Page 7 of Dare To Break

Me: Not tomorrow. Dad says I have to be a dutiful new stepbrother and bring the hag’s plastic princess with me. Don’t think they’re getting here until later today.

Kellan: What’s she like?

Me: Which one?

I roll off the bed.

Kellan: The daughter. I already know what your new mom looks like. She’s hot for a hag.

I snort. He’s been in trouble a few times at the academy for inappropriate comments to the female teachers. He likes men, too, but the male teachers rarely react to his flirting. He’s, in his words, an equal opportunities lover.

Me: Don’t even bother. She’s buttoned up to her chin. Don’t think I saw an inch of skin when I met her the other day.

Kellan: Is she hot at least?

Me: No idea.

I don’t share the fact that I can remember the shape of her lips and the exact shade of blue her eyes are. They’ve only stuck in my head because I was so fucking furious with my dad for saddling me with an unwanted stepsister and stepmom.

“Eli?” My dad’s voice breaks the silence. “We’re home.”

Great.

Me: Gotta go. The hag and her apprentice have arrived.

I throw open my bedroom door just in time to catch my dad with his fist raised, ready to knock.

“Oh good, you’re home. Come down and say hello to Elena and Arabella.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s good manners. I thought we could go out for dinner tonight. As a family.”

“I have things to do.” The last thing I want to do is spend time in public with the stepbitch and her protégé.

“It’s one night, Eli. I’d appreciate it if you would make an effort to welcome Arabella to our family. You’re going back to school in a couple of days, so spend some time getting to know your new sister. She’s nervous and worried about starting at Churchill Bradley. Maybe you could give her some pointers. Tell her what the place is like. Make her feel less alone.”

How is that my problem? I don’t say that out loud, though.

“Where are you planning to go? I assume somewhere expensive to satisfy your new trophy wife.”

“Eli.” My name is a sigh. “Can’t you be happy for me?”

“If it was a real marriage, sure. But you’re fooling yourself if you think she married you out of love.” He still hasn’t arranged for a post-nup. Thankfully, my trust fund is safe. Most of that money comes from my mom’s side of the family, and it’s all tied up and out of reach from the bleached-blonde gold-digger and her spawn. Even if she divorces my dad, she’ll only be entitled to part of his personal fortune, which is enough. But my inheritance from my mom is bigger and she will get no part of that.

I step out into the hallway, and pull the door closed behind me. “Where are they?”

“Downstairs. In the TV room.”

I nod, reach into my pocket for my earbuds, and push them into my ears. I don’t turn on my music, and we walk in silence through the house until we are outside the TV room. Voices, one loud—Elena—and the other softer, a lower pitch, which must be Arabella, come from inside.

I push the door open with the toe of my boot and walk in.

“I found him,” my dad says from behind me. “And he’s agreed to come out for our first family dinner tonight.” He makes it sound like my decision is something to celebrate.

“Hello, Mommy dearest.” I prop my shoulder against the doorframe and stare at her.

Her red lips are stretched into a smile, one that doesn’t reach her crocodile eyes. “Oh, sweetie, you don’t need to call me that. Elena is just fine. That’s what Arabella calls me. Isn’t it, darling?” She twists to search out her daughter.

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