Page 60 of Manhattan Tormentor

I push by him and lead the way down the staircase, well aware he’s behind me. I don’t try to get him to stay for breakfast. Instead, I walk him to the front door, he can’t leave fast enough.

No words.

Without a glance back, he strides to his Rover, slides in and heads down the driveway. It’s then I see everyone looking from the alcove, and I shut the door.

Time to face the Fierro firing squad.

C H A P T E R 16

Sage

“Tell me I hallucinated seeing you with the prick of the century.”

“Bunny,” dad warns in an even tone from across the kitchen as he pours mom her coffee.

“Dad, you don’t know this guy. You’d think he was a colossal prick too if you knew what I did.”

“So why don’t you tell us about him.”

“Well, he…”

“Not you, Raene.” dad says, eyes to me. “Sage, tell us about your boyfriend.”

Bunny visibly gags, and I pinch her leg under the table. She’s such a brat. There must be a place where I can sign her up for obedience classes. Overseas. In an abandoned cave with no cell service.

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

That’s when mom steps in. I know it’s about to happen, don’t ask me how. She picks at a slice of toast and scrolls through her business iPad. It’s always a feeling we get when mom is about to interfere with her mom wisdom and fuck us all up if we don’t listen.

Dad would rip us a new one and bury our bones in the Hamptons backyard, where no one would discover us if we mouthed off to mom. So, though I’m irritated by the impending lecture, I keep my mouth shut.

“Sage, baby. The boy was in your bed all night, so I’m a little disturbed by that if he isn’t your boyfriend.”

“You said we can’t have sleepovers with boyfriends or girlfriends.” Bunny had to open her mouth, and I cut her a warning stare.

Our parents hold relaxed rules for us. They said it’s up to us if we want to disappoint them by breaking any house policies. That shit is always a mind-fuck and I am the only Fierro who follows them,mostly.

“We all thought it would be Lachie who broke the sleepover rules, didn’t figure on you, Sage.” I’m about to disown my sister. Take her on a very big fucking ship so I can toss her bratty ass overboard. No doubt the sharks will personally deliver their new queen home.

“Lachlan probably did,” I mutter, having no problem throwing him under the bus while he isn’t here.

Mom’s waiting, looking at me with her kind eyes.

Sighing, I pick up my coffee so I have something to do. “I broke the rules. It wasn’t planned. We fell asleep. It won’t happen again, I’m sorry.”

“Thank you for the apology, cub, but I wasn’t looking for one. I want to know about the boy who sneaked out of my house.”

“It’s no one.”

“The guy has been picking on you for months, Sage.”

“Swear to God, Bunny.” I forewarn, blasting her with a stare so hard. She’s unrepentant when she scowls. “Am I wrong? Hasn’t he been a dickhead to you for ages?”

“You need to mind your own business. I know you find it hard because you think everything isyourbusiness, but my sex life is not.”

“Oh, my god, I will throw up right here if you had sex with that cretin.”

“Bunny, don’t you have somewhere to be?”

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