…


    55 vouchers


    I already knew my brother was there even before I entered the bar. He hadn’t made himself known. Just stayed with the shadows–so Kadey.


    “Kade,” I called, my voice hoarse.


    “Hmm?” He finally stepped out of the shadow and came to stand beside me, taking the bottle from my hand and taking a deep sip.


    “Kade, there’s this knot in my chest. It won’t go away. It’s making it hard to breathe. What is it?”


    <i>“</i><i>I </i>don’t know, little bro. Maybe you have asthma. Or you’re about to have a heart attack.”


    “Right? That would make so much sense.”


    “You smell heavily of sex.”


    I took the bottle back from him. “I just had the best sex of my life.”


    “And so does she.”


    To that I said nothing.


    “Are you insane, Axel?”


    I took a sip, sighing as the liquid burned a trail down. “Maybe. I don’t know these days.” I raised the bottle. “This is good vodka.”


    Kade sighed, rubbing his jaw. “Axel, this is for her good. Just because you’re not rutting doesn’t mean you can just fuck her as you wish. Your body will get used to her and then when you rut again, she’ll be the one you seek. And I’m not so sure the meds might be of any help.”


    I kept silent, keeping all my attention on the bottle and trying to peel thebel off.


    We heard the elevator dinged and since the bar was at the corner, we saw Kross step out, his jacket in hand, his hair a damn mess. His eyes moved to the bar, to me, and then to the bottle in my hand.


    55 Vouchers


    “It reeks in here,” was all he said before he walked past us and up to his room.


    “I need to talk to you,” I called out to him, and he just gave me a two–fingered


    wave.


    I took the bottle and went to the living room where I slumped down on the couch. Kade sat on the sofa, turning on the TV, but we both knew he wasn’t going to watch it. He just needs the background noise.


    When the bottle was almost empty that was when Kross came back down, freshly showered and clothed.


    “I thought you quit drinking,” he said as he sat.


    “I thought so too,” I mumbled as I set the bottle down and faced my brothers who were both watching me. “Our little rose wants to go to college.”


    Silent. But that was okay. We barely need words in this household.


    “What career does she want to pursue?” Kross asked, leaning back.


    “Writing.”


    “Who would have thought,” Kade muttered, his gaze distant.


    I turned to him. “What do you mean?”


    He didn’t look away from whatever interesting thing he found on the floor. “I thought she would <i>go </i>for a moreplicated career. Writing is okay, and it suits her.”


    I nodded my agreement, turning back to Kross,


    “Has she chosen any school?” he asked.


    I shook my head. “She’s still on that.”


    “She won’t mind if we made that decision for her?”


    I shrugged. “Don’t know about that, big bro. But since she is indecisive about that, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”


    Chapte


    He nodded. “Good.”


    “Got anywhere in mind?” Kade asked, finally looking up.


    Kross nodded. “Somewhere far away.”


    That knot in my chest loosened, and my breath came a little easier. Somewhere far away is good. It means she would be away from us. She would be safe. It was going to be hard, but I knew I would get over it.


    “I’ll make a few calls,” Kross said as he stood up and left.


    Kade left after, and I was left alone. Iy down on the couch, staring up at the high ceiling.


    This sucks. It goddamn sucks. Doing the right thing was a pain in the ass.


    ***


    ROSETTE


    Something shifted in the mansion. Something strange, yet rxed, calm. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.


    The men no longer try to avoid me. When I came down they were still there, and then they would leave for work after–including Axel.


    Since three days ago when he took me to the library, he hasn’t apanied me there again, and Christopher has resumed his work. But Axel still came to see me when he came back in the evening. He never spent more than ten minutes though.


    Strange. Everything happening was strange and it made me uneasy.


    And today I finally knew the reason.


    I just came back from the library when a knock came on the door. I already knew who it was before I opened the door.


    “Evening, gorgeous human.”


    “Evening, Axel.”


    :


    <i>77 </i>


    55 vouchers


    We stood still, staring at each other in awkward silence before Axel sighed, running a hand through his hair, messing it up.


    “Walk with me?” he asked.


    Usually, he woulde into my room and leave in ten minutes. But I nodded and followed him. Kade and Kross weren’t back yet so the house was empty and silent. We walked outside and took the flower trails that led to the greenhouse.


    Axel remained silent, his hands in his pockets, staring straight ahead, a frown between his brows. I said nothing and just followed. We <i>got </i>to the greenhouse and that was when he finally spoke.


    “It’s lovely what you’ve done with the ce,” he whispered, his gaze softening as he looked at the house.


    Yeah, it was. I had really given it my all. All the weeds were removed, and I nted new flowers. It was yet to bloom but the greenhouse was looking clean and fresh.


    “Kross found a college for you,” Axel said in a rush, and my breath hitched. I turned to him slowly, blinking, but his eyes were fixed on the greenhouse. “He’ll take care of everything, but you need to write an exam of some sort. Luckily they’re taking in new students so you would easily blend in with the others.”


    He was serious. Three days ago when he said they would really send me to college, he was damn serious. I didn’t take it seriously. Hell, I didn’t even think of it. And here he was, telling me Kross has found a college for me. They all knew. Everyone knew but me.


    I should be happy. I should be fucking excited. I was finally going to college, and I wouldn’t have to spend a dime or go through any stress. Everything will be taken care of and all I just need to do is sit for an exam I’ve been preparing for. A part of me was happy–I mean, how could I not?-but there was hurt lingering. Hurt for what? I had no fucking idea.


    “Where?” I asked, clearing my throat when my voice came out hoarse.


    Axel finally looked at me. “London.”


    “Ahh,” I whispered. It finally clicked. The reason they had been strangetely and weren’t trying so hard to avoid me; they were sending me far away.


    14:11 Mon<i>, </i>Sep 8


    I was going to school in the UK, while they were in the US, oceans apart.


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    55 vouchers


    A hystericalugh burst out of me. I nodded, smiling. This was great. I was finally leaving. I could hold on to my sanity, and stay far away from whatever these men were. “When is the exam?”


    Axel tried to touch me, but I stepped away. “Rosette-”


    “When is the exam, Axel?”


    He stood still, his fists clenched. “Next Friday.”