“Nope, that doesn’t explain why she was in your apartment, why she answered your phone, and why you and she were in your bed nearly naked,” he rambles of facts that I’m not even aware of.
“She took photos of the view … but that’s it,” I remember my phone being moved. Dammit, that was her. “She certainly was not in my bed.”
“Oh, I would check her status if I were you.” I take a quick look and freeze. What the fuck? But it’s not my bed … I’m on the deck chair. How? And it hits me … the lost keycard. Fuck. I look up at Alejandro with shocked eyes and an open mouth.
“See why her brother is on his way here to kill you?” Brother?
“Which one?”
“Which one do you think?” he chuckles. “The dangerous one.” Fucking hell. This time he won’t hold back.
My brother stretches out on the sofa and for the first time, I notice the dark rings around his eyes. He must be tired.
“Luckily, I was closer. He’s flying in with Axel from New York.” Fucking marvelous.
“I have an idea.” I pick up my phone and order some food from a local restaurant that delivers – starters, salads, and entrees – from seafood and mountain trout, to bison and beef steaks – and everything I want in between. It’s my first meal with my brother … and it might just be my last meal too.
“And beer.” I look at my brother who nods. “Yes, beer and Coke. And don’t forget that nice creamy mushroom cheesy garlic sauce you guys make,” I continue the order.
Even though they know exactly where I stay since I’ve been eating their food this whole week, I give the guy the address before I hang up.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m frickin starving,” Alejandro says, “But how is food going to help figure out how to fix your fuckup?”
“I can’t think on an empty stomach,” I shrug. “And we have to celebrate our new-found brotherhood at …” I get interrupted by doors slamming.
“Hey, loverboy,” Jackson shouts out, “Where the fuck are you?” I jolt up, while Alejandro casually lifts himself from the sofa, calm as a cucumber.
But he hasn’t been in the group long enough to know what’s coming.
“Why the fuck are you here?” Jackson glares at my brother, Axel right behind him. They don’t know who Alejandro is yet.
Alejandro shrugs. Jackson furrows his brows.
“Did you two fight?” My brother shrugs again while I touch the sensitive bump below my eye.
“Never mind.” The twin’s crazy serial killer stare turns to me. “What the fuck did you do to my sister?” Yeah, this is gonna take some serious explaining.
Date = 25 December
Place = San Francisco (Mel’s house) (Uncle John’s house)
POV – Melaena
“Mel!” Kiara’s voice cries through my dreams. Or rather nightmares. “Wake up.”
My eyes flutter open and a beam of light blinds me for a second or two. Why did she draw the curtains? Bitch. When I say the word bitch I mean it in the most affectionate way possible, I swear.
I groan and sit up slowly. The light from the mid-morning sun flows into the room. I wish the sun would get a pain up it’s happy ass.
“Merry Christmas!” she shouts, grabbing me around my neck. Then she lets go rather quickly.
“Phew,” she fumbles her nose into a twist. “You stink!” I lift my arm and take a whiff. There is a slight little odor. But I haven’t bathed for a day … maybe two … three … I can’t remember.
“I don’t smell anything.” She stares at me – a long judgy look.
“Well, you’re going to get out of this bed, take a shower, and get ready … we’re going in thirty.” She gets up and steps carefully between the pizza boxes, empty ice cream tubs, and scattered clothes on the floor.
“I’m still sick.” I have the flu. Influenza.
At least I’m pretty sure that’s what I have.
I’ve been holed up in my bedroom for the last two weeks. I even turned my phone on silent. Only getting out of bed to pee, vomit, or bring in the food I ordered. Which I stuff down just to barf it out again. The rest of the time I sleep with open eyes, crying and sobbing my way through the whole 8 seasons of Vampire Diaries … twice … and I’ve done Originals, Shadowhunters, and a few go-to tearjerker movies – like Titanic and The Notebook.
“I’m not going.” Hasn’t she been listening? I’m sick. She snorts and glares at me.
“Oh, yes you are. In exactly 30 minutes I’m sending a guy in here to carry your stinky ass out.” I’m not that sick to realize the flaw in her threat.
“What guy? They’re all gone … even Alejandro.” He was the one keeping me from total destruction, but a few days ago he upt and left without any explanation.
“Eh … Anton from the gate,” she says and I roll my eyes. That man is old … I don’t think he will be able to even pick me up.
I cringe, not physically ready to face the outside world. But it is Christmas day … and Uncle John invited us over for dinner.
“I might be contagious.” I try one last time.
She taps on her watch and not looking where she’s going she steps into some week-old leftover pizza. She inhales sharply and lifts her bare foot, rotting cheese and pepperoni sticking to it.
“Ewwwwww,” she groans with a sour face, “That’s just wrong.” The putrid pizza aroma stinks up the air.
“That’s why you should let things lie where they lie.” She just stares at me before she jumps out on one leg, taking the decaying slice of pizza with her.
“Mew,” a little kitten face appears from inside an empty McDonald’s container. Alejandro was right when he adopted the cat for me – all cocky-ass, hyperactive, and stupidly stubborn … with an attitude to match … just like a certain nobody we all know. They even share the same eye color.
“Yes, I agree, that girl needs to get laid,” I tell the kitten, “She’s all uptight and in my face.”
The cat jumps up onto my bed and starts clawing my pillow. I wish I could claw that stupid Chloe whore like that.
“Okay, so I may be heartbroken on top of this crazy flu bug,” I admit. “Sue me. But it’s his fault.” I see those photos in my mind. Doom (I just kept his shelter name) stops clawing and rubs his little ass on the pillow he just tortured. He stares at me with those predator green eyes and my heart busts open again. A lone tear runs down my cheek.