Cruel Kings by Skye Knight

20

Noah

Impatience nibbled at me as I sat in the entrance hall, waiting for my brothers to arrive. They were supposed to have arrived half an hour ago but there was no word from them. The assholes wouldn’t even reply to my texts.

“Do you think she’s taken an extra shift this evening?” Dad whispered.

The sight of him leaning against Eva rubbed me the wrong way. So far, Eva hadn’t bothered us, but the mere fact she was stealing the affection that should have belonged to my mother made me hate her.

“I don’t know,” said Eva, looking worried. “But I won’t be surprised. She’d been looking for extra cash since her laptop started malfunctioning. I should’ve given her the money already but I completely forgot. It’s all my fault.” She rubbed her forehead, looking mournful. “I’ve been so selfish lately. I’m an awful mom to her.”

“No, honey...” Dad took her hand and squeezed it. Leaning into her, he brushed his thumb over her cheek. “Don’t blame yourself. Look, I’ll order a new laptop right now. It’s time I acted like her father too.”

Surprise mingled with my rage.

Brian Amhurst wanted to act like a father? Fucking ridiculous! 

However, as I watched them, I realized he was being sincere.

It was becoming pure torture to sit there calmly and listen to the crap falling out of his mouth. He rarely paid any attention to his own sons. How the hell could he want to be a father to a girl who’s not even related to him?

Was Eva that precious to him?

I glanced over at my stepmother.

Eva was in her early fifties with visible signs of aging. Other than the way she dyed her hair, there were no signs of any enhancements. Her clothes looked fashionable and elegant, but without them, she was just a homely, plain woman.

Maybe, she’s great at sucking his balls, I decided. That was the only explanation someone like my dad could choose a woman with her plain looks and background.

The sound of carefree laughter suddenly filtered into the hall.

My brothers walked arm-in-arm with a dejected-looking Milla tailing behind them. A sliver of concern snaked through me as I took in her pale complexion and downcast eyes.

“I’m so glad you’re here, honey.” Eva was on her feet and running to meet her daughter. “I was so worried you’d be stuck at work.” She kissed her daughter’s cheeks and forehead.

Milla smiled, a little color coming back to her cheeks. She let her mom coddle her without any trace of embarrassment. Tears filled her eyes but she held strong, not letting a single drop fall.

Corey and Caleb dropped onto the couch where I sat. The familiar scent of crisp green apples and sex lingered on them.

I sighed internally. They’d both taken advantage of finding her alone in her apartment.

“We promised we’d get her here for dinner,” Corey boasted, earning a grateful smile from Eva.

Caleb grinned, turning on his charm.

“I’m sorry about the trouble,” said Eva. “I’ll make up for it with dessert. I’ve made my special double chocolate brownies today.”

“You didn’t have to do that, Mom,” Milla said in a quiet voice.

“I wanted to,” said Eva enthusiastically. She looked around at us all. “Come on, then. Let’s eat dinner. You boys must be starving.”

“You’re right about that,” said Corey, standing up. “We’re starving after that workout earlier. Isn’t that right, Cal?”

“Yeah,” said Caleb, running fingers through his long dark locks while grinning goofily.

“Come on, sweetheart,” said Dad, wrapping his arm around Milla’s shoulders.

Pure hatred flared inside me. Why was he touching her? Was that his angle? Fool the mother and get cozy with her daughter?

Disgusting bastard, I thought, following everyone out of the room to go into the family dining area.

For the first time in ages, dinner with our dad wasn’t a complete bore. Eva distracted him so much, he didn’t get a chance to criticize us over the smallest things.

My brothers laughed and goofed together, strangely comfortable with everything happening around them. Or maybe it was the sex they had with our sweet Milla that relaxed them so much.

Milla smiled for her mom but each time Eva’s attention swayed, she went back to looking depressed.

“Why are you so quiet?” Dad finally noticed.

“It’s nothing,” she said with a quick smile.

Dad shook his head. “I know you better. Spill. If it’s something related to school, tell my boys. They’ll sort it out for you.”

“Yeah,” Corey said loudly. “Tell us who’s troubling you, dear sister?”

I couldn’t believe our father. He was showing more interest in her than he ever showed the three of us. Hate and rage brewed inside me. What kind of witchcraft did these women perform on him?

“It’s nothing,” Milla repeated. “I’m just worried over a new project at school. The professor partnered me with someone new.”

Luke Beckett...

The guy with a record as clean as mine and a mind that equaled my diabolism.

Caleb was sure he was the one who hurt Corey. His dad’s company and ours were rivals, but the rivalry never reached our families. Was Luke trying to cross the line?

I commanded my spies to keep an eye on him. We’d soon know if he was planning to attack us again.

“We’re going shopping this weekend. You’re free on Saturday, right?” Eva’s voice broke me out of my thoughts. I focused on them, curious to know what they’d be up to with my dad’s platinum cards.

“I don’t need anything,” Milla said, pushing around a piece of mushroom around her untouched steak. Why wasn’t she eating? The steaks were delicious and perfectly cooked, something I was sure she rarely ate.

“What about a new laptop?” Dad urged. “You can pick up the best one. You’re already too busy with school and work. Going to the library is an extra hassle you don’t need.”

Even my brothers stopped fooling around after hearing Dad. He’d never said anything caring like that in our entire lives. After mom’s death, he passed all responsibilities to the maids and valets.

He never even cared when Caleb was suffering from pneumonia when we were thirteen. Our housekeeper refused to let me call him saying he’d fire her if we disturbed him.

No one in the house cared about how scared Corey and I were with Caleb so sick. Sure, they called a doctor and nurses to watch him, but no one was around to say anything reassuring to us. Corey even thought he’d die and wept all the time.

I felt disgusted with myself.  

We weren’t kids anymore. These daddy issues shouldn’t be messing with our heads.

“I can get the laptop next week,” said Milla in a low voice. “With my next pay, I’ll have enough to buy one.”

“You’re getting one on Saturday,” Dad said in an authoritative tone.

“You also need a new dress, hon,” said Eva in a coaxing tone. “It’s been such a long time since we went out and had some fun. It’ll be just us girls.”

“I don’t need a new dress,” Milla said at once. “I’m happy with the clothes I own.” For a moment, she glanced at Corey and Caleb who stared right back at her and sniggered between themselves.

A sliver of jealousy wrapped around my throat. My brothers were already close enough to her to be picking up on secret jokes.

“We’ll have an official announcement of our marriage on Sunday,” said Dad. He gazed all around the table. “Clear your schedule, boys. You’re going to be at the party too.”

“What party?” Milla blurted at once.

“It’ll be a celebration of our marriage,” said Dad. “The whole world must recognize my wife and my daughter.”

“Is that really necessary?” Milla looked desperately at her mother.

“It is,” said Eva firmly. “Brian is going to adopt you. The day deserves a real celebration.”

Corey choked and started coughing. Caleb rubbed his back, glaring at our dad.

My patience was running thin too. Why the hell did he have to go that far?

“But I’m twenty-two already,” Milla spoke up. “I don’t need to be adopted.”

I agreed with her completely. Adopting her legally meant he’d give her a share of what was mine and my brothers.

Dad’s company wouldn’t be what it was today without all the money Mom invested in him. She worked equally hard to get our businesses up and running.

No one had a claim over her things. Not even Dad who mistreated her every day. Other than me and my brothers, no one deserved a portion of what she left us.

“I know that but it’ll mean a lot to us if you agreed,” said Eva. Her brown eyes, so different from Milla’s, shone with tears. “Agree to it for me, Milla. This is the last thing I want from you. For you. I want you to have a family.”

Eva was either a mind-numbingly stupid woman or one cunning bitch. She didn’t bring up the subject of property or money. She was using sentimentality to secure her daughter’s future.

Milla glanced at me and was met with my cold gaze. She shuddered, knowing how I felt about the issue.

Suppressing a shudder, she swallowed and looked down at her barely touched food. “Could I be excused, please?”

“Milla!” Eva gasped. She turned pleading eyes toward our dad.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” Dad asked with a concerned look that I’d never seen on him before.

Milla nodded. “I just need some air.”

“Milla, don’t be—” Eva spoke up, looking upset.

“It’s all right,” Dad cut in. “We’ve been hurrying along with everything. She needs time to adjust. Give her some space, honey.”

Corey and Caleb glanced at me. I knew what they were thinking. Our dad never considered giving us any time and space.

Jealousy, rage, and desire battled inside my chest. No other person created such a storm inside me before, driving me nearly insane.

I didn’t want to hurt Milla. Not really.

She was simply unlucky. My brothers and I had no other outlet for our rage and hatred. She was so easy to manipulate. So easy to bend and break.

Power and lust. That’s what she incited in us.

She was an easy prey among a group of hungry predators. It was only natural for her to be devoured.

Milla pushed back her chair and quickly walked out of the room.

I looked over at the ornamental clock hanging on the opposite wall. It was already close to nine.

“She should at least spend the night here,” I said, looking directly at Eva. “She shouldn’t be out this late around here. It gets pretty deserted and it’s not safe for her.”

“Noah’s right,” said Dad.

Eva gave a nod, trying not to let her daughter’s behavior ruin the evening.

“She’s not going anywhere tonight,” said Eva firmly. “I know a lot is changing for her but she needs to accept them. Sooner the better.”

I relaxed.

Milla was going to be all mine tonight.