Chapter 1
Faithless
Avery
I stood in front of my childhood home, holding some fancy bottle of champagne, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
The house was pumping with music and screams of laughter could be heard over the rhythmic base, letting me know the party was in full swing.
Life was fucking perfect.
I was twenty-three years young, had just completed my business associates degree and planned on surprising my family at the celebration of the century—held for my parents thirtieth wedding anniversary.
They were saddened when I said I couldn’t make it, vowing that we would have a second get-together when they attended my graduation ceremony in a couple of weeks.
Us Whitiker’s were a tight-knit crew. Mum and Dad raised my siblings and I in a loving small-town community. Everyone knew who we were, which wasn’t surprising, considering we owned and operated the most popular pub in town.
It was the reason why I studied the degree I did. Why I left everything I so dearly loved, behind—so I could gain the smarts to take over and operate the family business.
The move to college was a difficult transition. Sure, I missed my parents and my two younger siblings, but it was Hannah, my girlfriend, who I longed for the most.
The last three years had been brutal on us. The strain of a long-distance relationship taking its toll on our connection. I invited her to campus often, yet her anxiety seemed to ramp up at the mere thought of leaving the parameters of our town.
My girlfriend had always been shy and introverted, my complete opposite, which was what originally attracted me to her.
It began as a teenage crush, which soon spiralled out of control, that at sixteen I finally found the balls to approach her.
And lucky I did, since we had been together ever since.
Seven years later and I was ready to return home, to rekindle that spark and propose to my love. Being away was a trying time, but a positive trial for our overall relationship.
Since I had been away, Hannah got a job at our pub, Whitiker’s, and seemed to be thriving in my family’s presence. They had always liked her, and I was relieved that she was being looked after and welcomed into the fold, as she had limited support from her neglectful relatives.
Impatience soon took me over as I rushed around the side of the house to the backyard. I was keen to see my loved ones and celebrate with them; I hadn’t been back in months.
As soon as I turned the corner, a comfortable warmth permeated my chest—a makeshift dancefloor had been set up, with Mum and Dad slow dancing in the middle, all cutesy and disgusting.
I kept my head down as I weaved through the crowd until I managed to sneak up beside them. “Can I have the next dance?” I asked, a cheeky smirk layering my face.
They immediately turned, shock widening their eyes when Mum released a piercing shriek. In seconds I was enveloped in their embrace, voices meshing into one.
“I thought you weren’t—”
“I can’t believe you’re here—”
I swear one of them started crying, or maybe it was me? Either way, it was good to be back.
After a million hello hugs and being plied with drinks, I managed to catch a breather. My gaze continued to roam the party, searching for Hannah, when someone tackled me from behind.
A little tussle broke out, and I soon had my twenty-one-year-old sister in a headlock. “Is that how you welcome me home, squirt? A sneak attack?”
Gemma laughed, finally managing to rip out of my hold, her hair in disarray. “Someone has to keep you on your toes.”
I smiled, pulling her into a side-hug before I clocked her height. Her head now reached my chin. “What the hell, when did you get so big, kid?”
Gemma rolled her eyes. “I’m an adult, Avery. The law says I can legally drink now, too. Shocker.”
I scoffed. “Like age ever stopped you from sneaking Dad’s beer from the fridge.”
Her lips pursed, trying not to laugh. “Eh, it was disgusting.”
We both cackled, giving into the memory of Gemma’s wannabe rebel days.
“So,” I said, once we’d sobered. “Where’s our brother huh? Your troublesome twin? He missed my grand entrance.” I sulked.
Her face soured which immediately had me on guard. “What has he done now?”
Evan was eight minutes older than Gemma, and he never let her forget it. They were super close—as twins often were—but sometimes my little sister liked to come to me for support, since I was less severe and judgemental.
Gemma bit into her lower lip, indecision painting her features. I had seen that expression enough. She was weighing up the loyalty to her twin and staying quiet, versus doing the right thing and spilling his secrets.
“Gem?” I reached out placatingly.
“You just got back. I-I don’t want to ruin your night on just a feeling, Ave. Forget it.”
“Don’t be like that. I’m here. Tell me. Everything will be okay.”
Gemma looked up at me with utter fear, then murmured. “It’s Evan… and Hannah.”
I tried to regulate my breathing, to get a hold of myself. But any sense of calm was shot to shit.
Gemma dropped the bomb that she believed something was going on with my brother and girlfriend. She stressed that the complaint was not based on hard evidence or proof. Instead, my sister claimed she had a feeling, a suspicious instinct that she couldn’t seem to shake.
I knew telling me that truth had cost her, maybe more than she'd realised. So even though I didn’t want to believe a word, I at least had to honour Gemma’s bravery and investigate her misgivings. And maybe after everything was cleared up, we could have a good laugh about it… or not.
After placating my worried sister, I requested some time alone, to think about all that was revealed. Oh, I wanted to be on my own alright, but not for the reason she thought.
I was on a mission, to find the missing duo in question, who had been absent from the party since my arrival. I crept through my family home, as stealthy as a spy.
My brother’s bedroom was empty and so were the rest, their resounding emptiness making me more agitated rather than relieved.
That’s when I ventured deeper still, the end of the corridor coated in dark shadows luring me closer to my demise. The only room left was the laundry. I didn’t stop advancing, wanting the suspense to be over.
I shimmied the handle with no luck, the door was locked. Which only managed to piss me off further. My jaw set and my muscles tightened in readiness before I busted that bitch down.
I blinked. Then blinked again.
Hannah, my Hannah leaned back against the washing machine, head tilted back in pleasure, with one leg lifted high over the shoulder of Evan, my brother.
He was on his knees before her, eyes doped out in bliss as he licked the pussy that belonged to me.
In an instant, adrenalin rushed my system, alongside a tidal wave of uncontrollable rage.
Everything that I was, just fell away.
My jovial personality, my positive nature, the unending love I held for my girlfriend and brother.
Just. Fell. Away.
With those internal chains unshackled. I attacked.