My Brother's Five Friends

by B. B. Hamel

  “Fine,” I said. “When it blows over, we’re divorced. Okay ?”

  “Sure.” He walked toward me. “That is, if you still want to be divorced .”

  I laughed. “You’re my stepbrother. That’s just crazy .”

  He stopped inches away from me and reached out to touch my hair. “Any more crazy than you sucking me off like that ?”

  “Yes,” I said. “Maybe. I don’t know .”

  “Face it, Natalie. You’re desperate for what I have .”

  I turned away. “You’re my stepbrother. This was just a one-time thing.” I gestured at the dress .

  “Sure. If that’s how you want to play it, we can pretend you won’t be back here begging for more .”

  “Good night, Lucas .”

  “Good night, wife .”

  I quickly crossed the room, opened the door, and walked out .

  I knew I needed to get out of there quickly. Any time he came near me, I wasn’t sure I could trust myself .

  And I needed to get myself under control. What had happened back there was completely wrong; I couldn’t believe I had let it get so far. I had planned on teasing him a little bit, not completely falling into his arms and letting him do whatever he wanted to me. It was bad enough that he was a cocky asshole, but he was also my stepbrother .

  I couldn’t risk my mother’s marriage, or my own safety. As much as I disliked her, she was trying to be happy, and she was trying to provide .

  I walked quickly back to my room, angry with myself but still thinking about his touch. The angrier I got, the more I imagined how it felt to touch him and taste him .

  I was totally screwed .

  14

  Lucas

  C hicago was beautiful early in the morning, especially in the summer. The bench was hard underneath me as I sipped my burning-hot coffee, waiting patiently .

  Vince was on a bench within my sightline, but he was far enough away to be inconspicuous. Three other members of our team, plus three of Rodney’s guys, were all standing around the park pretending like they weren’t all watching me .

  I hated waiting. It was part of the game we had to play, but that didn’t mean I had to enjoy it. I had always been a man of action, someone that stood up and got done what needed doing, but I could force myself to be patient when I needed to be .

  Still, this felt wrong for some reason. Vince had sent out feelers to some contacts we had in the Russian mob, and we got back one single bite. He said we could meet, but only briefly, and only in public .

  His name was Vasili Vladikovich. He was a low-level member of the Russians, basically a courier with no real power at all. We paid him pretty well in exchange for information every once in a while. I was pretty sure he was sick of being shit on by his bosses, and so I did my best to act respectful of him when I could .

  But he was a real slime ball. There was a reason the Russians never promoted him. He wasn’t stupid, but he was self-centered, slovenly, and rude. Basically, nobody liked him because he was an asshole .

  I sipped my coffee, waiting. He was already fifteen minutes late, and I was getting ready to give up on the whole thing. I didn’t need Vasili or any of the Russians; we could work the thing out for ourselves. But just as I was ready to stand up and walk away, I spotted him coming into the park .

  Vasili was short, fat, and had a ratty beard. He was wearing a track suit, black and white, with white pumas. He looked like the most cliché Russian gangster in the world .

  I nodded to him and he came over, looking nervous .

  “Vasili,” I said. “Thanks for meeting me .”

  “You know how dangerous this is for me?” he snapped .

  “Why is that?” I glanced at one of Rodney’s guys, who flashed me a quick “all-clear” sign .

  “Our organization is on lockdown,” he said. “You know why .”

  “The shipment. What happened ?”

  “You know what they do to rats, right ?”

  “Probably something similar to what we do .”

  “They cut off our balls and shove them into our mouth. They make us chew and swallow them. Then they cut our throat .”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Excessive .”

  “Scary, I say. So you calling me here, you could get me fucking killed .”

  “Okay, Vasili, but we’re safe right now .”

  “Maybe. Only because I’m so smart .”

  “Why is that ?”

  “I lost my stupid handlers .”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Handlers? You’re being followed ?”

  He nodded. “Idiots, though .”

  I flashed a quick sign to Vince. He nodded and stood up. They’d do another sweep around the area and make sure we were okay .

  “Why are they following you ?”

  He snorted. “Because I know what’s happening. I stupidly read a message, which earned me this.” He held up his hand. It was wrapped in a white bandage .

  “Finger?” I asked .

  “Pinky. Clean off .”

  I nodded. That made sense. Vasili was probably pissed off about the Russians taking a finger, which explained why he was willing to talk to me in the first place .

  “Okay, Vasili, what did the message say ?”

  “Can’t tell you that .”

  I clenched my jaw, willing myself to stay calm. “What can you tell me ?”

  “Just one thing .”

  “Enough dramatics. What ?”

  “We were involved, in the truck getting taken .”

  I let out a breath. I knew the Russians were involved, but I didn’t know how or why. Vasili’s confirmation helped a lot, though .

  “I thought our organizations were friendly .”

  He shrugged, picking at his nails. “Friendly, not friendly, doesn’t matter. We’re all greedy fucks, right ?”

  I nodded. “Why have the police pinch the truck, though ?”

  He grinned at me. “Good question .”

  “Tell me, Vasili .”

  “Sorry, Lucas. Can’t do it.” He stood up .

  “Wait. I’ll pay more .”

  He looked at me for a second. “Check the truck,” he said .

  “It’s impounded, with the cops .”

  “Check it.” He held out his hand. “Pay me .”

  I made a disgusted face. “Vince is at the entrance. He’ll pay you .”

  Vasili shrugged. “Okay. Good luck .”

  “Make sure you take care of that pinky .”

  He waved his bandaged hand and then walked quickly back toward the entrance. I saw Vince bump into him and place a package of money into his pocket. Vasili cursed but quickly realized what had happened .

  He disappeared back into the city .

  I leaned back on my bench and sighed, sipping my coffee. Still hot, but not hot enough .

  “Well?” Vince asked .

  I stood up and we began to walk back toward the car. I gave Rodney’s guys the sign to disperse .

  “He says they were involved .”

  “That it ?”

  “And to check the truck .”

  Vince frowned. “Not much new there, then .”

  “We know the Russians were involved. And I’m still pretty confident that we have a rat .”

  “Could just be on their end .”

  I nodded. I’d had the same thought. If the Russians were involved, then none of our people needed to betray us at all .

  But something still felt off about the whole thing. That deal had been worked out over months, and it stood to benefit both of our organizations. Why would the Russians risk war? It just made no sense to me .

  “We’ll keep digging,” I said to Vince. We rounded the corner and climbed into the car .

  “Back home?” he asked .

  I shook my head, “Quick stop downtown .”

  “What for ?”

  I grinned at him. “Just need to do some panty shopping .”

  He gave me a weird look but just shrugged.
“Okay, boss .”

  We pulled back out into traffic, and I leaned back in my seat, smiling to myself .

  Remembering Natalie, that dress, my cock in her mouth .

  The taste of her pussy was still on my lips .

  15

  Natalie

  W hen I woke up the next morning, I still couldn’t get what had happened the night before out of my head .

  Lucas’s body, the way he touched me. His hungry look. The way I lost control and couldn’t stop myself from touching his muscular chest, from kissing his grinning lips, from feeling his thick cock .

  I ordered my usual breakfast, or at least the breakfast I’d been eating the last few days, and sat at the small table set in front of a window. The view was actually very lovely; I watched the grounds stretch out from my window and the cars that crawled along the road .

  But my head was still stuck on the night before, which it really, really shouldn’t have been. I needed to get myself together and move past him .

  Frustrated, I stood up and quickly got dressed. I finish off my coffee and then stepped out into the hall .

  Instantly I had no clue where I was going. I felt nervous wandering around the property without any destination, but I wanted to explore and I had nothing else to do .

  So I began to walk. I started with my wing, purposefully avoiding Lucas’s hall, and basically began trying doors at random. I quickly found out that a majority of them were locked .

  But some of them weren’t. I found a storage room with linens and bedding, another large bathroom with multiple toilets and showers, an indoor basketball court, a small gym, a bowling alley, and what looked like an old classroom .

  All the while everything was covered in gilt and expensive fabrics. It was the most ostentatious place I had ever seen in my life, and the more I moved through it, the more I was convinced that it was huge .

  I followed the stairway down to the bottom and pushed open the door. I found myself in the kitchen. The place was packed with workers, servants and cooks alike, some standing around and chatting, some hard at work on food prep .

  “Lost?”

  I turned and saw a young man standing to my right. It took me a second to realize that he was Franklin, the driver .

  “Oh no,” I said. “Just exploring .”

  He nodded, taking a drag on a cigarette. “Big place, huh ?”

  “It’s crazy. How does anyone find anything ?”

  He shrugged and ashed his cigarette. “You get used to it, I guess .”

  “How many people are living here ?”

  He shrugged again. “Permanently? Supposed to be just Barone and his family, but there’s probably fifty, maybe sixty people staying here at any given time .”

  I gaped at him. “Seriously ?”

  “Seriously.”

  “Why don’t I see them ?”

  “Because they have orders to leave you alone .”

  I let that sink in. “Why ?”

  “You’re the boss’s new stepdaughter. He doesn’t want you corrupted, I guess .”

  He was beginning to give me the creeps. “Well, thanks .”

  “Sure.”

  I turned and left the kitchen, walking fast. He had seemed nice at first, but the longer I saw him, the more awkward I felt. I wanted to get away from him .

  I went up to the top floor and began walking again. Paintings lined the hallways, and I began to notice more people around. They all ignored me and walked quickly past, not saying a word. It began to feel a little strange, but I realized it was because they had been ordered not to bother me .

  And that suited me just fine. I wanted to be left alone while I explored .

  Another fifteen minutes of aimless wandering and I came to a dead end. The hallway I had just come down was strange, but I couldn’t put my finger on it .

  I had to walk to the other end and back again to realize that the hallway had only one single door .

  The door was large and wooden. On a very small metal plaque, there was a name: “Louisa .”

  I cocked my head, looking at it. The name sounded very familiar, and then it hit me: this must be Lucas’s sister’s room .

  Curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself knocking .

  And quickly stopped myself, but too late. I had already knocked twice, loud and booming .

  Why hadn’t I met her yet? I realized that there must have been a reason why they were keeping me from her. Or why she had been keeping herself from me. Maybe she hated me? Maybe she despised my mother for marrying her father ?

  I took a few steps back away from the door. I was suddenly very nervous. But nobody was answering, and the silence stretched on. Maybe she wasn’t in her room; maybe I was safe .

  I turned and went to leave. I took a few steps quickly down the hall, trying to be quiet .

  “Running away ?”

  I stopped. The voice was young, female, and coming from right behind me. I turned, a knot in my stomach .

  She was pretty, slight, with big eyes, thick hair, and a slim face. I could see the resemblance between her and Lucas, though I guessed she took more after her mother than he did .

  “Uh, I’m sorry,” I said .

  She cocked her head. “For what ?”

  “Knocking. I didn’t mean to bother you .”

  “Sure you did,” she said .

  “Uh, sorry,” I said stupidly .

  “You’re Natalie .”

  I nodded. “You’re Louisa .”

  She stared at me for a second. The longer I looked at her, the more I realized that there were bags under her eyes and her clothes were all rumpled .

  She looked tired .

  “Come in then,” she said, disappearing inside .

  I hesitated. I should probably just leave, but she interested me. Curious, I followed her inside .

  Her rooms were bigger than mine. I guessed they took up the entire wing and part of the downstairs. It was a total mess, with clothes and trash all over the place. There were several large screens set up and electronic equipment scattered all over the ground. I recognized a lot of it .

  “Sorry for the mess,” she said, sitting down cross-legged on a couch. “I threw a shoe at Rosita and she refused to come back .”

  I laughed nervously. “Rosita ?”

  “She cleans my rooms usually. But she showed up in the middle of a raid .”

  “Raid?”

  “Yeah. Like, World of War Craft ?”

  I nodded. “Sure. Some of my friends play .”

  “It’s fun .”

  She watched me as I stood there awkwardly. “So, uh, you’re into computers .”

  “Sure.”

  “Me too. I go to school for computer science .”

  “Good for you .”

  I frowned. She seemed almost hostile one second and completely pleasant the next. I had no clue what to make of it .

  “Uh, so. We’re stepsisters .”

  “Sit down,” she said. I walked over and sat on the couch. “Yep, stepsisters. I’ve never had a sister before .”

  “Me neither,” I said, smiling. “I’m an only child .”

  “Must be nice .”

  “Lonely sometimes, but yeah, it’s okay .”

  “Must be hard too, since your mother and all .”

  I laughed. “Yeah. You’ve heard of her, I guess .”

  “Camille Taylor. Hard not to hear about her.” She paused, looking at her nails. “How much of that crap is true ?”

  “The shows ?”

  “All of it .”

  I shrugged. “Not much, but I honestly try to keep my distance .”

  “Not into the family business ?”

  “No, not really .”

  “Good for you.” She looked at me seriously. “Why did my brother steal a dress for you ?”

  I turned beet red. I hadn’t realized she knew about that. “Uh, he was just trying to be nice, I guess,” I said quickly .

  She laughed. “That d
oesn’t sound like Lucas .”

  “No, it doesn’t,” I muttered .

  “I don’t care what you’re doing,” she said, shrugging. “I really don’t .

  “We’re not doing anything,” I said .

  She smiled. “Sure you’re not.” She stretched her legs out, putting them in my lap. I was surprised but didn’t move away. “Sorry I’m being weird. I’m just exhausted .”

  “I can come back later if you want .”

  “No. Stay for a bit. I want to get to know my new stepsister .”

  And so began the weirdest conversation of my life .

  She began by asking about life at college. Evidently, Louisa didn’t go to school and had opted to drop out of high school pretty young. I told her about class, about friends, and about partying, but she seemed most interested in asking about the computer lab .

  Next, she wanted to know about past boyfriends. I was vague on this, and when I questioned her back, she completely ignored me. It was more like an interrogation than a conversation .

  But she fascinated me. The way she jumped from topic to topic, her infectious laugh, her strange smile, it all drew me into her. I wanted to be her friend .

  Finally, I decided to ask more about her .

  “So, how come we haven’t met yet?” I asked .

  She cocked her head. “You haven’t come here before now .”

  “Sure, but you missed that dinner .”

  She smiled. “I don’t leave my room .”

  “I mean, I wouldn’t want to leave my room for that either .”

  “No,” she said, interrupting me. “I don’t leave my room .”

  I stared at her. “Ever ?”

  “Well, no. I leave sometimes. I go for walks outside. But mostly, I’m in here .”

  I blinked at her. “Why ?”

  She shrugged, looking away. “You can ask my dad about that one day, if you want .”

  “I doubt I will .”

  She looked back at me, that smile returning. “He’s not such a scary man, you know .”

  “I didn’t think he was .”