Page 58 of Vicious Games

Zayn hums thoughtfully. "Let me guess. Someone has taken them?" I stay silent, causing him to laugh. "I guess Asher hasn't changed. He used to hide all our stuff too. Have you checked his bathroom cabinet?"

I spin around, glancing at him suspiciously. "What?"

"Used to be his favorite place," he shrugs.

Stalking past him, I exit the room and cross the hall. When I shove open the door, Asher is in his room with Blake, the two of them heatedly whispering. He straightens up upon seeing me.

"Rylee?"

Ignoring him, I walk past, heading to his bathroom. Images of Asher in the shower appear in my mind but I hold onto my anger for him, ripping open the cabinet.

To my surprise, my keys are there, sitting next to the tube of toothpaste. I snatch them up, heading back out towards the bedroom door.

"God damnit, Zayn!" Asher snaps, moving at swift speeds to block me from exiting.

"Get out of the way, Asher," I demand, trying to step around him.

Asher leans back against the door, using his weight to block my attempts at opening it. "Just talk to me first."

I wave a hand behind me. "And what do you have to say to me in front of your brothers?"

"I'm sorry," he murmurs, and it's clear in his expression that he's telling the truth.

"Whatever," I grumble, trying to open the door. It won't budge with his weight against it. "Let me out. I have a busy night unpacking."

Asher reaches for me, but I anticipate it. I step back, knocking his hands out of the way. "Don't touch me, Asher. Just live your perfect life, with your perfect girlfriend and perfect family."

Blake hums darkly behind me. "She thinks we're perfect. What an idiot."

"Shut up!" Asher and I say in unison.

All the feelings I've kept down are rising to the surface, like a dead body filled with gas. Which is fitting because that's how I feel. Like my surroundings have given me a deathless death. If only it wasn't so painful...

"I don't want you to leave," he whispers, trying to give us privacy.

I yell, frustrated. "It's not up to you. It's my life and this is what I want."

Zayn walks up behind us, putting a hand on my shoulder. I shrug him off, feeling very anti-Taylor at the moment.

"Come on, kitty. Retract the claws. It's too late to be travelling anyway."

Spinning around, I find myself facing his neck. I look up, not intimidated by him. "This doesn't concern you, twinsy."

He frowns, his hand reaching out to stroke my cheek where faint bruising still remains. "Hmm, someone got you good here."

Before I can recoil, Asher pounces, shoving him away from me. "Don't touch her."

Blake clears his throat. "You always wanted everything, didn't you Ash?"

"What does that mean?" he glowers.

His older brother rolls his eyes. "Wanted your cake and to eat it too. Nothing was ever enough to satisfy you."

He's speaking in family riddles, reminding me once again, I'm more distant from this family than I should be.

"Why? Why do you say that?" I ask, angry but curious now.

Blake sits on the edge of Asher's bed. "You said he had a girlfriend. You're clearly not her. But he wants you."

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