AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She never told me anything about him,” Heather said, tears spilling from her eyes. “Other than he wanted nothing to do with us. She married my dad when I was just a baby.”
“Your stepdad,” Russo corrected. “Pops never said anything much about your mom, other than she was the churchy type.”
“My grandfather’s a pastor,” Heather said.
“Yeah, well, somehow good old Pops got in her pants and voilà, out came you.” Russo took another handful of popcorn, and we were once more reluctant witnesses to the minute-long chew. “He told me a lot of stuff once he was in prison. I think he knew he’d die in there. It was his last kind act—telling me about my baby sisters. Maybe his only one, huh? Now, I’m not saying he was a good man or a generous one, but he did leave me with something. Or someone. Two someones.” His mouth curved in the same rictus smile, showing us his crooked yellow teeth.
“You’re looking at my teeth, aren’t you?” Russo asked. “I needed braces, but we couldn’t afford them.”
Next to me, a muscle in Heather’s thigh twitched. “My stepdad’s an orthodontist. If you let us go, I can get you in there for free.”
He tilted his head. “I’m genuinely touched, little lady, but I’m afraid that’s never going to happen.”
“What about a wife?” Heather asked. “Don’t you want one?”
He laughed. “A wife? Wouldn’t that be something? If I were to meet someone, she’d have to be all right with you two being here permanently, so don’t worry about a thing. Whoever I bring home will know that you two come with me. A package deal.”
“That’s good of you,” I muttered under my breath.
He obviously didn’t hear me, because he pushed Play and the movie came to life. This was good. I could think while it was playing. Come up with some kind of plan to get us home.
I had to.
After the movie,Russo presented us with new toothbrushes and herded us into the bathroom. “Do your nighttime business, and then it’s time for bed. I’m bushed, so don’t dawdle. I can’t wait to tuck you in. I’ll even sprinkle some big brother fairy dust to keep you safe from monsters.”
I bit the inside of my mouth to keep from pointing out the only monster in the cabin was the one doling out toothbrushes.
“We’re going to need our hands to brush our teeth,” I said.
“Good point. In fact, the door to your bedroom locks from the outside, so I don’t see any reason you can’t sleep without them. I trust you, of course, but just in case you get any ideas, I have to keep everything locked up. Big brothers have to run a tight ship when taking care of their two mischievous sisters, am I right? In time, you’ll see how right I was, and none of this will be necessary.”
Russo untied our hands and stood watching as we brushed out teeth. When I was done, I asked him to shut the door so we could use the toilet in private. He seemed reluctant but relented. “Hurry up and tinkle. It’s past your bedtime.”
I waited until the door had shut before sitting on the toilet. Heather politely averted her eyes until it was her turn. The moment the toilet flushed a second time, Russo yanked open the door.
“Let’s go. Beauty sleep awaits.” He shooed us into the room with the two twin beds. “I didn’t get to do this when you twowere small, so I’m going to make up for lost time and tuck you into bed.” He stood between the beds and crossed his arms, a smile playing at his mouth.
Heather and I exchanged a look of fear.
Russo, apparently, picked up on our feelings. “Now, don’t you worry. You’re my sisters. I would never lay a finger on either one of you. That’s disgusting.”
Well, we had that going for us at least.
Russo patted the bed to the left. “This one’s yours, Elliot. Heather, since you’re the youngest and we like to spoil you, you’re getting the better mattress.
“You know what? We need nicknames if we’re going to be real siblings.” He pointed at me. “I’m going to call you Elle.” He turned toward Heather. “I’m not sure about yours yet. I’ll sleep on it. So far, I’d have to call you Grumpy if someone were to put a gun to my head.”
“We won’t ever want to stay here with you.” Heather perched on the edge of the mattress, wincing slightly. She was sore, I realized. How hard had he shoved her into the van? Or had he hurt her further when they got here? “It doesn’t matter how long we’re in here, we’re always going to want to go home.”
“Speaking of home,” Russo said, “why do you still live with your mother?”
Heather glared at him. “I was saving for a house of my own. My parents encouraged me to move back in to save for a down payment. I’m getting married next month, and Joe and I want a house of our own. Especially because…” She didn’t finished her sentence, seeming to realize she was about to reveal a fact about her life that could give him leverage. “I’m not some loser in the basement playing video games. I have a job. An important one.”
Russo grimaced. “Is that what you think I’ve been doing?”
“I have no idea.” Heather lay back on the bed and turned on her side, drawing her legs into her chest. “And I don’t care.”
He sighed, as if he’d been a long-suffering big brother for decades. “It’s all right that you’re acting out. For now. Soon, you’ll have to start watching your mouth, young lady. I am the patriarch of this family, and I demand respect.” All this was said with a light lilt in his tone and without a hint of malice.
