Page 35 of Corpse Roads

“You live under my roof, so you follow the rules,” Hunter reminds me.

“Alright, Dad. If I mow the lawn, can I get my allowance?”

“Don’t be a smartass,” Enzo growls.

“You’re not my father!”

Slamming his cup down, Hunter faces me with obvious weariness. He looks far older than his thirty-four years. There are ten years between us, but he’s always shouldered the burden for us both.

The person I remembered before I was convicted wasn’t here when I came out, three years later. A lot of shit went down in my absence. I lost more than just my freedom.

“I’m trying to help you,” he spells out. “Giving you a job and a place to stay. Nowhere else would employ a convict. The least you can do is act like you give a damn and respect the house rules.”

“You act like I’m some hardened criminal.”

“You served time.”

“And you love to remind me of that fact!” I shout back. “I’m your fucking brother, not some stranger!”

Enzo steps between us before I can wrap my hands around Hunter’s throat. He shoots us both placating looks.

“Harlow is asleep upstairs. Let’s not wake her, hmm?”

“Is anyone going to tell me why there’s a kid sleeping upstairs?” I ask again.

“She’s an adult, and a client,” Hunter answers at last.

“A client? In the spare bed?”

“We’re keeping her out of the spotlight,” Enzo reveals.

“And between your sheets.”

Stepping closer, Enzo pins me with an ice-cold glower. “You want to try that again, Leigh? Between what?”

Fearing the integrity of my skull if I push him again, I raise my hands and take a step back. I don’t fancy getting squashed by the ogre anytime soon.

“Harlow is part of a case we’re working on.” Hunter doesn’t lift his eyes from his phone. “If you bothered to turn up for work, you’d know all about it. Sleep it off, Leigh. We’ll talk when you’re sober."

“Yeah, I’ll pass on the heart to heart. Thanks for the invite though, bro. Great catching up with you.”

Flipping Hunter the bird, I storm from the kitchen, leaving them to bitch about me in peace. The frame rattles as I slam my bedroom door shut like a petulant child.

Fuck being an adult.

Those assholes aren’t worth it.

CHAPTER 8

HARLOW

HEART-SHAPED BOX - ASHTON IRWIN

My entire body feels heavy as I creep downstairs without making a sound. It’s getting light outside. After almost two days in bed, I feel slightly more ready to face the world.

I drank the protein shake left on my bedside table and swallowed another handful of meds before going back to sleep yesterday. Nobody disturbed me, but the food and medication had replaced itself when I woke up to pee.

It felt good to sleep, knowing I was safe at last. As soon as I surrendered to exhaustion, that was it. I couldn’t move again, barely able to limp to the bathroom before getting back into bed.

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