Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
I rake a hand through my hair. This can’t be happening.
“I heard her say that you kidnapped her. I heard her scream.”
“Everyone else there knew it was just a game,” I growl.
“They didn’t see her after she wrecked my Jeep,” he informs me coldly. “She was clearly desperate to get away from you that day. I thought you must’ve had a bad argument, but when I saw her last night, I finally got the full picture.”
I fix him with the full force of my loathing. “Why couldn’t you just ask us about this last night? Why didn’t you talk to me about it like a man instead of tattling on me to our parents?”
James scoffs. “You had clearly coerced her into being at that party. I couldn’t trust a word you said. And you carried her off somewhere before I could approach you. You left me with no choice.”
I bare my teeth at him. “You didn’t have to call them. You still could’ve come here on your own to ask me about it.”
He shakes his head. “I am not Lord of this house yet. Dad is the one with the power to kick you out.”
“What have you done this time, Daniel?” My mother demands shrilly. “And what on earth was that party you went to?” She rounds on James, including him in her censure. “Am I right in understanding that both of my sons attended some sort of sordid function last night? That you put the family name at risk of public scandal?”
James waves in dismissal, even though his cheeks flush. “Everyone was wearing masks,” he says quickly. “We don’t need to go into the details.”
She narrows her pale blue eyes at him. “We will return to this conversation later.” Her sharp gaze pins me again. “Explain yourself. Where is the woman you’ve supposedly kidnapped? Will she go quietly if we pay her? How much will your latest depravity cost this family?”
“I don’t want your money,” I bark. “I never have.”
My father speaks up for the first time, his words slurring slightly from his chronic alcoholism. “We’ll bail you out if we must,” he asserts. “Just like all the other times. This will not get into the news cycle. You’re still a Graham.”
The prospect of accepting anything from them raises my ire. Especially when my father is the one talking about bailing me out. Just like all the times he’s been bailed out of sticky situations to escape punishment for his crimes.
“I am not part of this family,” I seethe. “I gave up the title.”
“And yet, here you are,” Mum accuses. “Making yourself at home like the manor belongs to you. You’re either in or you’re out, Daniel. You’ve chosen to come back in. That means your actions reflect badly on the family. You will accept our money to pay off this woman. Make her go away.”
“Abigail isn’t going anywhere!” I thunder.
James is the only one with the good sense to take a step back from my volatility.
My mother and father remain coolly composed, completely unruffled by my uncharacteristic outburst. As though I’m still a child, and I’m incapable of controlling myself.
The awful memories that unlocked when I found Abigail bleeding in the wrecked Jeep rise up to take hold of my mind, my tongue.
“You think you can buy your way out of everything,” I hiss at my father. “Just like you bribed the police not to arrest you for killing Katie. You murdered my sister, and you never paid for it.”
“Daniel!” Mum’s tone is a sharp rebuke. “You know we don’t say that name in this house. It upsets your father.”
“And you.” I narrow my eyes at her. “You thought you could just replace my twin with another spare? With him?” I gesture sharply at James, and he pales.
“Let’s just take a moment,” he cajoles. “We can all have a cup of tea and talk about this rationally.”
I bark a bitter laugh. “You think tea is going to help fix this? My sister is dead because of them. I watched her die. I was trapped with her dead body for hours, and none of you ever gave a shit.”
“Really, Daniel.” My mother sounds scandalized. “There’s no need to make a scene. That was years ago. You’re not a child anymore.”
“I hate you.” My tone goes cold and flat. “I thought I felt nothing for you at all, but I truly hate you. Stay the fuck away from me.”
“You’re the one who came back,” my father reminds me with a scowl. “We didn’t invite you here.”
“I’m leaving,” I snap. “I never want to see any of you ever again.”
“I don’t think so,” Mum refuses. “You brought this mess to our doorstep. We’re going to clean it up before anyone finds out what you’ve done. Now, where is this woman you’ve kidnapped?”