“Just saying. I’ve never seen you look at anyone like that.” He points at my face. “Usually, your eyes are as dead as your soul, little brother. Right now, they have life in them.”
“I’m going to need my flamethrower back,” Mabilia adds.
“You gave him that?” Mom hisses. “He got kicked out of school because of that flamethrower, Mabilia.”
“Actually, he got kicked out of school for slicing some kid’s throat and throwing him out the window,” Neo clarifies.
Addison goes still next to me.
“I didn’t give it to him. He broke into my house and stole it,” Mabilia tells Mom.
“It’s not breaking in if you have a key, and both of you would have done the same.” I point at Mabilia and add, “Or worse.”
“What he do?” My sister turns to me.
“Looked at me the wrong way,” I grunt.
“Your mother and I are taking a trip to Australia to see Zoe. You two are coming.” Dad gestures to me and Addi.
“Oh, I can’t go to Australia, Mister… Mikhail,” Addison says.
My siblings gasp, and I smirk at them again.
“Why can’t you come, Addison?” Dad asks.
“I… ah… I don’t have a passport.”
“I’ll sort it out. Any other objections?” He quirks a brow at her.
“Um…” She looks to me for help.
“No objections. We’re coming,” I say. “It’ll be fun.”
Chapter Sixteen
The last couple of days have been a whirlwind. I was at college, then I was at Lex’s, and now I’m in Australia at his adopted sister’s house. The place is just like his homeback in New York, though. Men in suits everywhere, mostly just standing around, some talking to each other.
I’ve stuck to Lex’s side like glue. I’m sure by now he’s sick of me or on his way there. He hasn’t said anything, and as usual, he’s been nothing but patient with me. It was easy to not focus on the different social statuses so much when we were at school. Now that I’ve been thrust into his life, his world, I can’t help but notice it.
You would think hanging out with a mafia family that your mind would maybe be on the danger, and it is but not in the way it should be. I’m scared of being around so many men. It makes me nervous, which is one of the reasons I’m stuck to Lex’s side. Maybe focusing on how poor I am and how I’m leeching is my brain’s way of trying to occupy itself.
I’m also just really tired. Lex and I are in separate rooms, and I’ve been doing my best to give him that space. But as soon as he leaves me at night, I start panicking and watching the door as if someone is going to force their way in. I spend hours tossing and turning. That’s happened for the past two nights. I think the last time I slept really well was on the plane. Lex stayed in the bedroom with me. I’d never even flown before, let alone on a private jet that had a bedroom.
“You hungry?” Lex asks.
We’re sitting by the pool in the garden. It’s hot out here but I’m not complaining. The fact I’m still wearing jeans and a light sweater probably isn’t helping. But I like having my skin covered.
“No.”
“Thirsty?”
“Not really. Are you?”
“Nope. You want to go for a swim?” Lex gestures to the pool.
“I don’t have a suit.”
“I can get you one, or I can give you a shirt,” he offers.
