Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
And Jax never had parents. Not really. His and Jared’s dad was a monster, and Jax’s mom left him when he was little. Mine and Jared’s mom took him in when he was a teenager, and she’s a good grandma to Jax’s son Hawke now. Very different from how she was when my brothers were young.
I’ve put the pieces together from overhearing things in my life. I guess it’s just hard to imagine they used to suffer when I didn’t see any of it.
“They want to always be there for you,” Lucas says. “And to make sure you know you’re loved.”
They still don’t trust their parents. Not…completely.
But still, I clear my throat. “Well, you can tell them to stop now.”
He just chuckles. “They won’t ever stop. Your first boyfriend is going to be in for it someday.”
“Not if I like somebody they already like.”
“That might work.” He shrugs. “Or not.”
It’ll work. It’s my only hope.
“You’ll learn how to drive in a few years anyway,” Lucas points out. “You’ll be able to escape them any time you want.”
“Not likely.” I wring out my hand, whipping off a spiderweb I picked up. “Half of my family races something motorized.”
Like I would get very far.
Lucas just laughs—the first time, I notice. He hasn’t laughed in a while.
“Well, then you will too,” he assures.
“You know I won’t.”
My tone is final. I don’t feel that need for speed that the Trents and other Caruthers do. I like walks. And bicycles. And being a passenger.
But he continues, “You could change your mind. When you were eight, you thought you were going to marry me too. Remember that?”
“Oh my God.” Every follicle of hair on my head electrifies, but I force a scowl. “Gross. Shut up.”
He laughs again, but I can feel the blush on my cheeks. When I was eight years old, I declared my devotion for him, but now I just feel embarrassed.
Even if butterflies are taking flight in my stomach.
Right now, I feel like I belong.
I only feel like that when he’s around.
Tilting his head back, he peers up at me. “How do you—”
But his voice is cut off as Kade bellows, “Quiiiinn!”
I round my eyes. He’s close. Is he coming to the kitchen?
“I’m turrrning off the lighhhts!” he taunts.
I suck in a breath, turning my head side to side. My skin crawls at the thought of the things that come out in the dark. Bats and spiders and clowns.
Lucas puts a knee on the table below again and pushes himself up, about to close the hatch.
But something on the little door catches on his shirt and he hisses. “Shit.”
He jumps down, the nail nearly tearing the T-shirt off his body.
Long, jet black lines fall down the back of his right shoulder. Like an upside-down V but curved like branches, arms splitting off from the main limb.
“Lucas, what is that?” I burst out.
I’ve never seen him with a tattoo. Did he have it this summer when we were all swimming? I would’ve noticed.
He slips out of the shirt and yanks it down off the nail, causing it to rip. He turns, his back to the wall. “It’s nothing.”
He avoids my eyes, inspecting the shirt in his hands. Shooting back up, he closes the hatch, but he gives me a wink as he hides me away again. “You got this,” he whispers.
I smile.
“Quinn, come on!” Kade bellows.
But Dylan barks at him, “Just forfeit.”
“Well, why don’t you?”
“I’m bored,” Hawke mumbles.
A door creaks open downstairs and several pairs of feet hit the floor.
“Where is she?” Jared growls. “Now!”
“Ugh,” someone groans.
“Fine, we give up!” Kade shouts. “Come out! I forfeit.”
I release a breath and race to the attic door in the great room, whipping it open. Climbing down, I hop onto a long dining table and dust off my clothes, everyone turning to look at me. Not Lucas, though. He’s gone.
“What the…” Kade runs over.
Dylan smiles. “Hey!”
“What were you doing?” Madoc and everyone else follows, all of my brothers’ brows etched with aggravation.
But Hunter pushes past his dad and climbs onto the table. “I didn’t know that was there! Let me see!”
Kade, Dylan, and Hawke rush over as I jump down and out of the way.
“We’re tearing it down to open up the room,” Jax tells his brothers. “There are yards of rafters up there.”
Madoc peers up through the opening. “I wondered if there was a second level or something.”
Jax shakes his head. “Just empty space.”
“Who told you that you could play up there?”
I look up at Jared. His voice is curt.
Before I can answer, Dylan speaks up. “Oh, Dad. Leave her alone.”
“Do you know how thin these boards are?” Madoc gripes at me. “What if you fell?”
“Then I would’ve gotten hurt,” I point out. “And Dad would’ve blamed you.”
Madoc steps in. “Why you little—”
Jax pulls him back, clamping a hand over his mouth.