Family business. It used to be burdened to the burial grounds, a secret within a secret, something there but not within sight instead of living with the torture. Now, it’s a part of me I shake hands with, strike a deal, and accomplish when times require it.
“Who’s that?” Cass says quietly, pulling away from our awkward embrace. We both know anyone at the door is a bad sign. Mortem knows to call ahead, I know to do the same. But an outsider, a random guard, person, or what-the-fuck-ever won’t know the rules.
“No one good. Did you lock the door?”
He shakes his head and dread settles in. “Hide,” I hiss and rush to the door. Opening it, my heart races at the face on the other side.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper, my stomach clenching with guilt. She smiles but it’s a little far off, yet something inside me melts.
“You didn’t come back, wanted to make sure you were okay.”
How did she find this place? Why would she wander off? They’re not supposed to allow her out of the house.
“Sweet, I’ll walk you back.” She tries peeking around me but I stop her by pushing out the door, locking the knob behind me. Suspicion meets me as she stares. I run a hand absently through my hair, trying to distract the laser focus she has at the door.
“Why are you out here and what’s in there?” The way she asks the questions let me know she’s untrusting of me. My mind wanders to where I could lie. What fallacy I could possibly come up with to save Cass. He’s who I’ve literally sacrificed everything for. All my lies have surrounded him, keeping him safe, protecting the girl, and wanting her to not feel pain more than she should. Her knowing he was alive would put her in danger.
“Nothing important. I’m starving, though,” I lie. I can’t recall a time where I’ve been hungry in years. I eat to sustain my life, not for comfort or pleasure. It’s why eating healthy has never been a burden, my mind doesn’t focus on enjoyment or flavors, it simply settles on repetition at this point.
“I’m going to let this go, just to make sure you eat since you didn’t earlier,” she grumbles. “I’m always down for food.”
Her constant hunger since the Estate… I can’t tell if it’s from the lack of her weird placebo pills, finally overcoming her food triggers, or something more cumbersome. She could be pregnant… the fact that I’d risked that, took away her options, makes me annoyed but also intrigued. Out of us all, giving her a child is something that places immense happiness in my chest. I’ll have to remind Mortem to get that pregnancy test he planned on getting before shit went down at Arcadia.
Shaking my head free of any kind of attachment to the idea, I follow her all the way back to the house, stuck in my head over the fact that she walked all the way to Cassidy without even knowing it. Does she realize yet—that they have twin telepathy, or rather, triplet?
Even I can see the resemblance in them all. They’re carbon copies of one another with the most subtle differences. The fact that Colt hasn’t seen it is insane. All those years of them fucking with her head must’ve done her in.
When we reach the door, I see the guard there. Looking at his name, I push Colt ahead. She doesn’t argue, probably too caught up in her hunger for food.
“Oscar, is it?” I bark, knowing authority is the only thing these fuckers listen to. He gives one subtle nod. “Is there a reason you allowed her off the property?”
“She’s the daughter—”
Stopping him with my hand, he straightens. “Doesn’t matter who she is. She’s not allowed out there,” I bark, trying to keep my voice low but worried about the repercussions of any mistakes made.
“Yes, sir,” he offers, and I move past him. Inside, I see the guys eating pizza in peace while Colt talks. She’s smiling.
I’ve missed that.
Her smile.
Her hair is still shorter, black as can be, and she’s wearing some of her old stuff she wore when she wasn’t her true self. It feels wrong experiencing her halfway. Not goth Colt but not Barbie Colt either. The middle ground that’s more off-putting than either of the other two.
“You going to eat or stand over there like a fucking weirdo?” Jordan offers. His tone is neutral, but there’s a curiosity in his expression that bothers me. He must have questions. How I got Colt here, how Mortem is her father… how I’m needed and useful to others in ways he’s never mattered.
Must hurt.
Walking toward Colt, I decide to be bold.
Grabbing her throat, I bring her mouth to mine. The mild taste of sauce and cheese doesn’t deter me from staking my claim on another man’s wife. When I’m pulled away, I let go of her throat and allow my body to be separated.
“Wow,” she whispers, touching her lips. I bring a thumb to mine, wiping it and then putting it in my mouth while she watches me with keen interest.
“You’re such a prick!” Lux hollers from across the kitchen, his voice growing louder with each word.
“Jealous your wife enjoys me, Lennox?” I taunt. “Gives the best head—”
I don’t get to finish the sentence before Jordan’s fist collides with my face. I cringe at the contact. It’s painful but not enough to keep me from continuing. “You’re just mad she wants my cock.” It’s not untrue, but the annoyance in Colt’s eyes makes me falter for a moment.
“You guys are the worst,” she hisses. “You act like I’ve chosen a single one of you.” Her voice breaks a little with that. “I won’t choose, I’ve told you before.”
Everyone looks at her. Their faces range from annoyance to absolute aggravation. Ten’s face is the only one that stops me. He’s solemn, like he’s accepted it won’t be him. That’s the thing none of these fucks understand. Colt, if she remembered everything, even the little details, she’d know choosing is fruitless.
This battle between me and the others is apparent, a lifelong one we haven’t stopped battling.
It just looked a lot different than it used to.
Chapter Twenty
Colt
They’re stupid.
Testosterone-filled dicks, that’s what they represent constantly. The fact that any singular one of them believes they own me is annoying. Yes, I’ve touched and tasted them all, but no, not one of them owns the majority of me. They all somehow own the sliver of my heart that’s always untouched unless they’re around.
“I’m going to go take a nap,” I utter, not really wanting to nap but needing space from them. Between learning about a secret threesome, finally sleeping with Bridger, and realizing I’m just a pawn, being alone and smoking weed sounds more than nice.