My gaze fell to Lola, and she tilted her head. “Why do you have that look on your face? Are you scared? She’s just your sister.”
“There’s something you need to know about Jocelyn—” I was cut off by the door opening.
We both jumped back so as not to be hit by the heavy wooden door. Every door in the estate was solid wood and hand-carved. Their father had spared no expense.
When one of these doors hit you, it didn’t cause a slight bruise; it knocked you out. I found out the hard way once when Lola and I were playing a very adult version of hide and seek. They found me naked and passed out on the floor by her brother. I had to make up a crazy tale about why I was naked.
That was not fun.
“There you two are.” Eric smiled, but I noticed his eyes dart around the room behind us. Thank God we put the tarp back where it belonged.
“Just reminiscing about, uh... things,” I said, hoping Eric believed me.
“Okay, well, you’ll never guess who’s here, Jenner?” Eric had that look on his face like a kid with a surprise.
“Jocelyn,” I said as his smile faded into a deep frown, deflating just like a child whose surprise was ruined.
“Right. How did you know?”
“I heard her.”
He rubbed his chin and nodded. “I told her I wanted it to be a surprise, but she wasn’t having it. You know, Jenner, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but your sister isn’t a patient person.”
I rolled my eyes. “If that isn’t the understatement of the year, then I don’t know what is.”
We all left the room and headed back down the hallway toward the grand staircase. The estate was a testament of exactly how much money this family had—and the staircase, hand-carved from one solid piece of wood—was no exception.
“Just wait until you get to know her. Her lack of patience is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Eric guided us back into the kitchen. He always enjoyed hanging out in kitchens. He told me, back before his dad had made money, they had absolutely nothing. There were nights he had water for dinner. So, he liked to hang out where he knew he could have food anytime he wanted.
We made our way into the kitchen, and I saw my sister, her dark brown hair in a long braid down her back, gazing out the French doors that led to a balcony.
“Jocelyn, long time no see.” I walked over to her, and she turned.
The same scowl I had grown to tolerate met me. Her arms folded as her emerald eyes sparkled with delight. She gave the appearance of someone angry just for having to breathe air. I knew what pissed her off—the fact she was standing in an opulent room in a luxurious home went against everything she believed in.
But her appearance did not fool me. Yes, she hated the rich and everything about them, but there was a tiny spark of happiness in her eyes. And I was what had caused it to grow.
Not because she was happy to see me, but because she was going to enjoy torturing me. It was her talent, her gift from the gods. Jocelyn could root out your weakness and twist it until you cried for mercy.
Hamish knew that, yet he contacted her. I didn’t hate my sister—she was who she was—but I was pissed at Hamish for bringing her to me.
“Why am I here?” Her deep, almost sultry voice vibrated across the room, unnerving every person who was unlucky enough to hear.
“I don’t know, Joce. Do you always come running every time a billionaire calls you?” I had to get one dig in before she obliterated me.
I was her brother; it was in my DNA.
Her jaw tightened, and her nostrils flared. And I thought I saw red smoke erupt from her ears.
She stood there for a second and tried to murder me with her eyes. As evil as Jocelyn was, she hadn’t yet learned how to kill with a look.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Eric’s sister, Lola, and I’m friends with your brother.” Lola made the mistake of speaking to my sister before Jocelyn spoke to her.
My sister’s gaze flickered to Lola for a split second before she sighed and meandered around the kitchen as if it were hers. “I’m not here to see you, Lola. I’m here to see my brother.” She came to a stop right in front of Lola. “Let me guess... My brother became your friend, told you how beautiful he thought you were, and then got you to fall for him? And when you needed him the most, he just wasn’t there, was he?”
Lola frowned. “He’s a nice guy...”