Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 106754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
As the maid, Patty, and I turn the house on its head looking for my stepsister, I think of the beautiful raven-haired girl whose face my twin has ruined. She looked so much like June. Frighteningly so. And Parker had done that to her, carved her face up like a grotesque smile. Her life was ruined. Gone in an instant because she made a single mistake by trusting my brother.
I grit my teeth together, groaning in frustration and running my hands through my hair when we can't find June anywhere.
"Mr. Miller, do you think she's okay?" Even Patty looks nervous now, and I don't know what the fuck to tell her. My father's constant mantra rings out in my head—Familia ante omnia. He would want me to protect Parker at all costs. But after what June told me yesterday, I'm wondering just how twisted Dad was. And whether I should believe anything out of my twin's mouth...
"I'm going to keep looking," I mutter. "But if there's nothing in a few hours, I want you to call the cops. Understand?"
She nods, a grave expression on her face as she clutches a hand to her chest. "Miss Wildfox... Do you think she's okay, sir?"
I don't answer, and tears spring to her eyes as I reach out to comfort her awkwardly. "I'll make sure she's okay. I'll find her and bring her back."
Patty nods just as we hear the front door opening. Our eyes meet, and she knits her brows together.
"I'll go check," I say hurriedly. "Remember, Patty. If something's off, call the cops."
She nods and disappears down the hallway, her shoulders hunched. I take the grand marble staircase back into the main hall, and my whole body tenses when I come face-to-face with my twin.
Parker looks good. I don't know whether it's because of the smug smirk painted on his face, or the new haircut he got that mirrors mine.
"Well, well, well." He grins. "Look who snuck in. You're not welcome here, Kade."
"Where's June?" I bark.
"I don't know." He shrugs carelessly, and I know he's lying. He cares about June, too. If he really didn't know where she was, he'd be panicking as much as I am. I realize then I can't trust my brother. Not with June, not with any-fucking-thing. All he wants is to get rid of me... and get his way. "Around here somewhere, probably."
"Where've you been?" I demand next.
"Company. Working. I work with June now. It's great." He smirks at me. It fucking hurts to know he's working in the family company while I'm slaving away for minimal pay to make rent on my shitty apartment where I now live alone.
Besides, I know he's lying. He must've told the maid June was gone. But he's not telling me that.
"You know today's the anniversary of Dad's death?" I ask next.
"So?" Parker crosses his arms.
"We should go pay our respects," I mutter, thinking of the tomb Rachel had built on the property. If I can get Parker alone there, I can fucking beat the truth out of him.
"I don't have any respect for that man," Parker replies.
"What do you mean? He's our dad, for chrissakes."
"No, Kade." Parker is hissing now, approaching me, and pushing his pointer finger into my chest. "Maybe he was your father, but he was never mine. He didn't give a shit about me."
June's words from the previous day come up in my mind.
"What do you mean?" I ask even though I'm not entirely sure I want to know. I know when Parker's lying, and something tells me I won't like what he's about to tell me. The image of my father is still unmarred—for now. But my twin's pained expression speaks volumes. There's something else there, another part of the story that I never got to find out. "Tell me, Parker. I deserve to know the truth."
"The truth?" He laughs bitterly. "The truth is the man was a fucking pussy. Scared of the darkness. Scared of everything that wasn't picture fucking perfect. Just like you, Kade."
"I'm not scared of it." I glare at him. "I've lived with it my whole life, kid."
"Don't call me that." His voice is vicious. "Never call me that again."
I groan, running my hands through my hair, and he stares me down, a dark smile pulling on the corner of his lips. "But actually, you're right. Let's go to the tomb. We both need some fucking closure."
I nod wordlessly, following my brother outside where the golf cart we used for the property is waiting. Parker drives, and I sit next to him contemplating everything. We pull up in front of the tomb moments later. It's already dark outside, the dark crescent moon shining above us and guiding our path.
Parker stops the golf cart, and we get out. The atmosphere is oppressing, the tension in the air palpable. I want to ask him about June again, but something stops me from opening my mouth.