Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 75891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
It’s not that I hate my brother or look down on him, far from it. It’s just that this thing seems to have a mind of its own and there’s no way to combat it. I watched it take him over, control his every move where his woman was concerned, and it all seemed to be too much.
My brother has always been the more easy-going of the two of us. If he could go as far as he had, what would I be capable of? I didn’t understand this kind of love, and I still don’t. There’s a sense of smothering in there somewhere; I can feel it even now.
As much as my mind says to give her freedom and let her live her life, my heart was staunchly against it. She had more than enough time to run; now she was back there, and there was no way I was letting her go again. If she wants a pound of my flesh, then so be it. It’s all hers anyway.
“Now you know the truth; there’s no going back for you.”
JESSICA
Iwasn’t sure what to make of his words. Of everything I’d imagined, this was nowhere near what I expected. What family legacy? Who has ever heard of such a thing? But knowing him, I don’t think he would lie, and if he were the master of it, how could he come up with such an extravagant thing?
My heart thumped against my ribs, and I bit my lip, suddenly at a loss as to what I should do. “But wait, what does any of that have to do with me?” I was back to being pissed off the way I was all those years ago. I sifted through his words again in my mind, but could see no way that any of this warranted what was said to me that night.
“You’re right, it has nothing to do with you. That was all me.” I wanted to sneer at him but used my head instead. From everything he’d just explained, plus his actions over the past few days, I knew he was playing a whole different game from what I was used to. This one wasn’t playing with a full deck.
So, instead of sneering, I kept a confused look on my face while gently nipping at my lip. “Give me some time; I need to digest this. So, this has been in your family for how long?” I feigned interest while plotting his demise in my head.
Who has ever heard of such a thing? There may be some truth to it, but come on. Not even my father, with his obsessive love for Mom, would claim such a thing. How much of it was true? Knowing him, all of it is. But what does that being true have to do with him tearing me apart with words that night?
I was about to show my ass again, but pulled myself back in time. With his brand of crazy, if I pop off now, there’s no way I’m getting out of this room. This Norman Bates mother fucker probably has more tricks up his sleeve.
“It goes back generations, I think.”
“What?” I looked at him with real confusion this time.
“You asked how long it has been in the family.”
“Oh, sorry, I was just trying to put everything together in my mind.” Like hell!
I need to get him out of this room so I can make my escape. I can’t be too obvious because that will get me nowhere, but if I stayed here much longer, I just might bash his stupid head in. Knowing your enemy eliminates lots of false starts. What to do? If I sent him to the store now, he’d see right through me, and besides, I’m sure this home is like mine; whatever you need is already here.
Ah, I’ve got it. I playfully nudged him with my toes while wrinkling my nose. “Did you run a marathon? You stink.” He didn’t, but who said men aren’t as vain as the opposite sex? He sniffed his arm with a confused expression, and though I was sure he didn’t smell anything, he still hopped up off the bed.
“I’ll go take a shower. I did rush back here after all. We’ll finish talking when I get out, okay. You can ask me anything.” I nodded while pulling at the sheet, hiding my eyes from him while controlling my breath. As soon as he closed the door, I was off the bed like a shot.
I played it safe in front of his family as I passed his mother and sister-in-law, who were heading to the kitchen with the kids. I smiled and played along. “I forgot something back home; I'll be right back. Jules is taking a shower upstairs.”
My voice was too light and airy to be up to no good. They accepted my explanation without sounding the alarm, and I carried on, forcing myself to walk as normally as possible so as not to give myself away. I think I held my breath all the way to the car, but once I was in, I floored it the hell out of there.