Fraud

Ivy

Emily takes me back to her house since I no longer have one, the car rolling to a stop near the children’s wing of the mansion, both of us too exhausted to push open our doors and immediately get out.

Beside us, her younger brother’s car is parked crooked, the front end mangled so bad that a headlight hangs out. Swinging softly in the breeze of an approaching storm, it dangles on thin wires, drawing my attention.

“It didn’t take Dylan much time to wreck his new car, I see. I bet your parents are pissed.”

Light rain continues to fall on the windshield, and when Emily turns to me, it drips over her skin as a moving shadow.

“They spent almost ninety thousand dollars on that car, and he wrecked it within five weeks. He’s the baby of the family, so as usual, my parents haven’t done anything about it. They would have slaughtered me, but Dylan didn’t get so much as a slap on the wrist. If we run into him in the common areas, just ignore him. He’s been a complete ass lately. He keeps pushing Ezra and Damon’s buttons every time they come over like he would stand a chance against either of them.”

My brows tug together at that. “Why don’t you just go to their place to stay away from Dylan?”

Her expression falls. “It’s complicated. Things haven’t been all fun and games lately, and they always fight with each other. To avoid it, I invite them over here, but only one at a time.”

I can’t decide if she’s brave or stupid. The twins were always a little aggressive in high school, but things got a lot worse in our senior year. They both scare the hell out of me. Emily seems equipped to handle them, though.

At least, she was until recently.

Every time I bring them up, her mood sours.

“Guess we should go in,” she says, her eyes glancing my direction. “And get you some dry clothes. Are you allowed to go to your house and get your stuff?”

Damn it…

As soon as she mentions it, I remember that I left all my bags in the trunk of Gabriel’s car. Normally, I’d just say screw it and buy new stuff. Unfortunately, that’s impossible with all my credit cards cut off.

Knowing I can’t last like this, I wonder how easy it will be to find a job. There are a lot of things I can do with my degree. I just need to figure out what field I want to go into.

“I have no idea. My dad might think that’s me taking advantage of what he’s given me. Most of my stuff is already packed, though. The only problem is that Gabriel has it.”

She blinks in my direction, her shoulders shaking on a laugh. I glare at her for thinking any of this is fu

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t laugh at you. It’s just that this keeps getting worse and worse, and it’s like watching a damn soap opera. He really fucked you up good this time.”

Shooting her another warning glare, I shake my head.

“I’m so glad I can entertain you.”

“Oh, honey. The two of you have been entertaining all of us for years. I can’t believe it’s still going on. Why did you get involved with him again? I warned you at the party.”

She still doesn’t know about the favor Ta

“I was just being stupid, I guess. Silly me for thinking Gabriel can change.”

She straightens her posture and runs her hands through her frizzy, tangled hair. The rain has left both of us looking like a hot mess.

“He changed. But not in a good way. If you ask me, he’s worse.”

Maybe.

Maybe not.

He was pretty damn bad when he was younger, too.

“Let’s go inside and get out of these wet clothes.”

Nodding at that, she shoves her door open while I open mine, both of us trudging along toward the house with a heavy weight on our shoulders.

Obviously, mine is this situation with Gabriel, but I suspect hers has everything to do with whatever is going on with the twins. Once we’re in warm clothes and better moods, I’ll be sure to interrogate her more about what’s happening.

As soon as we step inside the house, we wave our hands in front of our faces to dispel the thick cloud of pot smoke that fills the halls.

Emily growls and marches directly to the rec room, her eyes arrowing directly at her brother where he sits with five other kids from his high school. All six of them are still in uniform, each one with bloodshot eyes and bad attitudes.

I laugh, only because it reminds me of the parties we used to throw at his age.

“What the fuck, Dylan? Can’t you all go somewhere else for this bullshit?”

Practically having to yell to be heard over the heavy thump of rap music, Emily stalks forward to turn off the stereo, knocking one of their beers over in the process.

“Foul!” one of the guys calls out, their combined laughter only pissing Emily off more.

Her brother was an unexpected child, one of the late in life mistakes that happen. Emily was ten when he was born, which isn’t too much of a stretch, but her parents had never intended to have more than one child.

Dylan lounges back on the couch, his head on an armrest and his eyes closed.

“If you don’t fucking like it, move out. You’re the adult, aren’t you? Go get married or whatever it is you’re supposed to do with your life.”

With a roll of her eyes, Emily throws up her hands. “Fuck off. Mom and dad will kill you for this.”

He laughs at that. “You act like they ever come back here or give a damn what I’m doing. I’m not the expensive piece of ass they’re selling off. Get the fuck out of here with your good girl shit. Go spread your legs for the Cross twins so you’re not so bitchy all the time.”

Emily’s eyes round with anger, but rather than answering him, she walks away. It’s probably best she lets it go. Dylan has never had a fuck to give.

“I should have the twins drag his ass off to an alley somewhere and teach him why he shouldn’t piss me off,” she grumbles as she brushes past me. “Might teach the asshole some respect.”

Following her, I keep my mouth shut until we walk into her room.

“We did worse, Em. His little gathering is a nothing more than a proper tea party compared to the trouble we caused.”

Laughing at that, she nods her head.

“True. Okay, well, I’m grabbing a shower. I hope you don’t mind, but Ezra is supposed to be coming by in a half hour. I didn’t expect to have to rescue you today, or I would have canceled. I mean, I still can, if you want.“

“Don’t worry about it. I can keep myself entertained while you play with him.”

She smiles at that. “You’re the best. I’d tell you I’ll hurry it along just so you’re not bored, but that won’t be an option. I like to take my time with those boys.”

I walk into her closet to grab some clean clothes.

“Take all the time you need.”

Dylan wasn’t wrong to tease that Emily needed something to help her mood. She hasn’t been herself since the engagement party. I would assume it’s the issue with Mason that has her so down, but I’m starting to think it has more to do with the twins than anything.

That’s on her to figure out, though. I have problems of my own. First and foremost, the need to get out of these wet clothes and into something warm.

Outside, another storm is rolling in, the distant thunder barely loud enough to grab my attention.