Page 17 of Heartless

"Keep your eyes and ears peeled." I glanced back to see Parker nod. The best part about having a twin was having someone who always had my back. Some days I felt bad for Lila, because she couldn't say the same about hers.

She didn't have the monopoly on dysfunctional families, but I usually didn't want any of my brothers dead. Not even Zeke that time he held a gun to my head and threatened to kill me. I was almost, mostly, reasonably sure he wouldn't have actually done it, but I was grateful Reuben made him promise not to kill me or Parker at any time in the future. If there was anyone in the world who would keep a promise, it was Zeke. He considered himself above all of the shit our family was into.

Mr Lead Singer of Wolf Venom thought he was pretty fucking perfect and better than the rest of us. Sure, being a rock star was glamorous and all that shit, but this was much more fun.

I slid the key into the lock and turned it slowly. Like the well-maintained contraption it was, the lock clicked easily and the door opened without a sound.

I glanced around at Parker and grinned. "Good work." He was the one who got the key, made a copy and returned it, without anyone being the wiser.

"You doubted me?" The cocky prick cocked his head at me and grinned. Anyone would think he was the better looking, smarter twin, the way he was acting.

Fortunately, I knew better.

I stepped into the dark room and turned my phone’s torch on. We didn't want to be too obvious by turning on the light, or potentially leaving fingerprints. This was by no means our first rodeo.

"If you were a woman, where would you leave your contraceptives?" Parker asked.

My gaze swept the room. It was identical in layout to Lila's, but the bed was covered in blue-grey blankets and pillows instead of the black and red Lila preferred. No clothes lay on the floor here either. No half-damp towels. It was lived in, but not quite as homely.

"If I was a woman, and went to Brutham Academy, I'd probably keep them on me at all times," I said. "In case some nefarious person snuck in and fucked with them."

"Yes, but you're not a trusting person, Hunt," he told me.

"Are you suggesting you are?" I raised my phone and moved it around slowly, taking in everything.

"Not at all," he said with a laugh. "But I know us and what we’re capable of. I wouldn't trust us if I was anyone but Lila."

I glanced back at him. "She was pissed about that Slade thing." For a while there I thought we were well and truly in the doghouse with our girl. I never intended to make her feel like a whore. I meant what I said when I told her she was a queen. She was our queen.

Slade could help us secure the crown for her and help her keep it. If he was willing to, of course. Why wouldn't he be? Lila was hot, beautiful and deserving. The whole world should be at her feet, as far as I was concerned. If that meant sharing her with one more guy, then that's what I’ll do. Hell, I'd share her with ten more if it got her what she wanted and needed.

I'm not going to lie, I hoped it didn't come down to that. My balls would be so blue they'd probably fall off.

I stepped into Chloe's bathroom. "She might have one of those implant things." I pulled out a handkerchief out of my pocket and wrapped it around my hand before I opened the top drawer.

I smiled. "Bingo." On the top of the draw was half a packet of contraceptive pills. I picked them up and shoved them in my pocket. I pulled out another packet and popped the same amount of sugar pills that she'd already used up, into the toilet.

One by one, they plopped in and sank to the bottom. I flushed the toilet and placed the packet of fake contraceptives in the drawer where the real ones had been.

"Operation fuckery is complete," I declared. I closed the drawer and stepped away from the sink.

"I have to admit, this was a brilliant idea," Parker said.

"Are you admitting that because it was your idea?" I won’t lie, I wish I'd thought of it. When I told Lila killing her sister was a last resort, I was sincere. But if Daneaccidentallygot Chloe pregnant, that would throw a spanner in the works.

If nothing else, it might distract her for long enough for her grades to slip. Best case scenario, she dropped out altogether. Samuel Bell wouldn't be happy with her if that happened. Not at all.

Of course, the worst case scenario would be Samuel Bell embracing his grandchild, and basing his decision on their existence. Although, with a DiMarco as the father, the chances on that were reduced somewhat.

Not as low as they would be if Lila had a child fathered by Parker or me. A Brantley father would not be looked down upon well. That was exactly why we made sure Lila was very careful with her contraceptives. And why Parker and I both had vasectomies. They could be reversed later if we wanted to, but the chances of an unwelcome accident were greatly reduced.

I knew Dane hadn't done the same thing, because I hacked into his medical records and checked. All of this would have been pointless otherwise. Although, breaking into Chloe's room and messing with her was fun anyway. After turning off her security camera, obviously. Neither Parker nor I were born yesterday.

"I might be," Parker said. "It was definitely one of my more inspired ideas."

I turned and raised an eyebrow at him. "Inspired by what? You're not starting to think you want children, are you?"

He grimaced. "Fuck no. I just like to come up with creative ways to screw with people that aren't us. Like Penn that time."

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