Page 4 of Brother's Little Birthday Girl

He, too, has been odd lately. It can't be only Knox that’s making him that way. I've been noticing for the past few months that a shift is taking place at home. All of it is putting me on edge.

“How about some drinks?” Dad hands us both a cup. “You’ve got to have cake too.” He grabs two small plates off the table for us, and I mutter a thanks.

I peek over again to find Knox, but I don’t see him. I don’t see Marie either, and my stomach turns. Everyone knows about Peter's mom. At least I’m guessing they do because my mother is a major gossip, and I hear her talking about her all the time. I once heard her say she was glad my own dad was sneakily banging her so now he wouldn’t want it from her as much. That made me sad for both of them.

“Thanks, Mr. Ford.” Peter raises his drink in cheers to my father. Next, Dad holds his out for me, and I touch my glass to his and give a mumbled thanks.

“Why don’t you kids head out back for some privacy? Have you ever seen the tree house I built for Layla?” my dad asks.

He’s full of crap! Knox built that for me. The most my dad did was maybe drive Knox to get supplies because he was only about fourteen when he built it for me. The thing is a mini-house, and I still go out there to read sometimes when I really miss Knox.

“No, I haven’t. You should show me, Layla.” Peter puts his cake down, and his hand goes to my back. He’s practically pushing me out of the house.

“Okay,” I finally agree because I could use some air. The drinks I had with Peter are starting to affect my head. I don't know if my body is still warm and fuzzy from the orgasm Knox gave me or the alcohol.

“Here, let me,” Peter says when we enter the little house. He pulls out his vodka and pours some into our cups. He chugs his, and I cringe. The stuff tastes terrible. Still, I take a gulp of mine before setting it on the bookcase next to me.

“This is pretty cool.” Peter admires it while he walks around the space.

Knox put in so many details when he made this place. He hung up pictures and put curtains on the little windows. There’s a small table with two chairs in one corner and a futon sofa you could lie down into a bed. Peter notices the futon and grabs the bottom. Then he pulls it out and flops down onto it before he gently pats the seat beside him.

“Oh no, I didn’t get my cake.” I know better than to go over there with him.

“Come on—” Peter stops talking and then blinks slowly. “Think somethin—” He suddenly slumps over onto the futon.

“Peter?” I rush to him and try to shake him awake. “Peter!” I shout, but he doesn’t budge.

“He must have drunk it fast.” I spin around and see my dad has a smirk on his face.

“Dad, something is wrong with him.”

“I know.” He walks over, and for a second I think he is going to help.

To my shock, he grabs Peter’s arm and pushes him off the bed. Peter hits the ground with a loud thud, still not waking up.

“Dad?”

“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” He cups my cheek. “Maybe you should lie down.”

“I’m fine.” I shake my head. “No.”

“Yes.” He grabs me by the shoulders and then shoves me down onto the bed. “He thought he could have you.” Dad goes for his belt.

“I don’t want Peter.” I sit up as Dad takes off his belt. Panic rises inside of me. “Not Peter.”

“He means me.” Knox growls before slamming his fist into the side of Dad’s face. Our father stumbles backwards, tripping over the little table in the process. Then he falls on top of it, causing it to splinter into pieces. Knox steps over him and bends down.. “How are you feeling, Dad?”

Dad lies on the floor for a second, seemingly out of it. He tries to get up but without much luck. I sit there in shock as Knox reaches down and retrieves our father's belt from the floor.

“Knox?” I call to him.

"In a second, sis," he says, strolling over to our father. “How are you feeling?” He repeats the same question our dad asked me.

“What, what did you do?” Dad blinks a few times, like he’s trying to clear his vision.

“What did I do?” Knox laughs before grabbing him and lifting him off the floor.

He wraps the belt around Dad's throat, dragging him toward a chair. He shoves him down into it before pulling out zip ties. Dad tries to fight him, but Knox punches him in the stomach, subduing him. Knox secures him in the chair so that he can’t move.

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