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Today, even here in our new fancy home. Things haven’t changed one bit and I feel torn between embarrassment, not just because Ezekiel’s here now, and pain for my mama.
She’s wanted this to work so bad, really loves Ike regardless of his money. And those two monsters are gonna break her heart, I can just feel it.
Reaching the bottom of the massive staircase, I spot old Grosvenor quickly finishing the last of the two drinks he never got to deliver before he sees the alarm in our faces. He’s already put up with so much from my brothers, but it’s clear in a second that they’ve both crossed the line.
And don’t worry, G. Your sly drink secret is safe with me. I kinda wondered how he always managed to be so polite, so deliberate and calm all the time.
Now I guess I know.
Even in my new dress which trails on the luxury rugs and carpeting, I’m first on the scene. The library. The sight of Ricky tossing Ronnie right through a stained glass window shocks me but makes me more angry than anything with the pair of them.
It’s when Ricky reaches for the almost empty bottle and then a pistol from a table, I scream like I never knew I could.
And the only thing I can think to do is go for help, warning mama on my way past that Ricky’s got a gun this time. The whole place is full of antique stuff in gleaming cabinets, so it’s no real surprise they lifted a firearm as well as a few bottles of fancy liquor.
Ike’s the man of the house, and even though it’s probably the last straw, I can’t think of who else to turn to.
The sudden drama making me forget all about Ezekiel until I burst into Ike’s office. Spotting him again looking as strong and calm as ever.
Not to mention more handsome, if that’s even possible.
I blurt something out, feeling myself unraveling inside.
Hating my brothers for ruining our big chance at an easier life, but feeling more shame than anything once I lock eyes with Ezekiel again. Ike’s doing his best to move fast once he realizes the gravity of the situation, but Ezekiel blocks him with a huge arm and strides past him. His long, powerful legs giving him an instant advantage over all of us.
By the time we get to the library, I can feel the freezing air rushing in through the broken window Ezekiel’s calmly climbing out of.
Two sets of deep footprints in the snow ahead of him lead to the distant figures of Ricky and Ronnie, who’s almost near the woods beyond. Stumbling for his life ahead of his drunk and crazier than ever brother.
Ricky’s clutching the bottle in one hand, the a pistol in the other. Plumes of white puff from his swaying body that looks bright red in the cold.
Ricky’s not far from the house and Ezekiel stalks him from behind quickly and silently.
Dashing to the window, worried sick for Ezekiel, I don’t even feel the glass cut into my hand as I crane my body out the jagged opening. The icy wind whipping my face and stiff chest as I open my mouth in another silent scream that never comes.
Ricky’s swaying on the spot, cursing and pointing the gun at Ronnie. Chuckling madly to himself as he cocks the antique revolver after finally working out how it works.
Ezekiel strides up next to him, making him turn in surprise. They’re both just far away enough to hear over the wind and driving snow. Ezekiel’s deep voice carrying to my ears through the frigid wind.
“You Ricky or Ronnie?” Ezekiel ask my brother calmly but firmly. Ricky’s eyes look like they go out of focus as he stares up, stunned at someone else being there let alone someone as big as Ezekiel.
“Uhhh… I’m Ricky.” He slurs, a dumb little grin passing over his face before I watch Ezekiel’s arm drawing back.
“G’night, Ricky.” He says in an even tone. Delivering a knock out punch at the same time he eases the pistol from Ricky’s hand who slumps to the ground. Out cold in the cold. Naked to the waist and in bare feet. Still wearing the same stupid smile with his eyes closed.
But I don’t scream again. I don’t even get mad at him for hitting my brother. It’s about time someone knocked some sense into one of them.
Instead I feel that crazy, tingling itch I got earlier. Up inside my belly so far I know it’s not this new dress or underwear riding up making me wanna scratch myself.
It’s him.
My new step brother. And suddenly connecting the feeling to the man himself only makes me want one thing right now. To have him come scratch the itch he’s made. But I gasp for a different reason.
More of a painful groan once it pegs I’ve cut my hand. Because worse than that, I know that Ezekiel and me could never be anything more than relatives. Not blood relatives mind, but apart from being twenty years older than me, there’s just no way he’d even think about his baby step sister like that.
Would he?
I can hear mama, Ike and Grosvenor behind me. All trying to see past me while Ike’s barking demands to know what the hell’s going on.
