“She was fourteen. I raped her. I told her if she said a word to anyone, I’d come back and murder her.”My father lets out a small laugh.“Not only did she keep quiet, but then she kept the baby. Babies. They were twins. I didn’t expect that. But maybe she went and fucked some other guy at around the same time.”
Does Jane Corroux have children? Two sons, I think, but they’re younger than me. The only twins I know of are Cedric and Jane’s much younger siblings.
Wait. The twins are only a few years older than me. Cassie and Tim. I’ve met them at a terse event where all the major players got together. I don’t know how old Jane is, but if she’s a few years younger than my dad, then the math would work out that those two could be her children.
Are they my half-siblings then?
I’m breathing the stale air under my blanket, reeling.
If it ever got out what my father did to her, it would be war. The stagnant truce we’ve had would be broken, and nobody in this family would be safe.
My mother would be devastated too, even if this all happened before my father married her.
I’ve finally found my leverage.
What do I do with it?
I can’t tell anyone. This information is too dangerous. I have no guarantee that Pandora and River wouldn’t shout it from the rooftops to get back at my father. Asch would keep it a secret, but what good would it do him to know?
Fuck.
My phone suddenly buzzes, and I nearly yelp in surprise. I shut my tablet down and fumble to check my texts.
Mom
Come down for brunch.
Already? But my phone says it’s past 1 p.m.
It’s also the 25th.
I hadn’t gone down for breakfast. We haven’t exchanged any gifts. Last night was tense, and except for a brief conversation with my mom, I’d stuck to myself.
I quickly pull up the group chat.
Blaze
Merry Christmas.
Pandora
Merry Christmas! River is with me. He survived breakfast with my family!
River
Barely. There was one point where it got pretty dodgy. Pandora’s uncle still hates me and doesn’t hide it.
Pandora
But he agreed to help you! He doesn’t completely hate you.
Help River? I wonder what help River possibly needs.
It must be nice having the Pavone family as support, though.
I go over to my texts with Asch.
Blaze
