My converse squeak on the shiny tiled floor as I shuffle on my feet. “Hi.”
Jesse holds a bag of peas in his hand. “This is Letty. We’ll be in the games room. Tell Dad we need to talk when he gets back.”
Jack places his hand on the small of my back and guides me through the house. Modern but homely, with rustic fixtures and fittings, mostly made from deer antlers. Jesse opens the door to a large room with a glass wall that overlooks the moonlit lake. He turns on the light, highlighting a pool table and a large stag’s head that appears to follow me with its eyes. A shiver shoots down my spine.
“Sit.” Jesse points to a large Chesterfield sofa and I park my bottom, creaking the leather as I settle in. He holds the bag over my eye and I flinch. “You’re going to have a right shiner tomorrow.”
Jack laughs. “Fucking Marie is wired.”
“You know she doesn’t like it when you touch other girls.”
“But Lucy?”
“Lucy is her best mate. They like to share, but anybody else, she gets real pissy.”
“Do you like to share?” I gulp, remembering what Kane told me about them. I didn’t actually believe it until now.
“Sometimes. Too bad you’re our cousin. We could’ve had some fun.”
I glare at him and take the bag of peas and hold it against my face.
“Wait, does this mean we don’t get to fuck her now?” Jack’s mocking tone makes me nauseous.
“Like I would have, anyway. Get over yourself.”
They both share a knowing look and Jack takes his coat off and grabs a pool cue.
“So is that not your mum back there?”
“That’s Dad’s girlfriend. She’s okay.”
It must be nice to have any sort of parent. I’d take a stepmum at this point, anyone who cares.
Jesse hands me a cue and we settle into playing a game of pool to pass the time. I’ve never just hung out with them before without one of them trying to get in my knickers, and it’s nice. This must be what it feels like to have a brother. I guess they’re the closest thing to family I have. A warmth spreads through my chest as they joke around. I like being part of their inner circle, even if it is just for today.
The door swings open and the boys stand tall. The energy in the room shifts as all eyes focus on the man with a beard.
“How’s the culling going?” Jesse says, then rubs the tip of his cue with blue chalk.
“Slow.” He scratches his beard giving me a once over, before turning back to Jesse. “You wanted to talk?”
Jack puts his arm around me. “This is Letty, the girl who’s been staying at the Harding farmhouse.”
His blue eyes darken. He stares at my face, as if staring at a ghost. “Damn. You look just like her.”
My cheeks lift. “You knew my mother?”
“A little.” He turns to Jesse. “What the hell is she doing here?”
“She’s Uncle Gavin’s kid.”
His head snaps back to me. “Who told you that?”
My body trembles under his gaze. “I found a letter from Mum addressed to Kane in prison.”
“Saying what?”
“That they could never be together after he murdered my father.”
