Page 5 of Unmistakably Us

They may not discuss it, but they were ashamed and embarrassed about how they were raised—thought of as property to be bought and sold to elevate status and wealth. At least when that was common practice, most property got to go live in a castle, bear an heir, and then live a fairly carefree and unbothered existence. At least in my romance novels, that’s how it always happens.

That was where the idea was born to negotiate ten years and an heir with her mother in exchange for all Augusta’s outstanding contracts and personal info and for her parents to never darken Gus’ door or contact January again either. Of course, she added that last part for herself, but with stipulations to account for their future grandchild.

Gus could never know those contracts remained or that they had used those in controlling January when she tried to leave. Never.

“Why would you do that? You know how hard it was for me to get out from under their thumb. Or maybe you don’t. I tried to protect you from knowing all the sordid details. I even made them promise not to continue with the contracts.”

Gus had always been stronger than she thought, but she wasn’t stronger than a conniving, manipulative witch with a vendetta. January remembered the things that were said the night Gus left, even if her sister didn’t know she was listening at the office door.

Melody Thorne was calling in a contract, forcing Gus to marry some asshole who was old enough to be their grandfather. January remembered the shock when her mother’s voice had cut through the heavy oak door. “And be grateful he is past his sexual prime and on in years, because it means he might never notice that you are not pure and decided to get yourself knocked up before you could even drive.”

January damn near doubled over at the memory of learning her sister had been pregnant. She’d never even noticed, but it was Gus’ yelled response to their mother that’d had her feet rooted to the floor.

“But you took care of that right quick, didn’t you, Mother? You murdered my child and didn’t even blink when the doctor ‘handled the problem.’ I begged you not to do it, but it fell on deaf ears. I would’ve left, lived on the street if I had to, but you didn’t even give me a chance to run.” Her sister shouted the last sentence. Then her voice lost some of its fire but it still carried into the hallway.

“I’ve cried every single day for years for my baby, and you act like I had my appendix out. I’m done. Your contracts mean shit to me. You mean even less. If you try to force me to uphold this marriage or work for your company, I’ll tell him everything, the baby you killed, the contracts, even that I’m bipolar. I’m sure he’d love that in his perfect young bride. Hell, your friends would love to know about that. Do you think you’d still be welcomed and revered in the society you love so much?”

January remembered the tears welling in her eyes after hearing Gus’ words, and she would never forget the vicious response their mother had made. “What do you want, you ungrateful little bitch? Hmmm, you want to waltz off into the sunset with one of you trailer park friends and make welfare babies and throw away the years I’ve invested in grooming you? W—”

“That’s exactly what I want, and I want your promise to let Jan live her own life. If you promise to tear up all the contracts you have, I’ll leave tonight and never mention my baby, my bipolar, or those contracts to anyone ever again. Your name can remain as pristine as ever and all your secrets can stay buried alongside my hopes and dreams. Before you answer, mother, you should know the alternative. If you don’t let me go, I’ll go on the raunchiest talk show I can think of to do my big reveal. I’ll write a tell-all, maybe do a book tour. I’m sure the doctor—”

“GET OUT! Get out of my house and don’t ever come back.”

“Gladly!” The things January heard had sent her fleeing back to her room to throw the covers over her head and shut out the world and the fact her sister was leaving.

The rapid tattoo of foot strikes on the tile pulled January from the past.She looked into Augusta’s eyes each time she passed and could see the shadow left there by what her parents had cost her.

Gus had stopped talking to her and was pacing and talking to herself more than January. “I can’t believe they lied when they said yes. Actually, I can believe it and even expected it, if I were honest with myself. I knew better, but I wanted out so bad, I trusted them when I —”

“GUS, STOP!” January shouted while stepping into her path. Grabbing her sister by the arms, she gave her a shake. When her sister shut the hell up and looked at her with tortured eyes, January embraced her with a ferocity that scared her.

“This has nothing to do with you and nothing to do with some ridiculous personal contract. The only contract I have is with the company. They paid for my college, room and board, books, incidentals, everything. I owe them ten years, at a pretty sweet salary I might add, as repayment for that. That’s it.” Liar.

“Think about it, that’s a way better deal than a traditional student loan. Not to mention it gets paid off a decade earlier to boot the way those things are going nowadays.”

January felt her sister try to pull away. Not because she didn’t care for the embrace—Gus never pulled away first as a rule—but because she wanted to look in January’s eyes. She was a shitty liar, and Gus knew it.

So instead, she ended the embrace, turned around, and continued to put away the groceries. If she could focus on something else, instead of the truth or falsehood of her words, she might pull it off.

Before her sister could speak, she removed a cold plastic tub from a bag, examined it, and moved toward the freezer. “Mint Chocolate Chip? Gross.”

Fail.

“January Snow Thorne, look at me. Are you telling me the truth?”

Oh, this was an easy one, because she did sign a contract with the company, a double redundant kind of check and balance or some such bullshit her parents used.

“Yes, I signed a contract with the company for ten years, no big deal.” Not the whole truth, but the truth. “Now, can we please drop it? I was supposed to be heading back but hope to get some more time before I have to start my new life.” Again, partial truth.

Gus still looked skeptical but respected her wishes. Speaking of new life, January thought of a certain delicious diversion.

“I won’t be home tonight after work. I have some wild oats to sow.” She didn’t wait for her sister’s approval. She just kissed her cheek and headed to the shower.

* * *

Is this day ever going to end?Logan got the answer to his silent query immediately. “Are you paying attention, Logan?” Michael asked with a smug superiority.

“Yeah, man. I got this.” Logan hated having to justify every little thing he did to Michael. Whenever they were at the airfield, the dude was so far up his ass, he should hand him a scope to eliminate the need for a colonoscopy.

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