Chapter <b>10 </b>


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    Was I supposed to feel shame? Was I supposed to try to exin? But exin what exactly? That I just made my step–brothere and vice versa? Wasn’t it better to leave it unexined? Just leave it floating in the air, thick and suffocating?


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    Axel still hadn’t noticed Mom. He was still lost in whatever cloud he was in, his eyes still hazy. But then Mom shifted, just slightly, barely even noticeable and Axel was immediately on his feet, facing Mom, his body tensed. But when he saw who it was, he rxed, releasing a breath.


    “Mrs. Varkas,” he practically purred, shoving his hands into his pockets, rxed.


    Mom finally looked away from me, blinking at Axel. Her mouth opened and closed, no wordsing out. Finally, she managed, “A–Axel.”


    I couldn’t see his face, but I knew there was a damn smirk on his face. “Yes, Mrs. Varkas, that’s me. How do you do?”


    She stared at me, then at Axel, repeating it before she finally said, “W–what… Both of…” Well, it was more like stammering.


    Axel nced at me from his shoulder, and there, a grin. “Rosette, thank you for this memorable afternoon. I’ll see youter, sweetheart.”


    Then he left, brushing past Mom without even a nce her way. Mom turned and stared at his back before she looked at me.


    “What-”


    “Let’s not make this more awkward than it already is, Mom,” I cut her off, grabbing my pants and tugging up my panties. I wore the pants with hurried hands, not even bothering to button it.


    “More awkward than it already is?” she repeated, moving to block my way when I tried to walk past her. “This isn’t awkward, Rosette, it’s wrong!”


    “Save the lectures, Mother. I know.”


    “You know and still did it?” she spat, disgust evident in her voice. “You did it to mess with me,


    me, right?”


    (8L)


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    I gave her a hard look. “Why do you think everything I do is because of you? My world isn’t centered on you, you know that? I make decisions and do things. because I want to, not because I want to piss my mother that doesn’t give a damn about me.”


    I admit, back then when I was still naive I would do things to piss her off, to try and get her attention. I would work, and she would yell and yell. But I was no longer naive and I did things because I wanted to, right or wrong.


    Mom’s face transformed, soft, yet not. “You think I don’t give a damn about you?”


    I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t ‘think‘ I ‘know.“”


    “Rosette-”


    “I have to go pack. This has been a lovely chat.”


    Her expression shifted again—this time into confusion. “Pack? To where?”


    I groaned, rolling my eyes upwards. “I don’t have-”


    She grabbed my arm, pulling me so we were eye level. “Pack. To. Where?”


    I searched her eyes and she really didn’t know. “To the boy’s house. Mr. Varkas told me this morning that’s where I’ll be living.”


    “I didn’t know about that arrangement.”


    I dragged my arm away from her grip, looking down to see that it was red. That would bruise. Even now, she still gives me bruises. I walked past her and this time she didn’t try to stop me. “Take that up with your husband.”


    ***


    AXEL


    I stood away from sight, leaning against the pir with my arms folded as I watched the mother and daughter’s banter.


    Barely three minutes watching them and I mapped out their entire rtionship; they hated each other.


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    And now I was curious to know why. But when I saw Rosette look down at where her mother grabbed her, I could tell immediately. She had looked at the red mark with hate, and a well–concealed pain. Not physical pain–I doubted that hurt–but something deeper. And what’s deeper than emotional pain?


    Rosette walked away and her mother stood still, staring at her hand.


    “Ahh,” I muttered, pushing off from the pir and following Rosette. I stayed five feet away from her, and she didn’t even notice. She may put on a brave face, but she was… soft–but not that soft, though. I could tell by looking into her eyes that this beautiful woman was a survivor. She was tough, yet so… easily affected.


    I found that interesting. Hell, I find everything about Rosette interesting. And don’t even get me started on her scent. It brings me wild, feral. I would have to thank Father one time for this… gift.


    Rosette climbed the stairs to her room and I stayed behind, watching her go. I found her very, very interesting. And I wanted to be around her always. This addiction won’t bode well for anyone. Not her. Not me.


    “Stalking your new ything?”


    “ything…” I repeated, testing the words on my lips. It felt… wrong. “Wrong.”


    Kade faced me, an eyebrow raised. “Wrong? She’s not your newest ything? What’s she, then? A toy?”


    I turned to face the bastard, my chest heaving with anger. But I wouldn’t pick the bait. “And you? What’s she to you?”


    He looked away from me, his jaw clenched. “She’s nothing.”


    I let out a hollowugh. “Right, brother. Right. You’ve always been a flirty liar, Kade. Always.” I turned, walking away. “But that’s good. You won’t ever admit, and Kross… Well, that cold bastard is incapable of feeling anything. If it’s not business, you won’t ever catch him there. This is good for me. Both of you will stay away, and I will have her all to myself.”


    Iughed again, and this time it sounded light. “I’ve never liked sharing anyway.”


    I felt Kade’s eyes burn into me until I turned and was out of sight. He had a fucked


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    up past with women, so he tried to stay away, but somehow I feel this case will be different. I hoped my fucking instincts were wrong this time.


    An hourter and Kade had left for home. I picked up my car keys and went to Rosette’s room, knocking softly. There was a rustle inside the room, and then a thud. Rosette groaned, shouting out, “Coming!”


    A small smile curled my lips and I waited, standing still. Finally, she opened the door, breathing heavily, her bags behind her.


    “Did you fall on your ass while you were trying to get into those pants?” I teased, leaning against the door frame as my eyes trailed over her.


    She was wearing pants again. Pants and an old T–shirt, her hair once again in a messy bun.


    “Shut up,” she muttered, her cheeks slightly red.


    I wonder… what she’d look like if she smiled. Or what herughter would sound like. Or how beautiful she would look if she let her hair down.


    “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, patting her hair and looking down at herself.


    Ahh, this beautiful, sexy as sin woman was self–conscious.


    “Why don’t you let your hair down?” I asked softly.


    She shrugged, looking anywhere but at me. “It gets in the way.”


    “Hmm.” She finally looked at me, an eyebrow raised. And I couldn’t help but say, “You’re beautiful, Rosette.”


    “I know that.”


    I smiled, leaning closer to her. It was like my body was no longer mine and I just wanted to get close and all in her personal space. “Do you?”


    She nodded, indifferent like we were discussing the weather. “Yes.”


    Just what has she gone through? What life has she lived that made her so cold


    and… broken?


    4:


    “I want to know you, Rosette.”


    A frown formed between her brows. “Why?”


    I shrugged. “No reason. You interest me.”


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    She sighed like I was bothering her, rubbing her temple. “Look here, Axel. Nothing changed between us. What we did was just to take the edge off. Don’t get attached. I won’t be here for a long time.”


    “And where would you be, sweetheart?”