My mouth goes dry, my throat struggles to work, but I find my words, even though they come out in a croak. “And what happens to those who aren’t close to you?”
“They pay dearly,” he mumbles, the tone of his voice dropping so low, it’s almost as if his words vibrate through me.
He pushes up and leaves us in the dining room. I watch him for a long moment before I look back and find both brothers staring at me.
“I have to say, little sister,” Finn starts, “you have some big lady balls.” With a chuckle, he finishes his meal, offering us a quick salute, before he leaves the table. Cassian is smiling as he pushes his plate away.
“What?” I ask, turning to face the middle brother. He looks just like Damien, only his hair isn’t as dark, it’s more of a chocolate brown. He doesn’t look like an asshole, whereas Damien has that aloof coldness to his demeanor.
“Oh, I’ve just never seen anyone challenge my brother like that.” He sounds like he’s impressed when he says this. I can feel him regarding me closely, and I’m sure he’s trying to figure me out. It’s the first time I’ve been scrutinized so wholly by someone. Even with my mother’s job, I’ve steered clear of the public eye, for the very reason that people try to figure you out while they come up with their own conclusions on who you are.
“I think he should be called out more often,” I say, but my hands tremble when I think about how close his mouth was to mine. If I had turned my head, I would’ve practically kissed him.
Cassian grins, as something flashes in his eyes. His smirk matching his brother’s and I wonder, briefly, just how they can look so alike, yet act so different. At least, from what I’ve seen in the short time I’ve spent with all three of them.
“I like you, Nesrin,” Cassian tells me. “I think you’ll be a breath of fresh air in this family.” He tips his head to the side before he nods and turns to leave. I watch him for a long moment before I take a deep breath, then let it out slowly. My feisty nature hasn’t come to light in such a long time, that even I was shocked at my outburst with Damien. A small smile curls my lips when I think about how his eyes flashed with indignation at my challenge.
“How was dinner?” Joy asks as she enters the room.
“It was lovely, thank you,” I tell her. “I was about to clear the table, the boys just left.”
“Oh, don’t you worry about it.” She shoos me with a wave of her hands. “I’m here to do this, so please, why don’t you go ahead and walk around, familiarize yourself with the house. It’s big enough to get lost in.”
“It looks like it,” I tell her, with a smile.
For a moment, she looks at me as if she’s about to say something important; her expression turns serious, but when her gaze flicks over my shoulder, it changes. “You’ll like it here,” Joy tells me before she grabs the stack of plates and scurries into the kitchen.
That was strange.
When I turn to leave, I find Damien leaning against the doorjamb, looking at me. He doesn’t look at all perturbed, his arms folded across his chest. I notice he’s now wearing a black leather jacket over the shirt he wore to dinner.
“I suggest you don’t go out into the garden at night,” he tells me, but there’s a warning bite to his tone. “It’s not safe out there.”
“Why? Will wild animals eat me?” I retort playfully, causing his smirk to appear. His lips tilt into a seductive grin, and his eyes seem to light up at my words.
“Not animals, no.” He leaves without another word, and his response slowly sinks in, making every inch of my body burn with the promise of what he actually meant.
10
Damien
The woods are dense and dark, and I know they’re dangerous, but it’s not me I’m worried about, it’s her. It’s only been a short while that I’ve been around her, but the need to keep her safe seems to override the want to send her packing.
Being in the house with her only seems to make me want to be near her. The banter between us has become twisted, more than I expected it to. Her fire is nothing like any girl I’ve come across, which only seems to turn me on more.
And that’s not a good thing.
She’s eighteen, I tell myself.
She’s an adult, I remind myself.
But each time, there’s a heavy foreboding that our age gap is far too big.
I twist open the bourbon and swig back a mouthful. The burning liquid trickles down my throat, reminding me that I’m alive, that I’m not lost in the darkness of this fucking town.