“Still got a problem with minding your own,” a deep voice rumbles.
I startle at Kaiden’s voice yet narrow my eyes when my gaze lands on him.
“What did you say?” Nova calls out, bringing her head out from the back of the car, her hands filled with a small laptop case.
“I said, mind your feet. They look sore,” he calls back, stepping closer.
Nova looks confused for a moment, staring down at her feet before looking at mine. “How long were you gone? Your feet look sore, Ivy.”
No shit. And it’s all thanks to that arsehole.
I smile sweetly at him. “They’ll be fine. Thanks for your concern.” I peek behind me and a sly smirk reaches my lips. “Nasty work someone’s done on your paintwork. Pissed off the wrong person?”
“Ivy,” Nova gasps, before looking at Kaiden. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t apologise for me,” I bark snottily.
Kaiden just smiles, and it’s so fake I want to puke. “It’s okay, Nova. Clearly someone mistook me for someone they could fuck over.”
Nova looks unsure. “Don’t go getting into trouble, Kai. I’m sure the police can handle it.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” he tells her, but his gaze is burning into mine.
“Right, I need to get some work done. Ivy, if you want a late brunch, let Annette know. I’ll be in my office.”
I watch her leave before turning to Kaiden. “You’re a dickhead for leaving me there on the side of the road. It took me an hour to get into town because I didn’t know the way,” I snap.
“Keep running your mouth and I’ll find something to fill it.”
The calmness in his voice sends a shiver down my spine. I straighten, stepping away from the car.
“Find being the key word, right?” I say, looking down at his crotch to emphasise my meaning.
“Oh, I’m going to enjoy breaking you.”
He walks off, leaving me standing there, breathless. After a minute of him being inside, I stick my middle finger up, feeling pathetic. He’s not even there to see it.
*** *** ***
When footsteps near, I look up to find Annette walking towards me with a tray of food in her hand.
After staying in my room for two hours, I got bored and decided to check the place out. After getting bored of that, I grabbed the tatty book from my room, a seat cushion from a deck chair in the garden and headed outside to sit under the tree.
The place really is beautiful. Even the air smells different here. It feels clean, fresh, something I’ve never smelled before.
Nova mentioned last night that Annette lived at the back of the house with her husband. She was right; the small bungalow sat just to the side of the property in the main garden, which has a freaking pool. I ventured further, stepping through the arched, freshly trimmed bushes and into a clearing where a massive pond is. I was far enough away from the house to not feel like an unwanted guest and far enough out of the way of the deep, dark pond.
“Ivy, I brought you out a sandwich. I wasn’t sure what you’d like so I just went with one turkey and one cheese.”
“Um, thank you.” I take the tray from her, and I thought she’d leave. Instead, she grabs a blanket from the bag I hadn’t seen she was carrying, laying it out on the ground.
“I wasn’t sure if you had anything to sit on. I can see you have. I was worried about you sitting in an ants’ nest.”
Wouldn’t be the first time, I muse as I place the tray on the blanket and grab a turkey sandwich.
“How did you know I was here?” I ask curiously.
She smiles gently. “I saw you head out this way. It’s a beautiful spot.”
“It is.”
“I’d best be going. I need to take Miss Monroe her lunch.”
“Thank you—for the sandwich,” I tell her, holding up the sandwich higher.
I take a huge bite whilst trying to get back into the book. It’s boring as hell, but it’s the only thing I have. Maybe when I get paid, Nova will take me to the library.
If they have one.
I’ve not even finished the first sandwich when more footsteps near. I look up, scrunching my eyes when two identical looking lads walk towards me with so much swagger it’s almost cringeworthy. They work it though, both hot as hell.
I guess this is Lucca and Ethan, Kaiden’s brothers.
Both look like the man I met this morning at Nova’s breakfast table. They both have light brown hair, unlike Kaiden’s dark hair, and the same facial features as their father, just younger and better looking.
I can’t see the colour of their eyes because both are wearing shades. I do scan their physiques over once again. They’re in shape, both have a good amount of muscle.
Yet they seem more laid back than Kaiden in their shorts and tank tops.
When they get closer, both of them grin at each other.
“Lucca and Ethan, I take it?” I mutter when they’re close enough to hear.
Their grins spread wider. “She’s heard of us already,” the one wearing the red shorts chuckles.
“Something like that,” I tell him, trying to figure them out.
They might seem friendly, but they look unpredictable.
“Thinks she wants a go?” Blue shorts says to his brother.
“Slags always want a go,” Red shorts replies.
“Would you like me to leave you two alone?” I ask sarcastically, deciding to get up and head inside.
I begin to shake off the grass that has somehow managed to get on my legs, when they step closer.
“W-what are you doing?”
They begin to circle me, and I start to feel dizzy.
“What are we doing, Lucca?”
Ah, so Red shorts is Lucca and Blue shorts is Ethan. Good to know. Let’s hope they keep to the colours every day.
“Having some fun,” Lucca replies.
I go to step forward when they give me an opening, but Lucca pushes me against Ethan.
“I heard she likes it rough,” Ethan whispers in my ear.
I jump away, glaring at him. “Fuck off.”
“Tell me, little one, just how rough do you like it? Because we tag team. Although, someone like you is probably used to having every hole used.”
“I said, fuck off!” I snap, yelping when Ethan pushes me into Lucca.
I try to shove off, but Lucca grabs me around the waist, holding me to his body, one of his hands grasping my tit.
Another hard body steps up behind me, pressing his dick against my back, and butterflies flutter in my stomach.
“Go, now,” I yell, trying to get free, but with another pair of hands gripping me in place, I have no hope. Ethan’s fingers run along my stomach where my top has risen, and my mind begins to race. I’ve encountered arseholes before, even fought off advances from grown arse men Mum brought back with her, but this… this is something else. I wasn’t expecting this.
“No!” I yell, trying to fight them off.
“Do you think it’s passed down?” Ethan asks cryptically.
“You wondering what makes her special too?”
“Must have a magic pussy. Wonder if her daughter does too,” Ethan drawls, his fingers now running over my denim-covered sex.
I squeak, getting pissed off with all the cryptic comments going back and forth. Both have charming characteristics and confidence, with a big ego that would make people believe them over me if I said they were terrorising me. Not that I’d grass. But you can believe your sweet arse I’d get revenge. And if I get caught, no one will believe me over them.
When he moves his fingers back to my top, exposing more of my midriff, I slap his hand away and shove it back down.
Wrong move.
Lucca is drawn to my cleavage that has popped out more from shoving my top down.
“We should have a taste.”
“Kaiden would be pissed if we played with his new toy,” Ethan replies, but doesn’t sound upset over it.
&nb
sp; “Fuck this,” I snap, and before Lucca can get any more handsy, I knee him in the balls. He drops to his knees, grasping his junk.
“Fucking bitch,” he wheezes.
Ethan begins to laugh, helping his brother back to his feet before they both turn to me.
“You’re tougher than we thought.”
“You think this is a fucking joke? You just sexually assaulted me,” I snap, grabbing my book from the floor. Annette can get the rest of the shit herself. I storm off, ignoring their laughter.
“Love, we did you a favour.”
I spin around at Ethan’s voice, and I know it’s his because his is deeper, whereas Lucca’s is raspy.
“Did me a favour?” I ask in disgust. God, I need to get drunk.
He grins, eyeing me up and down. “You need to be strong for what he has planned for you. We were checking if you were—that and we’re arseholes.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, tugging my hair from my face.
“Kaiden,” Lucca tells me, still catching his breath.
“Are you fucking kidding me? This is about your brother?”
Ethan laughs. “Love, you have no idea. We were going to fuck with you either way, just the usual, but you pissed off our brother. And when he gets mad, he gets even and then some. I’d watch it if I were you.”
“Why can’t you all just stay out of my way?” I snap.
He shrugs. “You don’t belong.”
Oh, no, not this again. “You guys need to grow the fuck up. You make it sound like I bribed my way here and am holding Nova under protest. I’m not. She invited me here.”
“You really don’t know, do you?” Ethan asks, scanning my face closely.
“Know what?” I yell, throwing my hands up. “I’ve been here a day.”
Lucca looks at Ethan and shrugs. “If I were you, I’d keep it that way.”
I scream in frustration when they walk past me.
“Oh, and Ivy… great tits.”
“Fantastic arse,” Ethan finishes.
Anger boils inside of me and I storm in the direction of the house. There are secrets here, and I intend to find out why. There’s no guessing it has to do with Mum and why she isn’t a part of this life. It’s also the reason those boys have gone out of their way to make my life hell.
If they think I’m going to roll over and cry, they’re wrong. If Kaiden wants to fight, he’s got it. I’ll fight back.
First though, it’s time to find out who my mum really was.
CHAPTER FOUR
It’s my fifth day here at the manor. Five days with my aunt, trying to get a feel for her. All I’ve figured out about her is that she loves her work as a lawyer and has worked from home since I arrived. Whether that’s to keep an eye on me or because this is normal, I have no clue. If I were to guess, she wants to keep an eye on me.
I’m losing my mind though. The weather is scorching hot and I feel like I can’t breathe. I’ve gone for a walk around the property but haven’t gone too far due to the blisters that have finally gone down today.
“Fuck this,” I mutter, getting up from my bed. Shoving my phone in my back pocket, I slide on a pair of pumps and head out.
About an hour ago, Nova went out to run some errands. Whatever that meant. She didn’t take Annette with her so it can’t be shopping. I snort at the thought of my aunt walking into a Tesco. She’d stand out like a sore thumb.
I walk through the house until I get to the side I’ve not ventured down before. Annette explained it’s the side where Nova sleeps and keeps her office. Thinking that is where I will find answers, I push through the door to the office.
The desk sits in the middle of the room, the chair facing the door. Shelves and filing cabinets line each of the sides.
I step over to the shelves, seeing some pictures. Nova has her arm wrapped around an older couple, standing somewhere close to the beach.
Must be nice.
I’ve never been to a beach, never been on holiday. A holiday to me was not having to listen to my mum have sex in the next room.
Another picture captures my eye and this time it’s one of my mum and Nova as teenagers, maybe fifteen or sixteen. They’re standing in front of two horses, Nova smiling at the camera, yet Mum has her head tilted towards the ground a little. Even seeing them so young, I can tell they were polar opposites. Nova is dressed to the nines whilst Mum is wearing a skimpy top and low-riding jeans.
I pick up the picture, scanning my mum all over. I was right; she was once beautiful, even though she still had that hard edge towards her.
Seeing my mum like this, in that environment, bothers me more than it should. I’m about to leave when a picture sticking out between two books catches my eye.
I pull it out, seeing a group photo with Mum, Nova, three men and two other women. Mum looks completely different. Her hair is a light brown colour with flecks of blonde in it. She’s beaming at her sister, who has her arm tucked around her. I’m mind blown, completely in shock. Even her clothes are different to the ones she is wearing in the other photo and it can’t be that much older.
She looks stunning.
For the first time, I take a closer look at the other people in the picture. The one on the other end is a tiny girl with dark blonde hair that looks knotted. She’s so tiny that the large lad with his arm wrapped around her shoulders shadows over her. Next to them is another couple, and the man looks vaguely like the guy I met downstairs my first day here. Royce, if I’m remembering correctly. He looks just as intimidating in this picture, the same cunning look in his eye. A dark-haired woman is curled around him, looking so in love it’s kind of sickening.
The dark-haired man with his arm wrapped around Nova’s waist looks familiar too. I just can’t remember where to place him. Which is weird, because I’d remember meeting someone like him before.
Seeing this is like a slap in the face. I really didn’t know my mum. Something happened between this photo being taken and the one with her sister beside their horses.
A door shutting echoes in the distance, and I shove the photo back on the shelf before racing out of the office.
I need to get out of here. I need to breathe.
“Ivy, is that you?” Nova calls up the stairs.
I hit the top of the stairs just as she takes her first step. Flushed and panicked, I move past her, unable to look her in the eye. She follows behind me.
“Can I borrow that bike?”
“Um, yeah, it’s just inside of the garage door. Ivy, is everything okay?”
“Yes. I need to get to Elle’s house.”
“I thought you might have changed your mind,” she says, but I don’t look at her, needing to get out of here. “Don’t forget the party later. I expect you to be there, Ivy. It will be good to make friends.”
I snort as I lift a leg over the bike. Friends. They wouldn’t know the meaning. She’s meant to be a lawyer. Shouldn’t she see past the façade they put on?
“I’ll try.”
“Ivy,” she warns in that snotty tone. “You’ll go. Kai stopped me before I left earlier to remind you to wear a swimsuit.”
“Whatever,” I yell and peddle my way out of there as fast as I can. I’m nearing the bottom of the hill when a car I recognise speeds up, nearly knocking me off the road. “Wanker!”
Laughter fills the car as it comes to a stop, but I ignore it, following the road down to the front gate.
*** *** ***
I skid to a stop outside Elle’s house—well, I’m hoping it’s hers—and take a look around. It’s big, but nowhere near as big as the enormous houses back in the gated community. This looks homier with its perfectly planted flowers and seat swing at the front.
Who am I kidding. I don’t even know why I’m here. The lady is old and probably won’t even remember me. I don’t know her, either, yet she’s been the only one open with me since I arrived. Even Nova closes up during conversations, and it bugs me.
I go to push off when
Elle stands up from behind the hedges, tipping her sun hat up. “Are you going to stare at my home or come and help me pull these weeds up?”
“Um…”
“Child, come and help.”
At her order, I swing my leg off the bike and lean it against the hedge. I push through the gate to find Elle back on her knees, yanking out weeds.
She pats a foam board next to her. “Don’t stand there all day, girl. Get pulling.”
Slowly, I kneel on the foam and take the gloves she hands me. I look to her side, noticing it looks like fresh soil around some beautiful yellow and blue flowers. My side looks a mess.
“See these,” she tells me, pointing to some dry, ugly looking leaves. “They’re pretty much dead. With the heatwave this year, we’ve had to water them a lot more. Which means weeds still grow.”
“Which ones are weeds?” I ask, feeling stupid.
“Much easier to tell you which aren’t,” she says and points in a pattern of where the flowers are planted. “Now, pull the rest out. I’ll start turning soil over once you’ve done it. Shouldn’t take us long, then I can show you the strawberries. They’re ready early this year.”
“Do you only grow strawberries?” I ask, pulling out a weed.
“No. I grow everything. Next to my strawberries, I grow the best watermelon around.”
After that, we keep quiet, only talking when really necessary. My skin is burning, sweat is pouring off me, and my throat is dry.
“Come on. Let’s take a break before we do the plants,” Elle says, dusting the dirt off her knees. I wipe my forehead with the top of my arm. I’m sure I’ve got dirt all over me, not just my bottom half.
Elle follows the path to her back garden and I follow her, my body dragging as exhaustion hits.
Bloody heat.
“Take a seat in the shade,” she orders, pointing to the table and chairs under a sun umbrella. Happily, I do, feeling my bones crack and muscles groan.
“Who are you?” a deep voice growls. I stand up quickly, seeing an older gentlemen marching up the path.
“Um, I’m—”
“I’m calling the police. We don’t have anything valuable,” he snaps, eyeing me with disdain.
Wrong Crowd (Kingsley Academy Book 1) Page 4