Sure, technically, Cici had gone to a mainstream school before, but when her autism spectrum disorder had met with that environment, it had kicked off her anxiety, and the eating disorder had followed. Now, her life hung in the balance.
Brody stared at me, drinking in my reactions. “Does she really?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Does she need it enough that her older, heathen sister can learn to follow some ground rules? Or is your bad-girl act more important to you?”
I fought hard to keep my breathing slow and steady.
“I’m waiting,” Brody stated flatly when I hesitated.
“You don’t know anything about me—” I started.
“Right, and I don’t care to. I just care that you know your place.”
God, there was nothing like top-notch arrogance expressed in a posh English accent.
“Know your place, and play happy family, and your sister gets to finish her expensive school. Got it?”
I could hardly answer, I felt so powerless and hopeless, and furious all at the same time.
“I said, got it?” Brody continued.
Heat beat at my cheeks. I nodded.
“I can’t hear you,” he said.
“I got it. You’re the goddamn Antichrist with a control fetish, and I’m the poor soul who has to live with you. Understood.”
Brody’s mouth quirked up in one corner at my phrasing.
“Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page, Selena. I expect to see a dramatic difference in your appearance and comportment directly.”
I glared at him. “My what?”
“How you act. Just know, from now on, I’ll be watching.” He smirked at me, totally at ease now that he’d found something to blackmail me with.
He walked away, stripping his T-shirt off, and went into the bathroom. His broad back was liberally decorated with intricate ink, his muscles flexing and gleaming under the lights. Why was I even noticing? Shame ripped through me, hot and painful.
I turned away as he shut the door behind him.
“Just know, from now on, I’ll be watching.”
Great. Lucky me.
Brody
The Hellions,the award-winning team of HHU, had a purpose-built, top-of-the-line stadium on campus, thanks to Beckett Anderson and his father, Soren.
“Feels different being on the other side,” Cal muttered.
We walked along the hall and down to the team locker room.
“Yeah, like we’re entering enemy territory.” I’d only ever been here as someone determined to beat the Hellions. Now, I was one. It was going to take some getting used to.
I shared a glance with Cal before we pushed open the doors to the locker room. I could hear the others in there, changing and laughing, talking shit… I put my shoulders back and gave my brother an easy grin.
“Here we go. Into the belly of the beast.”
