stable.
If I was in a darkened alley, I’d run from both of them, taking my chances with less intimidating predators. It’s like choosing a lynx over a tiger. Both are capable of delivering life-threatening damage, but one is larger than the other, multiplying the potential risk of dying.
You both can get the fuck out. I told you, Zeke, to leave him out of this. Tito and I can take care of this without the two of you .
Zephyr laughs, humorless and cruel. Malice shines in the eyes he aims at his twin. My back straightens, tension radiating from me and Zade.
“You just want Riah all to your lonesome. I’m here to help , not fuck my sister. But, from the energy you two are giving off,” the smile on his lips is sharp and predatory, “you already have.”
Zade takes a step forward, and I instinctively grab ahold of his left arm, knowing there’s little chance that my strength alone could hold him back. He jerks to a halt, jaw clenched and nostrils flaring.
“Will you both stop it!” I shout, losing my patience. And to think, Zade and I were having such a good morning before they showed up.
“Zeke,” I snarl, “do something or do what Zade says and get the fuck out. There’s a man out there who wants to kidnap me and do God knows what else.
He’s already taken someone with a passing resemblance to me.
Fighting amongst ourselves will leave us distracted and make it easy on him.
” My chest heaves after my little speech, fingers digging into Zade’s skin.
Zephyr’s transformation is instantaneous. Every expression drops from his face, leaving behind a blank canvas. It’s eerie how quickly he can go from expressive to emotionless.
The word sociopath echoes in my brain. I saw Zade sign it, but witnessing the mask Zephyr dons and how easily he discards it makes a believer out of me.
He stalks forward, and Zade pulls me behind him. Their eyes lock in a stand-off, but instead of attacking his twin, Zephyr extends a hand to Zade.
It’s a trick. It has to be , I think, glancing from his outstretched hand to Zade’s fisted one.
“She’s right, you know. Four heads are better than one.
Truce? Until we’ve eliminated the threat?
” Another smile breaks across Zephyr’s face like a ripple disturbing still water.
“Like when we were little and on the way to visit our aunts and uncles’ houses, Mom would promise us a treat if we behaved? ” I glance between them.
Zade doesn’t soften, but he does silently raise his hand, clasping his brother’s in a firm grip. They shake once before letting their hands drop. Tension drains from me, and I let out a relieved breath.
Crisis averted. I hope.