by Becca Steele
After a few minutes had passed, I concluded that my mind was playing tricks on me. If it was anything, it was probably a mouse, or a rabbit. I dropped the stone and slumped back against the wall, my heart rate eventually returning to normal, the sound of the sea and the tang of the salt in the air soothing me.
My thoughts drifted. Would I ever find out what had happened to my dad? Was I on a wild goose chase, trying to find justification for his death when it had been a horrible accident? Could I get close enough to my mother to investigate her? Would Caiden and his dislike of me ruin my plans? I sighed and closed my eyes, no answers forthcoming, concentrating on the sound of the waves until the sun had disappeared below the horizon and it was time to head home.
FIVE
“Do you know anything about Caiden and Weston’s relationship with my mother?” I leaned closer to Cassius as we sat in the darkened lecture hall, everyone’s attention focused on the video playing on the large screen at the front of the room.
Suspicion crossed his face as he turned to look at me. “Why do you ask?”
I shrugged, keeping my voice low. “Just curious, I guess. I don’t know anything about them, really, and they are my stepbrothers now, after all. And I picked up on some tension between them and my mother when we all had dinner together, a couple of weeks ago.” That was an understatement. That dinner had been the most awkward, strained meal of my life. What was going on with this family? Everything so far that had happened since I’d come to Alstone had left me with more questions, and no answers.
He raised a brow, tapping his pen against his notepad. “If you want to know about them, why don’t you ask them?”
“You think Caiden would answer my questions?”
“No fucking chance.” He laughed softly. “But West might.” His face turned serious. “Look, remember what I told you, that first day of classes. It’s not my place to say anything—it’s up to them if they decide to share anything with you.”
“Okay, fine.” I sighed, turning back to the video. “Cassius?”
“What, now?”
“Your family’s on the board of Alstone Holdings, right?” Keeping my gaze focused on the screen, I held my breath, hoping he’d be more open to talking about this, since discussing the Cavendish family with him clearly wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
“Yeah, why?” He tilted his head towards mine.
“Does my mother have much to do with it all? I know she’s on the board, since she married Arlo.”
“To do with what?”
I twisted in my seat, turning back towards him. “Decision-making, stuff like that.”
His eyes met mine, and he nodded. “She’s a shareholder and a board member. So, yeah. She gets a vote, just like the other board members. That’s publicly available knowledge.”
“And what about—”
He lifted a finger in the air, cutting me off. “I’m sorry, babe. I get that you want to learn more about your new family, but I’m not the person you should be asking. Hasn’t your mother told you anything?”
“No. We don’t have that kind of relationship.” I sat back in my seat with a sigh. “Any kind of relationship, really.”
Any reply Cassius was going to make was swallowed by the video ending and the harsh overhead lights flickering on, making me screw up my eyes against the sudden brightness. The room burst into chatter, everyone standing and gathering their things, all wanting to make their escape from the lecture hall as quickly as possible.
Our conversation already forgotten, Cassius was up and out of his chair, lightning fast. “Gotta go. See ya later,” he called over his shoulder, and then he was gone, swallowed by the crowd. Not in such a rush to leave, I waited until the room had mostly emptied out, then made my way down the stairs and out into the late-afternoon sun. Although it was sunny, the air chilled me, and I zipped my jacket up to my chin. Swinging my bag over my shoulder, I turned to make my way back to my apartment.
“Winter!” I smiled as I saw James beckoning me over, and started crossing the grass quad towards him.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Hot breath fell across my ear, and a shiver ran through me. My heart rate kicked up as I spun around, glaring at my stepbrother.
Seriously? Hadn’t Caiden got bored of shadowing me already? And more importantly, where had he appeared from, and why hadn’t I noticed him until now?
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m going to my apartment and saying hi to my friend on the way. Is that okay with you, King Caiden?”
“You need to choose your friends more wisely, Snowflake.”
“Lucky for me, but unlucky for you, I don’t care for your opinion. Will you stop following me? This is getting tiring.”
He stared down at me, his eyes darkening as the silence stretched, tension sparking between us.
“Caiden…” I tried. “Why are you doing this? What have I done to you?”
He took another step closer to me, his eyes never leaving mine. I could feel the heat of his body, even through my thick coat, and for one moment I forgot where we were and that he hated me. Could he feel it, too? This unwanted, magnetic pull between us? I licked my lips, my mouth suddenly dry, and his eyes zeroed in on the motion.
“Winter!” James’ insistent voice sounded, much closer than it had been a moment ago. It seemed to break the spell, and Caiden’s gaze turned hard.
“We’re always watching you, Winter.” With one last, scathing look, he backed away and was gone.
“What was all that about?” James raised a brow as he reached me.
“I wish I knew.”
“Forget him. He’s a dick.”
“That’s true.” A frustrated sigh escaped me. I started walking in the direction of my apartment building, heading towards the car park, and James fell into step beside me, slowing his usual pace to match mine. “What’s up, anyway?”
“You looked like you needed rescuing. I saw Cavendish following you.” He glanced at me, a small smile on his lips. “I like to think of myself as a knight in shining armour.”
I laughed. “Thanks, but I don’t need rescuing. I can handle Caiden.” We stopped at the entrance to the car park.
“Can you?” He gave me a doubtful look. “Listen, why don’t you give me your number? Anytime you want to talk coursework, or need me to rescue you again, I’m here.”
“Sure, why not.” As I stepped closer to James, pulling my phone from my bag, a chill ran down my spine, and I had a prickling sensation of being watched. I glanced around me, but the car park was deserted.
Shaking my head as I passed my phone to James so he could add his number, I groaned internally. The Four had me so paranoid, I was imagining things.
“You found Alstone Castle, did you?”
“Huh?” I looked up at him.
“Your phone. That’s a photo of Alstone Castle.” He tapped on the screen.
So that was the name of the castle ruins I’d found. I’d taken the photo when I’d discovered it on my bike ride and set it as my phone wallpaper.
“I didn’t know its name. Do you know anything about it?” I asked, curious.
He shook his head. “Not really, no. Not about the history, if that’s what you mean. The university use it for events, though. On Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night, whatever you want to call it, they hold a party there. It’s one of the biggest events of the year. They have a big bonfire and fireworks—you know, all the usual celebrations. And games.”
“What kind of games?” The look in his eye really wasn’t filling me with confidence.
“You’ll see.” He tapped on my phone screen, adding his number, then met my gaze again. I raised a brow in a silent question, and he shook his head again. “It’s more fun if you don’t know beforehand. Believe me.”
“Hmm.” I wasn’t convinced, but I dropped the subject.
James called his phone from mine so he had my number. We made idle small talk for a bit, and he promised to send me some webs
ite links for one of my assignments. Then he hugged me goodbye and headed off in the opposite direction, while I started crossing the car park.
A sudden loud rumble sounded from between two parked cars, and a huge jet-black motorbike came roaring out of the space, heading straight towards me.
I froze in place, my legs unable to move.
Then my instincts kicked in and I screamed, diving to the side just as the bike reached me, collapsing onto the tarmac. The wheels came so close that I felt the whoosh of air as they passed me, the smell of burning rubber filling my nostrils.
What the actual fuck?
The bike skidded to a stop and slowly circled back towards me. I rose to my feet, my legs trembling, shuffling backwards into a small gap between two cars where the bike couldn’t reach me.
The rider lifted the visor on his helmet, and a pair of icy, soulless eyes met mine.
“What do you think you’re doing? You could have killed me, you absolute fucking lunatic!” My whole body was shaking. I’d never been so furious, or scared, in my life. Closing my eyes, I counted to ten, desperately trying not to fall apart in front of Zayde. Threats and being followed, I could handle. But endangering my life? What would have happened if I hadn’t jumped out of the way?
“Consider it a warning.” His voice was devoid of emotion, as he trapped me with his gaze.
I gaped at him. “What?”
“You should be very careful about who you make friends with.”
Almost the same thing Caiden had said to me earlier. “Have you been talking to Caiden?” My voice rose to a hysterical screech. “And I’ll ask you again, what do you think you’re doing? Are you trying to kill me?”
He ignored my questions. “Why are you here?”
“None of your business. I don’t owe you an explanation. And that goes for your friends, too.”
Curling his lips into a snarl, he spoke, low and threatening. “If you do anything to fuck with any of us, you’ll wish I had run you down. Your life won’t be worth living.”
With that, he snapped his visor back down and roared off, leaving me staring after him in shock.
SIX
“Seriously, Cade, what is it you expect us to do with this girl?” Cassius paced in front of me, exasperation clear on his face. “I kind of like her.”
“So do I,” my brother piped up. Little shit. I sent him a glare, and instead of dropping his gaze, he glared right back. “She is our sister. Stepsister.”
“She’s not my fucking sister,” I muttered.
“Look.” Cassius came to a stop in front of me. “You’re my best mate. In this instance I was down for following your directions—until I met her in person. Yeah, you have a problem with her, but I’m not comfortable with being dragged into this shit. I’ll still keep an eye her or whatever if you really want me to, but I’m not down for making her life hell. She only lost her dad, what, just over a year ago? Give her a break, yeah?”
“She’s her mother’s daughter,” I bit out angrily, my fists clenched.
“Cade. She’s barely stayed in touch with her mother, we all know this. We’ve been keeping tabs on her mother for the past three years, and I haven’t seen anything to concern me when it comes to Winter, other than the fact that she seems too friendly with James Granville.” He threw himself on the sofa next to me. “If we need to keep an eye on anyone, it’s that slimy fucker.”
My jaw tightened at the thought of Granville. Leaning forwards, stretching my fingers towards the ashtray on the table in front of me, I picked up my blunt and took a deep drag, the weed working its magic and mellowing my mood slightly. “Fine. You’re out. Anyone else?”
Weston looked at me. “I’m out.”
“West. You don’t know what…never mind.” He was my baby brother and I wanted to protect him. As far as he was concerned, our mother had died of a brain haemorrhage, a horrible accident. I needed to shield him from the truth.
“I’m still in.” Zayde watched me intently from the tall leather armchair he reclined in, his sharp gaze taking everything in. “I don’t trust her.”
“Who said anything about trust? She’s only a girl. What damage can one girl do?”
I laughed bitterly at Cassius’ words. Women were trouble. Wrapping men around their fingers with their honeyed words and whispered promises, all the while lying through their teeth to serve their own purposes.
“Can I at least ask you to be cautious around her? Don’t tell her anything. Don’t get too friendly with her.”
“Deal. I won’t back out of our agreement to watch her, either.”
I looked at Weston expectantly, and he sighed. “Yeah, same. You know Dad wants us to be friends with her, though, right? Can’t have his wife upset.” We both pulled identical expressions of distaste.
Christine Clifford…now Christine Cavendish. Even if I didn’t know what she’d done, I’d still hate her. She’d made her dislike for both of us crystal clear the second she’d got her claws into my father, once she had the huge, gaudy pink rock of an engagement ring that sat on her bony finger.
As soon as they’d married, she’d become fucking insufferable. She’d tried to become a mother to me and Weston—not in a loving, motherly way, but in an “I run this house, and you will obey me” kind of way. Even worse? My father always took her side, driving a wedge between us that was so big, I doubted we’d ever be able to go back. I shielded West from her barbs as much as I could, but my stepmother was poison, her venom infecting our lives, slowly killing what was left of our family.
Weston thought she was only being friendly to Winter to get to us, but I wasn’t so sure. Christine was a snake, and I knew exactly the kind of malice she was capable of. Meaning, I didn’t trust Winter. It was just as likely that they’d planned something together, and until I knew for definite what was going on, I was keeping eyes in as many places as possible.
If they were working together, I’d soon find out. I needed Christine Clifford to hurt, and if Winter was the key to getting to Christine, I wasn’t about to miss the opportunity to fuck her up.
Winter. Fuck. Her pictures hadn’t done her justice. She was so fucking beautiful, and she didn’t even seem aware of it. Long, silky, deep brown hair, piercing blue eyes framed by dark lashes, smooth, pale skin, minimal curves, but absolutely fucking perfect in every way. My dick stirred as I remembered how her hips had swayed as she’d walked through my house, how her pouty lips had parted, her eyes hazy with desire when I’d been all up in her face.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
My physical reaction made me hate her even more. I could get any woman on campus I wanted with a snap of my fingers, and I fucking hated that my mind had fixated on the one person I despised. She looked so much like her mother, it made me sick that I was attracted to her.
“Cass. Women.” My voice came out raspy, the effect of thinking about her.
“I’ll send the message.” He grinned and tapped his phone screen a few times, then sunk onto the sofa. “Won’t be long.”
Less than twenty minutes later, the room was full of women all desperate to get a piece of the Four, and my dick was being sucked by an eager blonde. I tried to focus on her lips round my cock, but my hard-on was more of a semi, until she appeared in my mind: her sexy body pressed up against mine, a whimper falling from her lips as I touched her in the hallway.
Fuck. I gripped the blonde’s short hair, pushing her head forwards, and she gagged, her eyes watering.
I came, spilling my cum down her throat, and she swallowed hard, trying not to choke.
“Leave,” I instructed, doing my jeans up in angry, jerky movements and pointing to the door.
Like the good little minion she was, she clambered up from the floor and meekly left without another word.
Women.
So fucking easy.
So eager to spread their legs or open their mouths.
I glanced to my left, seeing a tangle of bodies writhing on the floor. I spotted the top of Cass�
� head and rolled my eyes, getting to my feet and leaving him to it.
Still pissed off about Winter invading my mind when I was getting a blow job from another woman, I headed into the kitchen, in severe need of something alcoholic. Weston was there already, pulling a beer out of the fridge. He turned around and saw me.
“Catch.” He threw me the beer in his hand and reached into the fridge for another. Popping the top, I raised the bottle in a silent salute, and he did the same, then we both took a swig from our respective drinks. The cool liquid slid down my throat, and I closed my eyes, letting the alcohol soothe me.
“Wanna check the feeds?” Weston offered quietly, seeming to sense my mood. My brother was perceptive. Intelligent and quick, he was a technological genius, and on top of that he seemed to have a knack for reading emotions.
“Let’s go.”
We made our way to the small room that could only be opened with a retinal scanner, programmed to the four of us only, off limits to everyone else. The computer screens flickered to life as Weston wiggled the mouse, showing the various video feeds we had set up and a number we’d hacked into. I focused on one feed in particular, clicking the mouse so that the video took up the entirety of one of the screens.
“Where are you going, Winter Huntington?” I murmured, watching as she crept out of her apartment building, glancing furtively around her, a hoodie obscuring her face.
She hurried around the side of the building, fading into the shadows, and I lost sight of her.
SEVEN
Wobbling on the bike, the wheels squeaking as I pushed the pedals, I cursed my drunken self for coming up with this stupid idea. I’d gone for drinks in the Student Union with Kinslee earlier and had been swayed by the 2-for-1 shots offer. When we’d drunkenly stumbled back to our apartment, we’d gone past my car, where I’d seen the word “whore” shining under the car park lights. The whole story had come out when we got back, and Kinslee had encouraged me to retaliate. Back in our apartment she’d handed me a can of fluorescent pink spray paint, with a “don’t ask” in reply to my raised eyebrow, and directed me towards the door.