Page 34 of Turn

“Just stay here a minute,” I growled. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to return to that room even though I could think of ten thousand things I’d much rather do. Like get a root canal. Or an enema. But I was Tristan’s guardian and that room was the only family home we had at the moment so I needed to go in there and deal with the situation.

Thankfully, my first appearance had already stalled the orgy.

The girls were scrambling to be reunited with the various articles of clothing strewn about the room. They were young, probably Tristan’s age. I averted my eyes while they finished putting themselves back together.

My brother was in less of a hurry. He retrieved a pair of boxers from the floor and took his time about putting them back on his body where they belonged. His eyes met mine and I saw no embarrassment or shame there. Just angry defiance.

The girls were now decently clothed and had gathered all their belongings.

“Tristan?” said one of them in a tentative voice.

“Get lost,” he replied in a bored tone and flicked his lighter on.

I stepped away from the door while the girls scurried through it with their heads down. They definitely didn’t have the look of street kids.

“What the fuck, Tris?” I growled when the girls were gone.

He shrugged. “You said you’d be gone all afternoon.”

“And you said you’d be at the damn mall. Instead I find you here...ah…”

“Smoking out and fucking two girls at once,” Tristan said with a smirk. He leaned back on the bed and took another puff from the bong.

“You’ve got three seconds to get rid of that thing.”

My brother rolled his eyes. “Like you haven’t done worse than this.”

“I’m not the topic of conversation here.”

Tristan set the bong down with a loud bang. “Not real interested in having a conversation anyway.”

In my head I counted to five before speaking again. I didn’t want to risk shouting in anger and saying something I’d regret.

“Tristan, I know nothing about this situation is ideal right now but in a few weeks we’ll be moving somewhere better. No matter where we’re living though, I can’t have you doing shit like this. Especially not in front of Brecken.”

He threw me a look of disgust. “You really think I’m stuck doing whatever you say, going wherever you feel like telling me to go?”

“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

He hopped off the bed and pulled on a loose pair of jeans. “It means I have other options.”

“What other fucking options, Tristan? I’m pretty sure you haven’t been showing up for that part time job so you don’t have any money.”

“I’ve got plenty.” He dug around in his back pocket and produced a wad of cash, which he waved in the air.

There was a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as I stared at the money. Even if they were all small bills I couldn’t see how he’d come by it honestly. That left other alternatives.

“Where’d you get all that from?” I asked, afraid of the answer. The answer, however, was not forthcoming.

Tristan stuffed the money back into his pants. “Don’t matter.”

I took a cautious step in his direction. “It matters. Have you thought about what it would do to Brecken if you got hauled away?”

He scowled. “You didn’t seem so concerned when you were running around with gang bangers.”

“God dammit,” I spat. “You know I’m long finished with that garbage.”

Tristan swept one arm wide. “And check out how far your new life of law and order has gotten you.”

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