Benji cringed and gave me a sideways glance. “Uh, it’s hard to explain? Isn’t it enough that I got it in the first place?”
“No,” Caleb said sternly. “I want to know what kind of crap you got up to for my sake.”
“Er, well…”
When Benji looked to me for advice, I held out my hand and made aso-somotion, indicating that he could tell his brother the partial truth.
“Um. So, I met a guy,” Benji began, but Caleb cut him off with a gasp.
“Holy shit, do you have a sugar daddy?”
“No!” Benji yelled. “Well, I mean, he’s rich? But he’s not - “
“No way!” Caleb cried. “What do you have to do? Oh my god, I was right. Heisinto some weird sex stuff, isn’t he? What the hell did you sign up for?”
“Will you shut up for one second?” Benji snapped.
I could tell he was getting flustered, so I opened my palm to offer him help. Benji sighed and put the cell on speaker.
“Hello, Caleb,” I said.
“Who is that?” Caleb’s voice echoed throughout the chamber. “Is that him?”
“My name is Pierce Tenebrae,” I said. “It’s good to finally meet you, even though it’s over the phone.”
“What are you doing to my brother, you sick freak?” Caleb growled.
“Caleb!” Benji snarled. “I told you it’s not like that, okay? He’s really nice, and he’s the one who paid for your surgery, so watch your mouth.”
I chuckled. “It’s all right, Benji. Caleb has a right to be suspicious.”
“That’s right, I do,” Caleb mumbled, but some of the bite in his voice was gone now.
“You may ask me anything, and I’ll reply the best I can,” I told him.
“Okay. Where are you? You said your name was Tenebrae, right? Do you live in that fancy estate? Is that where you’re keeping Benji?”
Benji was about to scold his brother for his rapid fire questions, but I held him back with a raised palm.
“Yes, Benji is currently living here with me,” I said calmly.
“And I’m not beingkept,” Benji added. “Pierce told me a million times I was free to leave.”
“Okay,” Caleb said slowly. “So what’s the catch? What’d Benji do for all that money?”
Benji and I exchanged glances. From the look I gave him, he seemed to understand.Tell a half truth.
“So, there’s probably something you should know,” Benji began, his voice wary. “Don’t freak out, though, okay?”
“I’m not making any promises,” Caleb muttered.
Benji inhaled then let out a deep sigh. “I’m pregnant.”
“WHAT?”
Caleb’s shout was so loud that the bat servant nearby shrieked and fluttered up to the ceiling in fear. Thankfully, Benji didn’t drop the phone in the water - I assumed he’d braced himself for his brother’s reaction.
“What the fuck, Benji?” Caleb’s shrill voice split the calm bathing chamber like nails on a chalkboard. “What are you doing to him, you sicko? You let him go right now! I’m gonna call the cops!”
