“Come and eat, Sum,” Xander says when he sees me. He pushes a pizza box towards me, and I also notice some beers on the table. Dash’s gaze is on me as I open the pizza box and take out a giant slice of pepperoni. My favourite.
“Does Jack know she’s here?” Dash asks Xander, his eyes still glued to me. Xander runs his hand though his hair, looking a little worried.
When Xander rang me, asking me to move in here with him, I told him that I was reluctant because of my father. He doesn’t know me, at all, and it feels awkward that he would suddenly want to be in my life after all these years with only making an appearance once a year at most. The truth was, I wanted to be with Xander. I’d wanted to get to know him my whole life, and when he rang me, telling me that if I didn’t get here he was gonna drive up there to get me himself, I decided it was time. Time to break free.
There was no point staying at home anymore, in my small rental apartment where mum and I used to live. So I quit my waitressing job and left everything and everyone I'd known my whole life behind. All for my brother.
“Yeah, he knows,” he answers, his tone and look telling Dash to shut up. I look at Dash. I’m not gonna lie, he's ruggedly handsome. Dark hair, piercing violet eyes and a perfectly sexy amount of stubble on his face. I see a matching pair of dimples pop up when he flashes me a flirty smile. I roll my eyes at him, feigning non-interest. The twinkle in his eyes calls my bluff.
“How long are you here for?” Dash asks me, picking up his own slice of pizza.
“Forever,” Xander says, the same time I answer, “not long.”
My brother pins me with a harsh glare. “What do you mean not long? This is your house, too!”
“No, it isn’t, Xander,” I say softly. This is his house, and his alone. I know my father gave it to him. I want to spend some time with my brother, and get on my feet, then I can find my own place to live.
“Summer, you have to know that-"
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be in your way,” I tell him, cutting him off.
“Is it cos all of that shit your mother said about me? You don’t think that you’re safe here?” he asks me, his voice mocking, but his eyes shine with hurt. My whole life my mother has been telling me my brother is a low life. A thug, a criminal, a waste of space. I’ve heard it all. She tried her best to turn me against Xander and my father, tried to instil it into me from the beginning. I had no idea that he knew about the things she told me. I don’t think he cares what she thinks, but from the look in his hazel eyes I can see that he does care about what I think.
“If I listened to everything my mother said I wouldn’t be here right now, Xander,” I tell him truthfully. He shakes his head, staring down at his feet in annoyance. Dash is watching him, a thoughtful look on his face.
“She told me you were a biker. Is it true?” I blurt out. The two of them eye each other, almost like they are having a silent conversation. I shrug, grab a beer and head to the couch, turning on the TV.
“How old are you, baby?” Dash asks me. Baby?
I take a slow sip of my beer before I reply. “What’s it to you?”
“Xander is eighteen, so you must be, what, nineteen?”
“And how old are you?” I ask.
“Older,” is all he says. I give him a once over. I’d say he’s about twenty five.
“You must be, what, thirty?” I ask, pursing my lips so I don’t laugh when I see his reaction.
He narrows his eyes. “I don’t look that old.”
“Of course not,” I say, dragging the words out.
He opens his mouth to say something else, when two men walk into the house.
Does no one even knock? Or believe in locking doors?
I peer up at them, surprised to see that they are twins. Identical twins. Both have blonde hair, and bright blue eyes. The only difference I can spot between them is the scar one of them has, marring the right side of his cheek. It looks like it might have been made by a knife, and runs deep along his jaw line. His hair is shaved on both sides, and a little longer on the top, while the other has his hair longer and messier, falling charmingly over his forehead.
“Anyone ever tell you it’s rude to stare?” the scarred twin says with a growl.
“Reid,” the other twin says, a warning in his tone.
“Summer, this is Reid and Ryan,” Xander introduces as he sits down on the couch opposite me.
“This is your sister? Holy fuck,” Ryan says with a smile. Reid just glares at me, brooding. He seems… charming.
“Yeah, and she’s off limits,” Xander says, his eyes on the TV.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Ryan says, sitting down next to me. He nudges me playfully with his elbow, and I can’t help it when my lips curve into a smile. I turn to look at Dash, currently staring daggers at Ryan, his fists clenched. Having no clue what his deal is, I turn back to Ryan.
“Nice to meet you, Ryan,” I tell him. And I mean it. Ryan may seem flirty but I can tell he's harmless. Reid, on the other hand - let’s just say I wouldn’t wanna meet him in a dark alley any time soon.
“Jack said we all gotta be at the warehouse in an hour,” Reid says, still standing, his arms crossed against his muscular chest.
“Warehouse?” I repeat, looking at Xander for answers. I eye all four men warily.
And they all ignore me.
“Alright, we’ll be there, don’t worry,” Xander says, looking at Reid.
“He wants us all there,” Reid says, looking straight at me.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I cross my arms over my chest in protest.
“Just fucking great,” Reid mutters, his eyes darting to Xander.
“What?” I ask.
“Of course you'd be an uptight princess,” he says, looking pissed off.
I blink once. “Fuck you.” I draw out each word.
“No, thanks,” he replies, standing there with his feet shoulder width apart, his arms crossed.
My eyes widen at his response. “I'll take you up on that offer,” Ryan says, scowling at Reid before flashing me a charming smile. A charming smile that I can imagine has worked on many before me.
“Can you guys not chase her away, please?” Xander says, rubbing his hand down his face.
Something works behind Reid’s eyes. “Let’s get ready to head out.”
Taking that as my cue to leave, I stand up and head to my room. I close the door quietly, although I want nothing more than to slam it with all my might. I lie down on my bed, pulling out my e-reader.
Time to tune out the world.
Reid
Jack’s daughter is hot.
No, she’s beautiful. Of course she’s fucking beautiful.