Page 40 of Silver

Rook runs a hand down his face. “So I’m not the only one who broke the house rule this year.”

“Apparently not.”

“How long are you going to avoid me? You do realize it’s not my fault that I happened to fall for your sister. I didn’t fucking know she was your sister when I chose her. That’s your fault. You didn’t introduce any of us to her at the beginning of the school year.”

I jerk my gaze up and point at him with my knife. “Don’t. Don’t try to justify your actions. You had plenty of opportunity to reveal your relationship with her when you did finally meet her.”

He shoves off the counter, steps closer, and leans his palms on the island across from me. “Like I’ve told you, I tried to get her out of my system. God knows I tried. But she’s my girl, Silver. Mine. I can’t and won’t deny it. She needs what I offer her as much as I need what she gives me. You, of all people, should understand that, considering it would appear you’ve been toying with a girl of your own for weeks.”

I shrug. I’m being a dick about this. I know it. It really isn’t Rook’s fault that he chose Briana. He had no way of knowing she was my sister. None of my brothers met her when she moved here. I’m being unreasonable. I know it. I’ll get over it eventually. I just need more time.

After I cube the cheese, I set the knife down and face Rook. “Look, it’s new and fresh. The wound is still raw. But you’re my brother. Our bond is stronger than any blood brothers’. All five of us. I’ll get over my anger, eventually. It’s hard right now because I know what kind of fucked-up, kinky shit you’re into. I know because I’m into the same things. We’ve never had secrets from each other before now. I don’t want to hear about your private relationship with Bri, but more importantly, as I train Daphne to bend to my will, I’m reminded you’ve done many of those same things to my fucking sister, and it rankles. Give me some goddamn time to get my head around it.”

That’s the best I can give Rook. I think it’s pretty big of me.

He nods. “Okay. I understand. Can we stop tiptoeing around each other and call a truce?”

“Yes. But, Rook, I mean it when I say, keep Bri away from Daphne. I don’t want any fucking interaction between them. Daphne is impressionable and unsettled right now. I don’t want Briana getting her claws into my girl.”

Rook slowly nods. “When are you going to tell her you were the one who pranked her?”

I sigh. “I’m not sure. Let me handle it.”

“For what it’s worth, I think it’s the right thing to do. Not telling her, I mean. It will go over better after she’s in too deep to extricate herself. If she were to find out now, she would never be able to forgive you.”

“Exactly,” I agree as I head to the pantry. I grab a box of whole-grain crackers and add some to the plate. Without another word, I clean everything up and head back upstairs. I think that little chat went pretty well.

Fifteen

Daphne

* * *

I’m surprised by my ability to open my history book and start studying. This is not a subject I’m the least bit interested in, but I have to take it to fulfill my social studies requirement.

I’m an engineering major, planning to focus on computer engineering, the same degree Silver is doing his PhD in. It was a subject we talked about the first time I entered the math lab. We have this thing in common, even though I’m just starting, and he’s in his fourth year of post-graduate work.

I made the decision to knock out all the core classes required to graduate in the first few semesters, so I could get them out of the way. Now I’m stuck trudging through mostly boring work, but it will be worth it later when they’re all behind me.

I’m a good student in any subject. That’s not an issue. It’s just that some things are of no interest to me.

I’m reading through the assigned chapter for the week when the door opens. Honestly, I’d finally gotten focused, and the reappearance of Silver is unnerving.

He’s so intense. So fucking neurotic and evil that sometimes all I see when I look at him is a sadistic fucking asshole. That’s definitely one side of him.

But then he does sweet things like buying me a desk and chair, a new laptop. And he’s fed me better than I’ve eaten in weeks today. My mouth waters as I take in the plate of food.

He’d said he was going to get me a snack. I’d pictured a bag of chips. That is not a bag of chips. As he approaches, he smiles. “I don’t mean to disturb your concentration. Ignore me.” He sets the plate on the corner of the desk. “Munchies.”

Munchies? Is he crazy? This is a delight. Fresh apples and strawberries. Cheese that looks expensive. Crackers that have visible whole grains in them. I’m not used to eating anything that costs more than the bare minimum.

Silver snaps his fingers and turns around.

I swivel as he enters the bathroom. What now? I don’t trust him. He’s in a kind mood right now, but he can turn on a dime.

When he returns, he’s holding a hairbrush and a band. He sets the band on the desk. “Face the monitor, precious. Let me test my hairdressing skills.”

What the fuck?