I exhale a long breath, repeating her words. “Only for them.”
With this pace, Elena and Tristan are bound to fall for her. Now that I’m stepping back, so will my brothers. And everyone will fall hard since nobody else has shown them this type of dedication besides me. Taryn’s staying because she’s gentle and compassionate. She is putting their needs above hers, though we abducted her and have held her against her will.
Someday, my siblings will grow to understand what that type of affection, that type of love, feels like from someone who isn’t blood.
And just because I don’t believe in it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t.
TWENTY-TWO | TARYN
Iglide the knife through my steak, failing miserably to ignore the sets of eyes slicing into my skin, similar to how my blade slashes through the meat. The sound of metal cutting through flesh is louder than the deafening silence around the mahogany dinner table. The chandelier overhead, dangling with dainty crystals, illuminates every tense muscle and feature on everyone’s face.
Occasionally, a muscle twitches, an audible exhale is released, and a mouth opens as if someone wants to speak and then thinks better of it.
It’s remarkable how a glittering chandelier can hold the same effect as a light in an interrogation room. And I can’t help but feel like I’m the subject, feeling isolated and scrutinized.
But there are no confessions.
At least not yet anyway.
Cameron’s inquisitive gaze imprisons me, making me think he doesn’t know the particular activities that occurred between Colten and me earlier.
On one side of me, Tristan flicks around a green bean, watching it roll across his plate. On the other, Jess won’t meetanyone’s eyes. Brennan and Elena are across from me. She keeps trying to steal the knife to cut her own pieces, but he keeps batting her dainty hand away.
Cameron’s eyes narrow in suspicion, the subtle movement causing me to squirm while Colten’s jaw hardens further than I deem possible. I could probably slice my meat on his face and not puncture his frustratingly perfect chin.
Cameron snatches his beer from the coaster and takes a drink, slumping against the back of the chair. I shift uncomfortably under his unmoving glare.
“Can someone tell me what’s going on?” Cameron says, speaking the first word since we’ve sat down.
The clanking of cutlery on glass plates halts, leaving only the sound of heavy breaths from everyone at the table. I didn’t think the silence could intensify, but I was wrong.
Colten’s eyes find mine, and I falter, shifting my attention to my half-eaten plate.
Elena peers around and stabs a small piece of meat, plopping it in her mouth. “Colt spanked Miss Taryn today.”
A gasp slips out of my throat, my eyes widening in mortification at the same time Brennan chokes. Some of his beer escapes his mouth, spraying the table. He sets the glass down while his eyes dart between Colten and me.
“Elena,” Jessica snips. “Where did you hear that?”
Her eyebrows pull together. “Colt said she wasn’t listening, so he went and spanked her and brought her back home.”
Somehow, I manage a nervous glance at Cameron, noticing the slits in his eyes as they bounce probingly between Colten and me. “You ran again.”
“Running. I went running!” I knit my arms over my chest. “Like, for exercise,” I clarify because nobody seems to understand.
“How far did you go?” Brennan asks, clearing his throat.
Colten picks up his napkin, wiping the corner of his mouth. “She almost made it to the cliffs,” he informs with a flat tone.
Cameron cocks his head.
“You guys are ridiculous,” I mutter. “If I’m going to stay here, I need to get some fresh air by myself once in a damn while.”
“Language, Taryn,” Cameron warns. “You don’t want to be spanked again, do you?”
I think he’s joking…I think.
Either way, his threat emanating from the depths of his throat has goosebumps peppering my skin.
