My brow wrinkles. I’ve had about as many revelations as I can take today.
“Awe you did. Poor Letty. You actually thought Jesse liked you.”
Anger bubbles under my skin, making me itch all over my body.
Jesse puts his arm around me and sandwiches me between him and his brother. “Ignore her. She’s just jealous.”
“Jealous?” She laughs again. “Why would I be jealous of a fat nobody like her who has a fucking psycho for a dad?”
A prickling heat courses through me. “You bitch.” I throw myself at her with a tight fist, but she waves her handbag in the air with a scream, blocking my punch.
The guys chuckle behind me and do nothing to stop me from swinging at her again. My fist connects with her jaw. The closed umbrella in her other hand swings like a baseball bat, hitting me in the eye, firing off a turbo boost in me that tears into her.
Next thing I know, the guys lift me up and Jack carries me over his shoulder with my head bobbing over his back.
“I’ll fucking kill her.”
“You’re a psycho bitch just like your dad,” she shouts, rubbing her bust lip.
Jesse examines her mouth. “You’ll live. And she’s our fucking cousin. So next time you talk about her pa, it’s my fucking uncle you're talking about.”
She stills like she’s seen a ghost, then Jack throws me inside the Discovery. He inspects my face, but he can’t hide the silent chuckle that rocks through him.
“You enjoyed that, didn’t you?” I snap.
“Just a little.”
Jesse jumps into the driver’s seat. “Does it hurt?” Jesse says, giving me a sideways glance.
“I’ve had worse.”
Jesse turns the engine and puts the discovery into reverse. “Take what Marie says with a pinch of salt. None of that is true what she said back there. She just doesn’t like sharing.”
Acid rises in my throat. Whether it’s true or not, I couldn’t care less now. Everything has changed. The person I cared about most has deceived me and nothing compares to the hollow cavern in my chest slowly filling with sadness, threatening to drown me at any moment.
Jack turns the stereo down. “What will dad say about this?” He glances at Jesse who just shrugs.
“What’s your dad like?”
The boys are silent. Jack clicks his tongue. I slump in the seat. Great.
“Will he let me stay? I don’t have anywhere to go.” My foster parents couldn’t wait to get rid of me and the thought of going back there makes me want to hurl. I’d sooner live on the streets than stay with them and their perfect little family. I was like a black sheep, a stain on their perfect life. I’m sure they only fostered to make themselves look good at church.
“You’re staying,” Jack says. “We look after our own.”
“Dad isn’t the easiest of people to get along with, but he’ll let you stay.” Jesse gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. “He’s your uncle, after all. His name’s Gareth. Your dad Gavin was his twin.”
It makes sense. Twins run in the family, it seems. Jesse grips the steering wheel, turning onto the drive in front of a modern lake house. The moon rises over the lake, reflecting in the glass fronted home.
“It’s beautiful here,” I say as I stare out the car window. A complete contrast to Kane’s dilapidated farmhouse.
Jack guides me up the steps to the porch, and Jesse opens the door.
“You boys are home early,” a blonde woman says, then pauses when she sees me.
“Hey Linda. Is Dad back?” Jesse asks, opening the freezer door.
“He’s still out hunting.” She opens a cupboard door to put a glass away. “Hello, nice to meet you.”
