Page 17 of Swan

“Looks like I’ll be allowed to have a girl over in my room?” Nicky commented, and Dad gave Mum big eyes while throwing a hand my brother’s way.

“See what you’re teachin’ him?”

My brother just enjoyed the drama of Dad riled.

Mum rolled her eyes. “Swan’s twenty-three, while your son is sixteen.”

Dad’s jaw clenched as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“I was going to go to another motel,” Lockland said. “I just wanted to drop by and tell Swan what happened.”

“You don’t have to go to one,” I told him, glaring at Dad, but he was too busy drilling holes into Lockland’s head using his eyes.

“I think for the safety of my life, I’ll head out.”

Dad grinned.

“Then I’ll come with you,” I announced, pulling my shoulders back and challenging Dad.

Like Mum said, I was twenty-three, and it wasn’t like Lockland and I were going upstairs to mess around.

My face heated.

“Fuck,” Dad bit out. “Stay in my home but in the spare room. Not in her room. You two haven’t been around each other in years. There’re things you might not know about each other.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Nicky suddenly asked, and I stiffened.

“No,” Lockland replied. “I’m more than willing to stay in the spare bedroom. Thank you for letting me.”

“I’m a light sleeper” was all Dad said while I wished for the floor to open up beneath my feet.

Lockland nodded.

“Come on. I’ll show you where it is,” I said.

Nicky chuckled. “Yeah, ’cause I bet he only remembers climbing into Swan’s bedroom when she was on the bottom floor.”

Lockland’s eyes widened, and he paled a little.

I was going to make sure Nicky would pay for this.

“Don’t worry, they already know you used to visit me,” I quickly reassured him.

“We’ll be talkin’ about that and more in the mornin’. Just the two of us,” Dad told Lockland, who swallowed and nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

“Stay the fuck outta her room through the night and you might survive.”

Lockland once again nodded.

“We’re heading to bed,” Mum said, pushing at Dad’s back and mouthing, “Sorry,” behind him.

“Light sleeper,” Dad called again before he disappeared around the corner at the top of the stairs.

I looked to Nicky, who was grinning like a lunatic and staring back. I nodded towards the stairs.

“Oh, right. I’m heading to bed too. Lockland, good to see you again. Hurt my sister, and I’ll help Dad end you.” He nodded, clapped, and walked off. He was the louder version of Dad.

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