Chapter 3 #2
She hugged him back then more, before touching Theo’s arm and ruffling Gabe’s hair. But for me she just nodded. I followed my brothers inside to our table and at the rear of the expansive diner and took a seat.
“Whatever you want is yours.” She said, “Juan’s even got your special pepper poppers you love so much Theo.”
He just nodded and leaned back.
“Thanks Mon.” Jude started. “Maybe give us a minute?”
“Of course.” She smiled. “I’ll send Stacey over when you’re ready.”
Theo was already looking at Stacey, his ravenous gaze undressing her where she stood serving other customers. Disgusted, I looked away staring at words that were a blur. My thoughts raced through my head. The reading of the wills was not what I expected.
I prepared myself for Silas to take over their holdings and to run the business whatever they were. I expected to be given a modest sum of money, nothing extravagant. A hundred thousand would’ve been more than enough before they sent me on my way and asked me to never come back here again.
I would’ve.
Without a glance over my shoulder.
“So we all have to live in the house. None of us can leave?” Gabe asked.
“Looks like it.” Theo muttered under his breath.
Gabe glanced my way as though somehow he knew what I had planned. But he couldn’t possibly have any idea, because I never told him.
Beep.
My cell vibrated. I lifted it, staring at the message.
Penn: are you rich now?
I focused on typing: Not anywhere near it.
“Something funny?” Theo snapped.
I lifted my gaze. “You mean apart from your face?”
“Jesus.” Jude rolled his eyes.
I just looked away, replying to Penn instead: I’ll tell you later.
Beep.
Penn: good, cause I’m coming to yours.
I stared at the message as the waitress neared. I pretended not to hear the sleezy tone from Theo as he ordered his stuffed peppers. Jude was next, then Gabe.
“I’ll just have a shake, vanilla. Thank you.”
She gave me a sympathetic smile, glared at Theo and walked away.
The food came out fast as it always did.
I once heard Jude say that the Ares Holdings owned Monica’s Diner.
Dante revived it when the money ran dry and the place closed down.
He sank a lot of money into it, rebuilding the place and with a fresh wave of advertising, he built it to where it was now.
Apparently he did a lot of that. Spent more and more and more from Casino’s to car washes, diners and a thousand other places I didn’t care enough about to listen to. Because the only question that remained was…where was he getting the money?
It never ran dry, that’s for sure…no matter how much of it Theo shoved up his nose. I lifted my gaze watching him shove forkfuls of bacon wrapped chicken into his mouth and chew. He saw me and grinned.
“I think I’ll head home.” I said, rising.
“What?” Theo called, his mouth open full of food. “You’re not gonna stay for dessert?”
Christ he disgusted me.
“I’ll send the car back.” I muttered and pushed my chair back in.
“Want me to come?” Gabe asked, almost panicked.
“Chill little brother.” Theo chided. “Don’t chase bitches, unless you want to fuck them. You don’t want to fuck her, do you? I mean, apart from being our sister and all…”
“Adopted sister.” Gabe muttered his cheeks red. “And don’t be disgusting.”
“It’s okay.” I gave his shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll see you back at the house.”
I couldn’t get out of there fast enough, slipped out the rear door and climbed in the limousine.
“Just you, Ms. Ares?” The driver asked as he started the engine.
I gave a nod, leaving silence to fill the space.
I couldn’t leave, not yet at least. But if I did, what then? Would they hunt me down and drag me back? If there was money or power involved, then absolutely. I lifted my gaze to the view through the tinted windows as we turned into our estate, then our street, finally pulling up outside the house.
The driver climbed out and opened my door.
“Will you go back and wait for the others?”
“Absolutely.” He answered. “Would you like me to escort you inside?”
I shook my head and headed for the front door. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.”
Promise me… Mom’s voice came out of nowhere as I pressed my thumb against the scanner. I half expected the locks to not open. But they did, leaving me to push inside.
I was a stranger in this house. In this name and this future.
The events of the last few weeks cemented that.
My chest ached as I made my way through the foyer and along the hallway.
My steps slowed at the doorway to the living room and my father’s study, but I forced myself to keep going, heading deeper until I turned toward my room.
You don’t want to fuck her, do you? Theo’s foul words resounded. I mean, apart from being our sister and all.
God , he was vile.
The moment I gripped the handle to my bedroom door I knew something was wrong. The sense of another was so innate it was gripping. I stopped, stared at the door, then slowly pushed it open…staring into what was left of my bedroom.
It was trashed.
My bed shoved aside. My bedroom drawers pulled out. My underwear strewn all over the room. We’ve been robbed. WE’VE BEEN ? —
I spun around and lunged, tearing past Gabe’s room and spun along the hallway like my life depended on it…until Silas stepped out of his bedroom. I slammed into him, grabbing his arm. “We’ve been.” I gasped sucking in hard breaths. “We’ve been ROBBED!”
He said nothing, just stood there. That stony, hateful stare fixed on mine.
“Well, don’t just stand there!” I yelled. “Call the police!”
Only then did I look past him into his bedroom. His desk was there, his ten thousand dollar computer lit up like it always was. Rolex watches. Gold chains. It was all there. So how come they robbed my room…and not his?
Because it wasn’t a robbery, was it?
The words hit me. I tried to think, but the agony plunged deeper.
I lifted my gaze to his. “Why?”
He said nothing. Just like he always said nothing.
He did this. He fucking did this. Why? Because of the will? Because he couldn’t get rid of me? “Fuck you, Silas.” I spat and leaned closer, meeting that glare with my own. “Fuck. You.”
I spun around and strode away, my knees shaking. I barely made it back to my room before the tears came. My room blurred until I swiped it away and moved. The drawers were first, I righted them, sliding the drawers back in and gathering my underwear. This wasn’t just anger…or frustration.
This was blind rage.
The kind that wasn’t just dangerous.
But lethal too.
I was going to need to be careful around them now. More than I was ever before.