Page 50 of Silks

“Don’t make me have to hold you down,” I said. “That’ll leave my hands free for other things.”

“Stop sticking your dick in me,” she retorted.

I only laughed.

“Come on, Teddy,” she said. “Dad’s a disgusting bastard. Let’s fucking fix this.”

Her hand was warm, the pressure of her breast on my arm intoxicating. Then an hour later the Director of Barrington Enterprises pulled a black ski mask over his face because his sister told him to.

“Stay behind me,” I warned her. “I’ll get the crop out if you make any noise or do anything foolish.”

She nodded obediently.

Then we got behind a large outbuilding and waited. We didn’t have to wait long. There were only two sleepy-looking security guards over Sweet Pea’s stables, one on his phone and the other smoking.

They were all too easy for Dad’s contractors to overpower.

I counted them dispassionately. Three of them plus Chet, smarming around like he thought he was cock of the walk. I wondered if Dad had told him he was going to push for me to be ousted next week. Chet probably thought he’d soon be second in command.

But I didn’t care.

With Ophelia following noiselessly behind me, I stalked them as they headed for the stables. One contractor I recognized was left behind to tie up Sweet Pea’s security guards. I hit him sharply in the back of the throat with my elbow and, when he turned around, another sharp blow to his face, stuffing some of my gym socks from the back of my car in his mouth so he wouldn’t alert the others.

Then I hit him in the face, precise, careful blows until he lost consciousness and fell to the ground.

Ophelia examined his prone body, then give me a quick thumbs up.

I yanked my mask up. “Little psycho,” I mouthed, but she only made a face at me and pointed toward the stable, where the other three men were using little penlights to see as they broke the door lock.

Well, damn, I guess I wasn’t going to be able to pick them off one by one, but I pulled my mask down again and strode toward the group. I was nervous my sister was going to wander off, so I took one of her hands in mine.

The first guy was Chet, and he turned around with a yelp just as I came up on him. He was kind of a weak sniveling bastard, and my fist sent him stumbling away.

As hired muscle, the other two guys were big and looked stronger, but luckily I was bigger.

I kicked one sharply in the leg, knocking him off his balance. The other one reached in his pocket, but before he could get to his weapon, I smashed my fist in his face, hearing the satisfying crunch as his nose shattered under my fingers. Another blow and I knocked teeth out. But just as the other guy threw a wild swing, easily avoidable, I saw goddamn Chet sneaking up on the side, reaching for Ophelia.

I stepped directly into the punch, gritting my teeth as it landed solidly on my jaw, but my focus was on Chet, and I kept Ophelia’s hand in mine as I kicked at Chet, his legs buckling as I connected with his kneecap.

My twin didn’t even scream or let go of my hand, but I saw her aim a kick at Chet too, catching him directly in his limpid balls as he stumbled.

That’s my clever girl.

I ducked another blow, then used my superior height to head-butt one of the contractors as Chet made a spiraling weak whine.

Shit, he was going to attract attention if he hadn’t already.

Holding my sister’s hand carefully so she wasn’t jostled, I sent my free fist into the final man’s ribs, hearing their satisfying crack.

Chet was lying on the ground whimpering and I used that time to stomp on his face several times with my heavy boots.

The other two men were wheezing, one leaning forward to spit up blood, just as I saw flashing lights down the road.

“The cops!” my sister squeaked, and I squeezed her hand as we ran towards the woods behind the stables.

The police lights were flashing across the yard, scanning the grounds for the intruders, but we were already in the woods.

I kept her hand tightly tucked in mine, loving the feel of her under my fingers, loving how she evidently trusted me to lead her, because she didn’t say anything. I could feel her sharp, quick breaths and I squeezed her hand.

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