Blackbird (A Stepbrother Romance #1)(28)

“Uh,” he said.

“Amber.”

“Right. Hi, Amber.”

“What are you doing out here?” she demanded.

“Getting some air. I brought Eve something to drink.”

I looked at her but she ignored me. Instead she tugged his arm.

“Come inside. What was that about, giving her the garter?”

He shook loose of her grip. She scowled at him.

“What are you doing here?” he said.

“You invited me,” she said, folding her arms under her impressive bust.

“I did?”

“Yes,” she growled.

I stood up. Neither of them noticed me. I took my cup and Victor’s, and walked back inside. I found a trash can, tossed the little plastic cups and looked at the clock. When would this be over? I just wanted to be alone.

The reception had moved onto the dance floor, so I walked back into the dining room and sat down at my seat. It wasn’t five minutes before Victor slunk in and sat down next to me. In my father’s seat, I noticed.

“What do you want?”

“You look upset.”

“Shouldn’t you be occupied with Amber?”

“Don’t worry about her. She kinda crashed the wedding.”

“I see.”

I folded my hands primly in my lap. Maybe if I just sat there he’d leave.

“I’m sorry if I got you in trouble.”

“About what?”

“The car. The day we met. I wouldn’t have done that if I knew your father would flip out.”

“You wouldn’t?”

“Maybe I would have. Mom was worried about you. She said you were really upset. Did I piss you off?”

I look over at him, then away, and sigh. “No. Not me.”

“I know he was upset, but I do know what I’m doing. You want some more cake? Something to eat? A drink?”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Look, I’ll be honest. I don’t know most of these people. The ones I do know I hate. Three of my ex-girlfriends showed up, invited by my mother. Your father tried to kill me with his eye lasers when I gave you the garter.”

“I don’t think that was appropriate,” I said. “Our parents are married now. We can’t…”

“What?” he said, smirking.

“Nothing.”

“We can’t nothing? That’s a double negative.”

Flustered, I rubbed at my temples.

“I know, it’s shocking. I read a book.”

“I can’t talk to you,” I blurted out.

“Why? Did somebody threaten you? Your dad?”

“Why do you keep asking me that?”

“Why’d you come up to the widows walk? You want to tell me, you just won’t. Look, this guy just married my mom. If he’s trouble I need to know.”

I look around the empty dining room. The crowd in the dance hall starts to blur as my eyes burn.

“He disciplines me. That’s all. I broke a rule. I needed punishment.”

Victor looked at me intently.

“Punished you how?” he said, softly.

I covered my mouth with my hand and stifled a sob.

“I can’t. Don’t make me tell you. I can’t.”

“I don’t want to make you do anything.”

I sat there and sniffed quietly until he found a clean napkin and handed it to me. I snatched it and rubbed at my eyes and nose. It only made my nose raw.

“You moved into my house. My roof. Your father married my mother but the house is mine.”

“Are you mad at her? For getting married again?”

He sighs. “Yes, but don’t tell her that. It’s not… she’s been alone for over six years. She doesn’t fit into my dad’s social circles. She was a waitress before they married. She’s completely alone. Your father spent a lot of time with her. They got to know each other, started seeing each other, I was fine with it. I think he had me fooled.”

“Fooled?”

“You don’t have to tell me what he does to you. It’s probably better if you don’t. He does hurt you though, doesn’t he? You’re scared shitless of him.”

I started wringing the napkin in my hands. “He spanked me when I was younger. That’s all.”

“When you were younger,” Victor said, carefully.

“A-after the car ride,” I choked out.

“With his hand?”

“No. He uses a belt.”

His hand clenched into a fist, his knuckles bleeding of color as he crushed the tablecloth in his hand. “Not anymore. He puts a hand on you again, or a belt or anything else, you come to me, understand?”

I nodded, not knowing what to say.

“I wish you’d told me before. I would have put a stop to this.”

“He’d kill me,” I blurted out.

Victor looked up. “What?”

“I didn’t mean it. You know how people say ‘he’d kill me,” I added quickly.

“No. You meant it.”

I swallowed.

“I’m thirsty. Will you get me something to drink?”

“Yeah.”