With a smirk, he climbs the stairs and watches me from the top. "I'll leave the light on so you can get a good fucking look at your wife before you lose her. It's the least I can do."
I don't reply, just stare back with pure rage registering on my face.
"Was it true?" I finally ask. "What you told June about Dad."
He stares at me, hard and unrelenting. "You still don't believe me."
"You never said anything," I argue. "And as far as I know, it might as well be fucking fiction. Why would Dad hurt you?"
"Because he knew," Parker hisses. "He knew I was as sick as he was. He was the same as you, Kade. He fought the darkness, kept it at bay until it came roaring back with a fucking vengeance. Trust me, it'll happen to you as well."
"No, it won't," I reply. "I have a hold on myself, unlike you."
"That's what you think in here." He taps his temples. "But you won't be able to help yourself when the time comes. Especially with June around. She brings it out in both of us."
He turns around to leave, stopping on second thought and turning to face me again. He lifts his shirt, showing me the scars I've seen a thousand times.
"This is what happens when you hold back," he tells me darkly. "I just hope your kid won't bear the same scars I do."
"You're sick," I hiss. "My kid is nothing like you. Nothing."
"We're all like this," Parker replies firmly. "All of us Millers. It runs in our blood. The more you try to outrun it, the worse it'll get for you."
"I'd never hurt my son."
"I'm sure Dad thought the same until he saw me do something he didn't agree with." He sighs. "And then he decided to punish me for it, day after day. Little did he know, he wasn't beating the darkness out of me. He was just making it fucking grow. Stop fighting it, Kade. You're killing yourself."
"The only person I'm going to fucking kill is you," I grunt.
"We'll see." He smiles, but there's a hint of sadness in it. "It's sad, you know. We could've done this together. We could've both had her." He laughs out loud then. "Well, that's not fucking true. I'd never let you have June in the end. You don't even know how to treat a woman like her right."
"Hurting her isn't treating her right," I spit out.
"Ask her." Parker smirks. "Maybe she can enlighten you if she ever wakes up."
"At least bring down something to eat. How long has it been since she’s eaten or had something to drink?"
My twin shrugs carelessly. He doesn't give a shit, and I hiss, "For someone who claims to love her, you sure as fuck don't show it."
"Shut up." His expression darkens. "I've had enough of you now. Why don't you wait there until I decide your time is over? It won't be fucking long because you're getting on my last goddamn nerve."
With those words, he slams the door, and I listen to the bolts and locks sliding into place.
I scramble to pull the knife out. I cut myself several times in the process, but I manage to rip through the zip ties on my wrists, nonetheless. I'm free.
But as I look at June's unmoving, unconscious body, I start to wonder whether it's too late already... She may not be showing any cuts or scrapes, but Parker could've done something else to her. Something worse.
My resolve strengthens.
My brother's a dead man fucking walking.
38
June
"June!" A voice cuts through the darkness, and the familiar tone is too much to handle. I close my eyes tightly, telling myself this can't be. It's Parker, and he's come to haunt the rest of my dreams forever. Yet something tells me this can't be right. Because the hands that touch me hesitantly are too soft, too strong, and too merciful. My eyes finally flutter open as he lifts me like I weigh nothing, cradling me in his arms.
I look into Kade’s eyes, his gaze burning with hatred for his twin brother and love for me. I whimper, finally realizing my dream has come true. He found me, and he came here to save me. It's all going to be okay. My husband cradles me in his arms, and a growl escapes his lips as I moan in pain and delirium, still too lost in the darkness to really understand what exactly is going on.
Then his lips crash against mine, demanding but gentle. I let the kiss convince me it will all be all right. I let it take me to bright, colorful places, away from this place, which reeks of death. His love is pure love, but it holds a promise of revenge. And if I were Parker, I would be deathly afraid in this very moment, knowing what awaits him when he returns.
Kade sets me down gently, his arms supporting me so I don't topple over. A foolish smile comes over my face, and I exclaim, finally getting my voice and reason back. "Kade!"
"Junebug," he groans deeply. "You're okay. Thank fuck you're okay. What did that bastard do to you?"
His hands roam my body, and I moan when he reaches the tender point in my ribs where Parker kicked me. Kade’s hands form fists, and his lips twist in a grimace as he realizes I've been hurt. But before we have time to do anything else, we hear some noise upstairs, and my eyes widen with fear as they connect with Kade’s. He presses a finger to his lips before quickly untying my bonds and motioning for me to get back on the mattress while he hides in the many shadows of the dark basement. Hesitantly, I do as I'm told though my heart is beating in my chest like it's on the verge of bursting. I lie back on the mattress, my gaze focused on the staircase where Parker's boots just appeared.
He's whistling. The sick fuck is whistling.
He finally comes downstairs and freezes in his tracks when he spots me. His eyes flutter to my wrists where the rope is missing, and an expression of pure rage transforms his face into something terribly ugly. Snarling, he comes for me, and I cover my face with my hands in a futile attempt to protect myself. But before he can grab me, Kade jumps from the shadows and takes Parker by the throat. An enraged snarl escapes Parker's lips as I jump up from the mattress, and as the two twins battle it out, I make a run for it.
I stumble out of the house, and as soon as my feet hit the grass outside, the sun shining in my eyes blinds me. Blocking the light with my hands, I call for help as loud as I can, screaming my head off. But all that meets me is the crashing of waves on the beach and the solitary chirp of a bird nearby who looks at me curiously from a branch on a tree next to me.
I start running around aimlessly, my eyes looking for someone or something that could help me, but I come up empty every single time. There's no one here, the island deserted. I have no idea how Kade got here, but it is obvious he was alone. I remember the electricity going out then, realizing Parker had something to do with it. We're cut off from the mainland now, at least for another day until the yacht comes to pick Kade and me up.
But by then, we could both be dead.
Finally, I hear steps coming from behind me and I whip my head back in terror. A man is coming toward me, limping lightly as he runs. It's Parker or Kade, and it makes me feel sick that I can no longer discern the brothers. But the words he snarls at me make everything all too clear.
"You better run, little sis," he yells in my direction, getting closer with each step. "I won't go easy on you this time around. Last fucking chance. Run, little sis, fucking run!"
Realizing Parker is after me, I yelp softly and make a run for it, though I know it's a futile effort. I hear him panting behind me, and even farther behind, I can hear Kade’s voice calling my name desperately. I run. I run as fast as I can. The shrubbery cuts into my feet, the sharp rocks on the ground grinding into the soles of them. I run through thorns, leaves, and branches, each of them leaving a mark on my once so perfect skin.
I finally come to a clearing, and I suddenly realize I've been running uphill all this time. What a foolish, foolish girl I am. Because when I come to a stop at the end of the clearing, I realize it's not a clearing at all. It's a cliff, and I'm standing on the edge with Parker and Kade advancing on me as fast as they can manage. I can only hope the good twin will be the first one to reach me.
I turn around quickly, my eyes glued to the spot w
here the forest becomes sparse, knowing I'm a target exposed like this. Panting, suddenly both brothers appear in the clearing and look at me with dark intent. My heart beating like a hummingbird's wings, my eyes flutter from one strong man to another. They exchange glances, and for a second, I'm sure they'll jump at each other's throats, but instead, they both head straight for me. One of the men trips and falls, cursing loudly. The other advances toward me until he's only a few steps away. I look into his eyes, the question obvious in my gaze.
Will you save me or hurt me?
The evil snarl on his face immediately reveals the faster brother is Parker. I whimper in fear as he advances on me, grabbing me in his strong arms like a rag doll. Desperately, I call out for Kade, who finally gets to his feet and catches up to us.
"Not a step closer, brother," Parker snarls at him, clutching his hands around my throat. Kade stops dead in his tracks and emits a low growl as Parker and I face him, his twin pulling us both backward toward the edge of the precipice.
He finally raises his hands in the air, trying to placate. "Parker, there's nowhere to go anymore. Nowhere to hide," he tries to reason with his twin.
"You think you're going to win again?" Parker growls, the grip on my throat tightening. I'm so scared I might faint at any minute. "You're fucking done, Kade. She's all mine now. And if I can't have her, no one can." Terror sinks in as I realize what he's saying. He's willing to kill us both just so Kade can't get his hands on me.
"Don't, Parker," Kade growls. "Please. We can work it all out. It will be okay, just come over here. Bring Junebug here, dammit!"
It's the last command that makes Parker lose it. I know he could never stand taking directions, least of all from his brother. And throw my name in the game, and his sanity is just fucking gone.
"Fuck you," Parker snarls at his brother, and my heart splits in two as I realize the divide I've created between the two brothers. I never meant for it to end this way. I may have been naïve, but I always thought we could be happy together... That we could fix things, overlook our differences, and put the past behind us. My hand flies up in a silent goodbye, and I know this is my last chance to make things right.
Then I realize I have to end this myself. I’m the one who got us all into this mess. Now I’ll be the one to get us out of it.
“Parker,” I say fervently. “Parker, I changed my mind.”
His eyes flit to me, still keeping his attention focused on his brother. “Shut up, June.”
“No, please.” I wrestle free of his grasp and surprisingly, he lets me. “I want to come with you. I don’t want to die. Let’s get away, together.” My eyes go to Kade. “He won’t hurt you if you take me with you.”
Parker smirks at me. “I don’t believe you.”
“You will now.” I press my lips against his with determination. My heart is pounding because Kade is standing right there, but I hope he can see through what I’m doing.
I kiss Parker with all the anger I have in me. He thinks it’s a promise, but the only promise I’ve made is to myself – that this ends here, and now. His hands release me, and I’m free. I pull back, our eyes meeting, a fleeting expression of joy on Parker’s face.
“I’m sorry, Parker,” I say, and with my remaining strength, I push him into the abyss.
His expression changes at the last second and he grabs me, trying to pull me down with him.
“June!” Kade calls out. "I love you, June! No!”
Those are his last words to me before Parker falls, pulling me down into the deep abyss with him. I can hear the sea crashing against the rocks below me. And then there's nothing but darkness.
When I pushed Parker into the abyss, he lost his hold on me. The last thing I remember is his desperate face as he mouthed my name, turning into a scream as he realized he was falling, falling, falling deeper into the abyss. I think shock took over, but it wasn't before my adrenaline kicked in.
When Parker let go of me, I grabbed on to the edge covered in bushy, thick ivy. I remember it breaking beneath my fingers, but Kade was there. Kade, who is always my savior, always there to make it all better. He pulled me up. I don't know how he managed, but I was in his arms when I landed back in reality. He was clutching me close like I would fall apart in his arms if he let go. And he never did.
Not even when they came to the island hours later and tried to pry me out of his arms. He carried me to the boat, held me in his embrace as we went back to the mainland. He was the one who placed me in the hospital bed and never left my side. I slept for two days straight, and he later told me how worried he was when I wouldn't wake up. The doctors reassured him I would be okay, and thankfully, they were right. When I wake up, I am smothered by my husband's hug. He looks at me with longing.
"You're back," he murmurs. "I thought I lost you, Junebug. I thought I lost everything..." I see the pain in his eyes. We've each lost both of our parents, and he thought he lost his twin years ago, the only connection he had left to his family. I can't imagine the pain had he lost me too.
"I'm here," I say slowly, my voice raspy from the days of not speaking. He gets me a glass of water, and I take long gulps of the pleasantly cool liquid. We settle on the bed together. "What happened?" I ask hesitantly because I have to know. I need to be sure this time around, need to know the monster from my nightmares has been put to rest once and for all. Kade hesitates, gently stroking my fingers as he pulls me in a tighter embrace. I let him wait because I know he will tell me on his own time. Finally, several long minutes later, he begins to talk.
"He fell. He didn't want anyone to have you if he couldn't," he explains tiredly, rubbing his eyes with his fingers.
"Is he...?" I begin, my voice breaking in the middle of the question. I must know, and I am so fucking frightened of the answer. I don’t want to hear Parker is gone because that would mean I'm all Kade has left. But I don't want to know that he's okay, either. Because I know I'll keep living my life in fear, which is not living at all. He implores me with his gaze, searching for answers even though I'm the one who asked the question. Finally, when I'm starting to think he won't tell me, he responds.
"We couldn't find his body. It's lost to the ocean now." His voice is thick with pain and sorrow even after everything that Parker did to us. After every terrible fight, those sleepless nights when I woke up screaming, thinking he had come for me. The days of torture, the mental exhaustion. The loss of my person, my best friend, my stepbrother. I know we will both mourn him.
Parker was my best friend, my confidant, and my light. Until the light went off in his soul and he let the darkness take him. I wish I could tell him the darkness came for me, too. It tried claiming me several times, but I resisted it. I was stronger than Parker could ever be.
"Marissa’s body was found buried on the island," he explains softly, and I cuddle into his arms. "They're sending it back to her father. He's the gallery owner Parker worked for."
I hope Marissa finally finds peace.
"Kade..." I mutter, my eyes finding his. "Do you remember what you told me right before Parker fell?"
"Of course," he mutters against my hair. "I told you I loved you..."
"And do you?" I'm desperate for his answer, and he smiles, pushing the hair off my face.
"What do you think, Junebug?" he asks. "Of course I love you... It's always been you and always will be you. I’ve loved you from the day I met you. And I was never, ever going to let Parker have you."
Gratefully, I lean into his arms and whisper that I love him too.
The island has changed me forever. It's the home of my nightmares, the place where they all came true, but also the place where they all ended for good.
And right there, in the hospital room, I feel the darkness retreat.
It snarls and writhes as it leaks away, and the sun shines into the room with full force until not even a single shadow is left. And I know the darkness may have claimed Parker… But Kade and I escaped it.
39
Kade
3 months later
The night is dark and ominous. My wife sleeps peacefully in our bed, not anticipating what I'm about to do to her. With Theo safe with our nanny Dierdre, I have all night to do whatever the fuck I want to June.
A sinister smile pulls at the corners of my lips. I've been waiting to do this for so long. June begged and begged me for it, but I kept telling her no, thinking she wasn't ready. But it's been three months since everything went down in Hawaii. I think she's ready. I know I am.
I leave our bed at two a.m., and June doesn't stir. Once I come back half an hour later, I quietly lock the door behind me, making sure we won't be disturbed. I let my bag down on the floor and approach my wife, still sleeping soundly.
The moonlight is streaming through the windows, illuminating her pale body and making my mouth water. I want her more than ever tonight... The night all her nightmares come true.
Before I can change my mind, I clamp my hand over her mouth. Her eyes fly open, filling with instant terror when she sees the black mask on my face. She fights, but I restrain her. Understanding flashes in her eyes, and she stays still for a second. I press my free hand to her chest, feeling the rapid beat of her heart. She's so beautiful when she's this scared. It makes my cock rock hard to see her like this.
"Are you ready, Junebug?" I ask her, and she can only nod around the hand I've still got over her mouth. "Then get the fuck up."
I pull my hand back and watch her pick herself up from the bed. She's wearing nothing but a pink silk camisole, the fabric glistening in the night like liquid. I pull a knife out, and my wife's eyes glitter with anticipation as I destroy the nightie, letting it fall in tatters to her feet. Her frightened eyes meet mine, and I smirk at her.
"You scared?" She merely nods. "You better fucking be." My hand finds its way between her legs, cupping her hungry little cunt.
Tyrant Twins: A Dark Twin Romance Page 28