Page 159 of Always Us

“Don’t turn around,” a man says. “You must remain facing forward at all times. Do you understand?”

I swallow hard and nod. I squint at the bright light shining down on me. I look up and see three rows of tiered seating ahead of me. It looks like it continues around the room, although I don’t dare turn back and check. I keep my eyes forward. The seating area is dark, but there’s enough of a glow from the spotlight in the middle of the room that I can see figures in front of me. They’re sitting down, wearing black robes with large hoods that cast shadows on their faces so I can’t see them. Why are they wearing robes? Are they the judges? Or is everyone wearing robes? I can’t look behind me so I don’t know.

I’m so nervous I might throw up. I wish they’d just hurry up and start whatever this is so it can end and we can leave.

“Bitch.”

I hear someone whisper it and glance to my right and see Sadie standing next to me. I was so focused on what was in front of me, I didn’t even see her there. She’s staring straight ahead. Did she really just call me a bitch? Maybe I’m imagining things.

“Whore.”

I definitely heard that. But it came from my other side. I glance left and see Sadie’s sister. Her name’s Emily and she’s two years younger than Sadie. I’ve only seen photos of her. She’s also staring straight ahead. I glance farther down and see Tamryn and Camille, the other two half-sisters I’ve never met. They catch me looking at them and glare back at me, but just briefly.

So they all hate me. Not just Sadie and Victoria. All of them. But do they really need to call me a bitch and a whore?

Someone comes through the door. It’s Victoria, blindfolded and guided by another man in a black robe. She takes her place next to Sadie and her blindfold is removed.

“We will now begin,” the man in front of me says. I can’t see him. He’s just a dark shadow like the rest of them. “We’re here to hand down the punishment for Royce Sinclair not disclosing the fact that he had a child resulting from an extramarital affair. As you know, failure to disclose an indiscretion from one’s past, especially one of this magnitude, is against the rules and cause for punishment. Given our plans for Royce, this violation of the rules is even more serious. Based on our earlier investigations, we’ve absolved both Pearce Kensington and William Sinclair from punishment, given our belief that neither one of them were aware of Royce’s illegitimate child until after Royce’s death.”

“That’s not true!” Victoria calls out. “Pearce knew—”

“Stop!” The man puts his hand out toward Victoria. “You will not speak unless spoken to. Am I clear?”

She nods.

“Given that Royce was deceased at the time, William and Pearce were not required to disclose this information, although it is encouraged since secrets are not to be kept from the group. But technically, they did not break the rules. Royce, of course, did break the rules by not telling us about this, but since he is no longer with us, his punishment must be passed to someone else in his family. Typically, punishment would automatically pass to a brother, but given the many years of dedicated service paid by both William, and his father, Arlin, we have decided against punishing him. Instead, we are here today to pass Royce’s punishment to his wife, Victoria Sinclair. We feel Victoria is most deserving of this punishment, given that she knew of her husband’s affair and the child that resulted from it. We have proof that she knew about this years ago.”

“No!” Victoria raises her hand. “That letter was—”

“Enough!” the man yells. “One more outburst like that and your punishment will become much more severe.”

She purses her lips, her eyes narrowed.

“The child who resulted from the affair is here today. Jade Sinclair. Please step forward.”

I stand there, noticing the room is silent. And then I realize what he said. Jade Sinclair. Shit, that’s me! I’ve never heard myself called that before now. I slowly step forward.

“We have run a DNA test and the test showed that Jade is indeed a Sinclair,” he says.

DNA test? What? When did they do that?

He continues. “Which means that she is not to be harmed in any way, given the new rule instituted by Holton Kensington and approved at our meeting last October. If any member is found in violation of this rule, he will be punished. Jade Sinclair, we now have some questions for you.”

Oh, God. I’m definitely going to throw up. I take some breaths, trying to calm my nervous stomach.

“Were you aware that Victoria knew of your existence before Royce’s death?”

“No,” I blurt out.

“When did you first meet Victoria?”

“At a fundraiser for Royce at Mr. Kensington’s house.”

“And how did she act when you met her?”

I take a deep breath so I can speak. My heart’s pounding and it’s making me breathless. “She acted like she didn’t want me around her husband. She gave me an angry look, like I shouldn’t be talking to him. And then she told Royce he had to go give his speech.”

“Looking back, and knowing what you know now, do you feel like she knew you were Royce’s child during that encounter?”

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