Page 32 of Little Stranger

I got them, Dad, Malachi signs, and my eyes widen. He never talks to him. Ever. Never mind calling him Dad. It hits my father, and I can tell he wants to hug my brother, but he won’t.

“Good one, son. If any cops show up, I’ll deal with them.” He gestures to the stairs. “Go shower. You’re covered in blood, and it’s staining your mother’s carpets.”

A short while later, I stand in the shower and let the water roll down my body, listening to “In Flames” by Digital Daggers down low from my little speaker.

Malachi is sitting against my sink, silently watching me. His knuckles are all split open and bleeding, and he keeps fisting his hands and rubbing his face as he shakes his head. He broke Parker’s legs with his bat and shoved the handle of the bat down one of the other’s throats, dislocating their jaw and making them vomit blood.

His friends got the rest.

I don’t think any of them will bother me again.

Parker’s definitely not going to be reaching out anytime soon. Even Dad had a go at Mom for the secret money slip, until she cried and apologized.

The agreement with Parker’s family is over—I’ll probably be forced to marry Adam.

Stupid.

At least I know Adam wouldn’t ever hurt me. He’s too delicate and soft; even when I had to sleep with him, he was shaking so badly and apologizing over and over because he couldn’t get hard.

I don’t want to get married—ever.

My brother slides open the shower door and climbs in. My eyes follow him as he soaks his hair under the water, and I gasp at the blood streaming from his black hair.

It’s not mine, he signs.I’m not sure whose blood it is. The place was a bloodbath.

“You know…” I start, clearing my throat as I glance down at his shorts, which are getting soaked by the shower. “Usually people shower naked.”

He blinks then stares at me as he continues rubbing the blood from his hair and the back of his neck.

“How exactly did you get so much of someone else’s blood in your hair?”

It got messy, he signs.Are you alright?

I shrug. “Shit happens. I should’ve known not to go there.”

He tilts his head, frowning.You know none of that was your fault, right?

“I kind of put myself in that position by going there. If I hadn’t got my location to you…”

He sighs silently.Forever blaming yourself for shit. And you aren’t going out with anyone else. Tell that other dude to fuck off.

“I’m afraid that’s not your decision, big brother.”

He groans and closes his eyes, signing,Don’t call me that right now.

“Why?” I ask when he keeps his eyes closed.

Because I want to do things to you, and you calling me that makes me want to do even dirtier things to your mouth.

My mouth closes, and I stop breathing. He gets turned on by me calling him my brother? Is that… allowed? Wrong?

I don’t think I really care.

“Do you even need lessons anymore? You seem like a natural.”

He doesn’t respond, rubbing soap on his chest and licking his lips as he frowns at me.

“Or…” I stop, sliding my hand up his chest, layering it over one of his and feeling his pounding heart. “I could teach you something I really want you to do to me.”

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