Kayla pushes him off it. Stan blocks her. Feet brace. Shoulders tense. The limo sways as they wrestle, until Kayla twists his wrist and wins with a satisfied huff.
“Ow,” he complains. “That’s assault, Kaye.”
“That’s calledwinning,” she replies. “Now, let’s catch our two new residents up on the family drama.”
She turns her attention to me and Em, brown eyes big and bright.
“Let’s start with the juicy stuff,” she says. “Sterling and I found out we’re half-siblings. Same mother. Naomi Knight. Long story.”
Em sits back, brows raised past her glasses’ top rim. I feel my own curiosity spike too. Clo didn’t have much info on Sterling, but he’s my sister’s husband now. That’s a pretty important person for me to know more about.
Kayla keeps going. “My parents decided the smartest move was handing Darkhaven over to Sterling.”
Stan shrugs. “Called it from a mile away.”
“I’mtalkinghere,” Kayla snaps at Stan.
She smacks a hand on his mouth before continuing. Stan glares at her but doesn’t fight it.
“It’s the smarter move, sure, but it’s bittersweet,” Kayla says. “I kinda sorta gave up my entire life to keep Darkhaven afloat. So Sterling and I talked. He runs the city and cleans it up his way. I get the estate.” Her hand points out the window. “Which we’re about to pull up to.”
Em leans forward, interest pulling her out of herself. That’s a good sign.
“Dae handles finances,” Kayla adds. “Which means things are fucking stable for once. Let’s just say fires are finally being put out.”
Stan nudges her with his elbow, so he can free his mouth. “You’re forgetting Elle.”
Kayla gasps, offended. “I wouldneverforget Elle! She’s my best friend, you prick.”
She looks at me and Em again, smiling.
“Elle’s been talking about opening parts of the estate as shelter. For kids who lost their parents to crime.”
“Crime Sterling set on fire without a conscience,” Stan quips in.
That comment sticks. For a second, I smell smoke that isn’t here. Hear the crack of wood. Feel heat licking too close to my skin.
I was one of those kids. My sister and I barely made it out. But my parents didn’t. I don’t say any of that. I don’t have to. Everyone in this car knows what happened to us.
Kayla’s head whips toward Stan, glaring daggers at him.
He sucks in a breath through his teeth. “Shit, I’m sorry.”
I glance at him, then at Em. She’s watching me, soda paused at her lips, eyes searching. I give her a small smile to show her we’re alright.
Gates rise ahead, metal moving aside with a mechanical glide. Kayla points again, pride clear in her voice. “That’s us.”
The estate comes into view through the trees, ivy crawling up the gray stone exterior, somehow so massive without being cold like the rest of Darkhaven.
This place is nothing like the Song-Smith estate back on the West Coast, where it was white, bright, and pristine, before it became ashes.
“House rules,” Kayla announces, clapping her hands. “Rules are Dae’s idea. I wouldn’t care if we lived feral.”
Stan mutters, “Feels targeted at me.”
“I said I wouldn’t care,” Kayla says. “Anyway, rule one! The kitchen’s open all hours. Eat whatever you want. If you finish anything, tell staff so it magically reappears. If you don’t tell staff, Stan gets chained in the dungeon.”
Em lifts her brows again.
