“We don’t fight! We don’t do this! Is she going to be a problem between us, Steele?”
“Only if he makes it one,” I snarl nodding at my little brother.
“We all care about her, Steele. I get that but what happens when she wants more? Huh? You think any of us bastards giving a fuck about her will make a difference?” He has a point and I get it. Trust is something you earn and sadly she hasn’t earned that from us. Whatever this is I feel for her doesn’t matter when it comes to my brothers and that’s the part I need to remember. We were one before her and we’ll be one after her.
“You’re right. We keep her close. We move on with our plans, but we make sure that McLean is out of the way first. Any proof of Whisper Jane Macron dies with him. Understood?” I look between my brothers as they both nod, the air calming around us. Callan is the first to walk away when Knox blows out a breath and drops into the chair across from me, resting his head in his hands.
“This is a mess,” he says softly.
“Not really. I think we can keep her in check long enough to get what we want. If McLean and all the proof is gone, she has no say in anything.” Knox looks up at me, his eyes holding questions.
“Are you going to be able to pull the fucking rug out from under her like that, Steele?”
“We’re family, Knox. My family always comes above all else. Dad has fucked us over. He’s made our lives a living hell and now it’s our time to take over. It’s our time to make the moves that we all know need to be made. Keeping things in Rolling Springs is holding this family back. Think about what we could be doing out there in the world? Overseas? It has to be this way, Knox.”
“She means something to you, Steele. I can see it,” he adds. I nod my head because I won’t lie and say she doesn’t. Even though I want to snap her neck for who she truly is, how can I blame her for being born? It’s simple. I can’t.
“You’re right, she does. Just like she’s grown on you and Callan but when it comes down to it, who would you choose?” His eyes flicker with fire before he nods his head.
“It’s always been us three.”
“And it still is.” I don’t know if I have the heart to completely ruin Whisper but if it comes down to her or my brothers, I won’t be choosing her.
“You still hitting the masquerade ball?” I raise an eyebrow.
“It’s two days away. You’re damn right we’re going.” Knox laughs as I take another long pull from my water and fall back onto the soft pillows of the couch. Blowing out a breath, he stands and starts to walk away when he stops and turns back to look at me.
“For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t blame you for keeping her, Steele.” I don’t respond because frankly, I don’t know what to say to that.
21
Whisper
I can’t feel my toes, or my hands for that matter. Nathan and Debra weren’t here when I came home a few days ago, so I did what any pissed off eighteen-year-old would do. I stole all the liquor and got drunk. Pity party of one. I’ve drank until everything blurs and now I sit here… numb. I hated what happened to Steele, I hated it even more when Callan drove me back here and not to their house. Something in my chest pinched and it hurt like hell. Since I’ve been here, I’ve searched more. I know what I’m looking for and I have the number on speed dial now ready to use at my discretion. I almost dialed it yesterday. My real mom. The real woman that gave birth to me only to dump me off because I didn’t have the right father. She should win an award, that bitch. Mother of the fucking year. I giggle at my own joke when the door opens.
“I’m afraid, Nathan,” I hear Debra say. I roll my eyes.
“You should be!” I call out. The two of them close the door and come into the living room where I sit with their bottle of whiskey. Bringing it to my lips, I swallow another long pull.
“Is it not bad enough you’re off fucking the Alder boys and now you’re underage drinking.” I smirk when Nathan speaks. Idiot. Lifting the gun that rests in my right hand, I wave at him and motion to the couch across from me.
“What the hell?” Debra nearly squeals.
“Sit the fuck down, Debra. Don’t make me tell you twice,” I say in the prissiest tone I can muster. God, I almost sounded just like her. Her and Nathan both move to sit and watch me. I take another drink. I don’t want to be too drunk though, it is Halloween and all and I have a dance to get to.
“What’s going on, Whisper? Did something happen?” Nathan asks as if he was a caring parent. I snort a laugh, whiskey shooting from my nose. With the same hand that holds the bottle, I bring it up and wipe it on the back of my hand.
“That was funny all things considered.”
“What are you tal—”
“No! That’s enough talking out of you two. It’s my turn to ask the questions and it’s your turn to give the answers.” The smirk on Nathan’s face makes me think that he thinks I’m joking. Maybe I should blow his balls off. Or cut his beating hands right from his no-good body.
“Do you know who I am?” I ask first, knowing they have to know by now. The whole goddamn town does.
“Whisper.”
“Good one, Nathan! I think we’re all aware of that fact. I mean do you know who I really am?” I hiss the words. They share a look that tells me they do.
“When did you find out?” Debra asks. Perfect Debra. Always so goddamn put together in her fancy blouses and pencil skirts. She makes me sick to even look at.
“Not long ago actually. It wasn’t hard after I went searching and found my half-sister.” Both of them raise their eyebrows. How cute, neither of them knew about her. “It was a shock to learn that she was a year younger than me, but she, too, was dumped off to fend for herself. Ironic isn’t it?” I look between them and take another drink. “Funny thing about that is, she isn’t nearly as vindictive as I am. She lives here amongst all this trash and lies. She works in the very school she wasn’t allowed to attend because of her bloodline.” I laugh.
“What are you talking about?” Nathan snaps.
“Shut up, Nathan!”
“I will kill you,” he growls as he begins to stand. I wave the gun around, a reminder that I’m in charge now. He sits back next to his horrid wife.
“I don’t think you will. You were using me to get back into the good graces of the Alder’s, weren’t you?” Debra’s face pales as she looks at me before quickly averting her eyes.
“Maybe. So what? Do you realize how much you’re worth to Dennis Alder?” Ugh, just hearing his name makes my stomach roll. That bastard.
“Not enough, apparently. Didn’t you hear that Steele took his punishment… for me?” The smirk that crosses my face must piss him off. His hands clench in front of him as I laugh.
“You’re lying!”
“Am I?” I cock my head to the side as I raise the gun and aim. “I have no use for you two any longer. You used me, beat me and now it’s time I repay the favor. You won’t get what you want out of me. You won’t be handing me over on a silver platter to dear old Daddy Alder because you won’t be alive to see tomorrow.” Pulling the trigger, I move the gun to Debra and do the same. I never thought about taking a life. It never really crossed my mind, but after all the pain that I’ve had to endure in my life, I think it was well deserved. Too bad the idiots didn’t pay attention that it was their own gun and there won’t be any fingerprints. I also love the fact that we are far enough away from neighbors that no one would have heard those two shots. The thing that makes me laugh about these two is how gullible they were. They thought they had a plan all along.