Page 13 of Liars

“I think that says more about your character than mine,” I tossed back.

“Enough!” Kreed growled. “Jesus, she’s been here for five minutes and you’re already bickering like siblings. She's not worth it. Besides,” he sneered, cold eyes of silver freezing me with a glance. “You haven't forgotten what Dad said? We're not supposed to touch what's his.”

“I’m not his. I’m not anyone’s.” The retort rolled quickly off my tongue.

“Words of wisdom. Don’t forget whose house you’re in.”

I stared Kreed down, unable to believe his audacity. He might have gotten the looks, but he suffered greatly in the personality gene pool. “I’ll let you know if I want your advice.”

This time, Kreed didn’t stop Maddox as he stumbled toward me. I wasn’t swift enough to dart out of his reach, but it wasn’t for lack of trying.

Stupid shoulder.

He tossed an arm around my shoulder and yanked me into his chest. “She’s K-haotic. Get it. I think I love her. I didn’t mean to scare you, sis.” A puff of alcohol alcohol-infused breath clogged my nostrils, making me cough.

“Scare me?” I snapped, still catching my breath. “You broke into my room and fell on me! And stop calling me that. I’m not your damn sister.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t break in. You opened the door and dragged me inside.”

“You’re drunk,” I said flatly, my anger bubbling to the surface. “As if I’d ever invite someone like you into my room.”

He chuckled, a low, lazy sound.

“Maddox. Get out,” Kreed ordered.

“You’re lucky,” Maddox whispered in my ear before lumbering toward the door. He paused to lean against the frame to look back at me. “Welcome to the family,sis.”

Before I could respond, he disappeared down the hallway, his footsteps uneven and fading into the distance.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay away from my brother. From all of us,” Kreed warned before following his brother out and leaving me gaping after him.

I had about a dozen colorful words for Kreed Corvo, and none were good. Dashing to the door, I quickly shut it and flipped the lock, my hands shaking as I pressed my forehead against the cool wood. My pulse raced wildly, my mind reeling from the encounter.

Four! God help me. Donovan had said he had four sons. If they were anything like the two I’d met, I’d be spending a lot of time shut away in this room.

Sliding down to sit on the floor, I buried my face in my hands. I didn’t just feel out of place—I felt trapped, like a pawn in some cruel game I didn’t know the rules to. I was supposed to feel safe, but nothing about this house instilled security.

Just the opposite.

It might be beautiful to the eye, but when you peeled away the wallpaper, ripped up the floors, and got to the bones of the home, you saw it for what it really was. A facade.

A beam of sunlight cut across my eyes, brightening behind my lids. No part of me wanted to wake up, and I stretched out of the ball I was curled in, the fitful night leaving my muscles aching and my head pounding.

Coffee, my brain begged.

My stomach growled loudly, reminding me I hadn’t eaten much in days and nothing at all last night. I pried my eyes open, blinking with a heaviness that would only be cured by deep rest. Above my head, a crystal chandelier dangled, the light catching on the prism teardrops sparkling over my face.

This was always the worst time of the day for me, when my mind caught up, remembering all the horrible shit. The agony followed, leaving me gasping for air for a few seconds before my heart settled into this ache I’d almost grown accustomed to. It was wild.

As was my life.

Memories I wished weren’t mine broke through the trauma.

Had last night been real? Maddox. Kreed.

I groaned.

Fuck me.

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