Chapter 22

Chapter 22

“I have to go into town,” Colt says.

“For what?” Max asks, snapping at him. At least it’s not just me that he’s upset with.

“Something, I have to…” he doesn’t finish, and Max speaks.

“You just don’t want to be left alone with her. I am not babysitting her,” Max growls, annoyed, his chair scraping against the floor and I listen to his angry footsteps. That hurt feeling returns, and I look up, blinking rapidly to keep from crying.

“Well, someone has to watch her?” Ethan argues. “Max, get back here.” He orders, and I feel the push of his aura. Mu ffled as it is, it’s still overwhelming.

Max lets out a growl, but I can tell the moment that he listens to Ethan, the submission making his brother pull his aura back in.

“Don’t do that again.”

“You’re not listening to me. We can’t have her snooping around and finding something she shouldn’t.”

I’ve heard enough. It hurts that they think I would snoop around their home. All I want is to get out of here. It doesn’t matter if I’d be back on the streets. At least I would know where I stand and what I need to do to survive. I wander down to check the washing. It’s finished, so I chuck it in the dryer and sit down there, watching it spin, not wanting to go back until I am sure they have gone when I hear the door open. Heavy footsteps sound on the stairs, and my gaze moves to them. Max stops at the bottom and folds his arms across his chest.

“This is where you are,” he sighs. I turn my attention back to the dryer.

“I guess you drew the short straw?”

“Pardon?” he asks, and I shake my head, not bothering to answer.

“Well, come on. No point watching the dryer. You have other chores you can do,” he snaps at me. I wonder if this is how it will always be. Will I just be a fill-in maid?

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“Rose now! I am not sitting down here all day,” Max snaps at me.

“Then go,” I tell him when I find myself suddenly pinned by his aura.

“Get up!” he shoves the full weight of his command over me and I whimper, the air suddenly squeezed from my lungs as I forget how to breathe. Yet he gets his desired effect instantly because my body, despite protesting, does what he asks. I limp over to him and go up the stairs. My leg burning with how quickly I am forced

to move.

“Has your leg not healed yet?” Max questions, dropping his aura.

“It’s fine!” I tell him, using my hand on the wall, hoping not to fall backward.

“Then why are you limping? Meet me in the library. I want to check it. I’ll grab the first aid kit.”

“Really, it is fine,” I tell him, but he ignores me and pushes past me to climb the stairs. His body brushes against mine, and I close my eyes, trying not to make a sound. I stay still, watching as he leaves the basement.