Page 87 of Royal Havoc

She kicks me with her foot, rolling me to my belly. Then places her foot on my back, applying pressure. The rod hits my back just as the pressure disappears, making me jerk, losing all function for a minute.

“Mother fucker,” I slur at the concrete, rolling my forehead back and forth.

“Oops, thought a little shock might help,” she teases.

“Ollie wants to know if you’re still living the Barbie life?” Mr. B asks, bending over to see my face better.

“Huh?”

The question almost causes my brain to explode. Hendrix’s warning about trusting Nolan shines like a neon fucking sign.

“Hold on, Ollie. I think she just had an aneurysm.”

“You can stop calling that bastard by his fake name,” I rasp, rolling around in an attempt to get on my back again.

B laughs, shaking his head. “Don’t you do any research? Do you always trust what everyone says?” he questions, kneelingon one knee. “Oliver Nolan Brickman.” He takes his time pronouncing each name clearly for me.

“Bolton always said rich people were idiots,” Amy chimes in suddenly, reminding us of her presence.

“Lunatics and psychos are idiots,” I retort hatefully, unsure of which suits her better.

Mr. B turns his phone around after putting it on speaker. “Onyx, you should introduce yourself before you start calling people names,” Nolan’s voice fills the room.

Out of nowhere, I’m rolled to my back, and Amy straddles me, sitting on my thighs. “Remember me, baby sis?” she asks with a bright smile. “Amethyst Tulip Whithe.”

My eyes burn from the stretch as all the air is sucked from the space, making me gasp.

“She’s your older sister, Onyx,” Nolan informs me, smacking my sanity for a second time.

I’ll admit, she does resemble Mom. It’s her hair and eyes. Even the wicked look she’s giving me right now. However, nothing about her is familiar. No one’s ever mentioned her.

“How?” I force out.

“Well, Mommy and Daddy had sex —”

“Ewww,” I moan, bucking under her, ordering myself not to gag.

Blinking down at me. “You asked the question. I was just answering.” She shrugs, holding me down to keep me from bucking her off me.

“You’re fake. I would know if I had a sister. There would’ve been evidence. Pictures. Something,” I argue, struggling to stay in reality while chaotic, choppy thoughts pummel my brain.

forty-five

Out With The Old, In With The Crooked

Vexen: 2024

I’ve spent the last hour having doors slammed in my face, followed by the silent treatment from hell. Onyx has to be the angriest person I know.

Beside me.

I was sure we’d straightened out our shit last night. Everything was golden, I thought. Then I caught her texting that fucker this morning.

There’s something about Brickman I can’t put my finger on.

For a second, I assumed our meeting would be canceled today since Hendrix and Dad were out of town. But according to the text I got, they made it back.

I bypass the front of the bar, driving around back to park by the barn. After entering my code, I step inside, pausing to check the tracker app. Once I see she’s at the coffee shop, I tuck my phone away and head towards our meeting room in the back of the barn.

---