Page 4 of Nathan
The Pact
Nathan
I watched River from across the room. At almost twenty-four, she was beautiful, successful, and as rich as she’d dreamed she would be when we were children.
But none of those things took away the sadness that shone from her.
“Are you okay?” I asked and joined her in the little nook.
Brushing her golden locks back, River looked up from her phone and put on one of those fake smiles that I’d seen her give her friends in London. “Yes, I’m fine.”
I didn’t buy it for a second and arched my brow in one of my silentyou don’t fool melooks. “You’re not fine. Spit it out.”
With a sigh, she handed me her phone, showing me the headline on an article that said,Storm Gushes over Serena; I’ve Never Felt This Way About Anyone.
“Why do you read this shit?” I turned off the phone. “Why torture yourself? Storm isn’t worth it.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You’ve never loved anyone.”
“I’ve had girlfriends that I loved.”
“Not in that all-consuming kind of way that Storm and I loved each other. We were named the sexiest couple in the world last year.”
Scrunching up my face, I snorted. “What does that have to do with love?”
River pouted and blinked her moist eyes. “Storm and I were good together. You saw it yourself when we went on the survival trip to Spain – before Serena stole him from me.”
“How about we go play some pool to distract you? Kit, Damian, and Charles went down to the game room.”
“What’s going on? What are you two whispering about?” Liv, our adoptive mother, called out as she walked from the kitchen to the living room. “Come join us and have some snacks.”
“How can you eat another bite after that huge dinner?” River asked while I walked over to take a handful of candy.
Liv moved the bowl closer to me. “I got your favorites.”
“Thanks.” Plunking down on a chair, I threw a sour gummy bear into my mouth.
“So, what were you two whispering about?” Liv prodded. “Is something wrong?”
“No, everything is fine,” River assured her and sat on the armrest of my cozy chair.
Liv didn’t give up. “I can tell when you’re lying, dear. Is it Storm again?”
River sighed and lied, “No, and why do you assume I’m the one with a problem? Why not Nathan?”
Liv turned her attention to me. “Is there something you wish to tell us?”
“Ehh… no, I don’t think so.”
Liv didn’t seem convinced and studied me like she wanted to read my mind. “Is it about the recording? I’ve been wondering about that.”
“What recording?” Jolene, who was my brother Atlas’ American fiancée, asked. “Do you mean the one you found at the Red Manor last Christmas?”
I gave my brother a questioning look. “You told her about that?”
Atlas shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Jolene tilted her head. “Atlas told me that the five of you went back to the Red Manor and that you found a video recording with your mother’s name on it.”
