Page 6 of House of Horrors

“No, thank you,” I interrupt quickly. Turning back to him, I rush to add, “I would rather have your mommy suck me off than have her,” I jab a finger toward Daisy, “anywhere near me.”

I shouldn’t speak so disrespectfully about Nicky’s mom. She’s a haven for me, a mother when I lost mine, especially since my home life has always been chaotic. But I need to make a point.

I don’t want Daisy. I don’t like Daisy. I hate Daisy. To my ears, it sounds convincing.

Nicky clicks his tongue. “You do love a woman over forty. Does that mean she can be mine and we can become stepbrothers?”

My eyes snap to his. “No,” I tell him possessively, my free fist curling, the other still strangling the neck of my bottle. I love Nicky, but she’s not for him. No one can have her. The thought makes me sick, adding to the confusing vortex of emotions swirling in my mind. I might hate Daisy, but for some inexplicable reason I’m drawn to her. That’s why I keep my distance when I can, so I don’t fall any deeper under her spell. She complicates everything. “And you’d be my brother-in-law, idiot.”

My breathing is heavy. We’ve only been here together for thirty minutes, and already an anchor of turmoil is dragging me under.

Nicky raises his hands in defense and mouths an aside to Daisy while pointing at me. "Sheesh, this guy.” My best friend mocks me, and she laughs. It’s a beautifully sweet sound. All thoughts in my brain halt.

No.

Her laughter is not beautiful or sweet. I grunt, almost feral, making her stop immediately. That’s better, I tell myself.

“Is anyone else coming tonight?” I ask, turning back to Nicky. I need to change the topic, to regain control. He shakes his head.

Daisy’s laughter echoes in my mind like a siren’s call. I clench my teeth. She will not get under my skin. I shoot her a sharp glare and watch with satisfaction as she flinches.

“John is scaring at the haunted house tonight, and Timmy is too whipped by his old lady and had to skip tonight to do shit with her.”

Damn, but that’s okay. I usually enjoy small hangouts because they’re easier to relax in. However, tonight is different because my stepsister is here, and I’m anything but calm. My foot taps to the music playing.

I sigh loudly, making it known whose fault this is. “Because of Daisy, we have to go to the house of horrors tonight.” Nicky’s eyes light up.

“Hell yeah, brother. Daisy, if you get scared, don’t worry. I’ll protect you, babygirl. Daddy’s got you.”

My head whips violently to the side. “Nicky,” I warn. There were too many words in that sentence that I didn’t like. He giggles because he knows exactly what he’s done.

We move from standing near the stereo to sitting on couches, and I choose the one furthest away from Daisy. I don’t want her anywhere near me because the closer she is, the easier it is for her to spread her poison, to make me feel out of control. My body hits the velvet fabric and I sigh, remembering all the time I’ve spent on it drunk and high. Tension unravels in my chest. My head lolls against the backrest, and I watch as Nicky chugs the rest of his beer before he waves the bottle around. His next words abruptly break the calm, and I snap upright.

“Let’s play truth or dare.”

I immediately groan, covering up the way my heart races at the idea of secrets being exposed. If I leave it to Nicky, he’ll uncover everything. He’s like a bloodhound on the trail of something juicy.

My hackles rise. My leg bounces faster. “Are we a bunch of girls at a sleepover? What’s next? We’ll be braiding our hair with flowers?”

“Daisy, at this rate, I’m going to beg you to suck his cock, because he needs to lighten up.”

She giggles again, her thighs pressing together. I don’t miss the way her tongue wets her bottom lip, as if she’s preparing her mouth. Darkness swarms my vision, my eyes growing hooded. I tell myself it’s disgusting, trying to banish the image of my stepsister on her knees for me with her mouth open, tongue out while she waits for my cock like a good girl. My chest tightens, each breath being dragged from my burning lungs. Disgusting, I repeat, my eyes trailing down to focus on her thighs as I wonder how soft they are, imagining what it would be like to bite into her flesh and hear her scream.

My shoulders stiffen, jaw locking while anger twists in my chest. “Fuck off, Nicky,” I growl. My gaze hardens, fixed on Daisy with venomous intensity. “Daisy is nothing but a washed-up whore like her mother.”

“Aww man, you’re so mean. Don’t listen to that cocksucker, Daisy. He’s just angry because he has a lot of issues. Like a lot. His mommy disappeared and his daddy⁠—”

“Do us all a favor and stop talking.” Red flashes in my vision.

“He definitely needs therapy, but I’m not sure that would fix him. A lobotomy might.”

“I said shut up Nicholas Christopher Eugene Valentine.”

“Oh my God, not the full government name. Well, everyone needs to play my game, and everyone needs to play properly,” Nicky declares. His gaze burns into the side of my face because he knows I won’t if given the chance. I flip Nicky off with my free hand, rolling my eyes. “Otherwise, nobody is getting any treats.” He pulls a bag of drugs from his pocket.

Fuck. He’s really going to bribe me. Nicky makes eye contact with me and smirks, knowing what I’m thinking.

“Little shit,” I grumble.