I put their behavior down to the mysterious fight that broke the brothers apart years before I was born. I certainly sensed the charged atmosphere whenever my dad and his brother were in the same room. But now my parents were gone. It was just the four of us and after being around them the last month as they dealt with cops, lawyers, and social workers, I knew for sure, they just flat out didn’t like us.
“Anyway,” my aunt carried on. “We’re about five minutes away from the Estate. When we get home, take your and your brother’s things up to your rooms and stay there until Margaret calls you for lunch. You’re allowed in your rooms, the bathrooms, the dining room, and the first-floor living room. The kitchen is off-limits. Our bedroom and our offices are off-limits. The other living rooms are also off-limits. The antiques in there are priceless and the upholstery expensive. I won’t have you two ruining our things. Make sure your brother understands that.”
“We’re not toddlers,” I snapped. “And stop referring to him as ‘your brother.’ His name is Eli. He has straight As. Knows two languages and makes killer blueberry pancakes. Make sure you understand that.”
Uncle Harrison whipped around so fast, the wheel jerked and sent me careening into the door. We pulled off the street into a random parking lot. “Don’t ever sass my wife,” he roared, spittle flying. “Apologize!”
My heart pounded against my rib cage. I wasn’t prepared for this reaction. Dad’s method of correction was to calmly tell me to go to my room. Purpling cheeks and flashing blues didn’t factor into the equation.
Eli’s book poked my thigh. It had flown out of his hand. He gazed at me wide-eyed. The fear in them squeezed my chest.
I put my hand over his, silently soothing him. “I’m sorry for how I said it, Aunt Violet,” I replied in an even tone. “But I’m not sorry for what I said. You two barely know me and Eli even less. I think if we’re going to make the next month work, I should make it clear that we’re not messy, loud, or reckless. We’ll respect your property, stay where we belong, and we’ll obey your rules. But Eli is a smart, funny, great kid, and I won’t let you treat him any other way.”
Eli was looking at me as I said that, reading every word on my lips. He glanced at my uncle for the response.
We locked in a heated stare. A month ago, I would’ve backed down before the brash, balding, angry man who always looked at me as though I wasn’t worth his time. But I wasn’t that girl anymore. It was just me and Eli now. We had to look out for each other. No one else would.
I eyed the man who was practically strong-armed into taking us in.
No one else wants to.
Clicking his tongue, my uncle turned around and retook the wheel. “See that you do.” He resumed driving us to our new home.
Eli squeezed my hand to get my attention. “What did he say?”
“See that you do,” I repeated. “Make sure we obey their nonsense rules.”
His shoulders slumped. “Do we have to live with them? You’re eighteen. We can get an apartment. Just me and you.”
I ruffled his wavy blond crown. “I wish I could and I promise one day it will be just me and you. But right now, I’ve got no money, credit, or guarantors.”
Eli cocked his head at the last word, so I explained. My brother had infinite ways to communicate, and being lucky enough to be his older sister, I got a peek into his world.
“The only place we’d get is a sketchy shithole in the worst part of the OB,” I signed. “It wouldn’t be safe for you.”
Eli raised a brow. He didn’t sign but I could hear the thought going through his head.
Nowhere in this town is safe for us.
I pretended I couldn’t read his mind to save me from coming up with a reply. Handing him his book, I returned to staring out the window in time to see a gold and black sign zip past.
Raven River Estate.
To shed any doubt of where we were, the matching gold and black gates crested over the horizon. Uncle Harrison slowed down before the guard station.
“Afternoon, Mr. Bancroft,” said the uniformed man. “Guests today?”
“Yes. Ember and Eli Bancroft. I’ve registered them with the office.” My uncle took something out of the glove box and handed it to him. “They’ll be staying with us for a short time.”
“Very good, sir.”
The guard stepped out of the booth to peer at us, looking from our faces to the passes.
Security is tight around here.
But then the pampered royalty who lived within this gilded cage would want it that way. Can’t have OB riffraff wandering in.
The drive to my uncle’s home was short, but scenic. The Estate truly was a beautiful patch of land. No trash scattered about these streets. No graffiti on the spotless, power-washed storefronts. And grand homes towering in the distance.
As we passed by the park, I spotted polo-shirted and khaki-pantsed couples walking arm in arm and chubby-cheeked munchkins running happily through the mulch. It was like a tampon commercial. A bright picture-perfect scene to disguise a bloody nightmare.
Or at least it will be for me. Aunt Violet and I agree on one thing. I’d be better off staying inside.
“This is it,” Uncle Harrison announced for no reason. It wasn’t like we’d never been to his place before. “Do as your aunt said, take your things up, and stay in your rooms.”
“Okay.”
My uncle killed the engine before the entrance. I pressed my face against the window, taking in the mansion I’d seen a grand total of three times. Nothing had changed.
Dad told me years ago that a charming Tudor-style mansion once stood here but Aunt Violet had it leveled after they bought the land and built this white and gray mid-century modern catastrophe in its place. A home that stood here since the founding of the town, gone in the time it took my aunt to sign a check.
The doors opened and a man in a smart suit stepped out carrying a tray.
“And one more thing.” Aunt Violet twisted around in her seat. “The servants do not work for you, so don’t presume to give them orders. You wash your own clothes, clean your rooms, and tidy up after yourselves. I’m certain this will be the last time I have to say this.”
“It will,” I said simply.
My aunt Violet was a beautiful woman, and she made efforts to stay that way. She wouldn’t deign to leave the house with her roots showing, but old photos gave away that she used to be as blond as the rest of us. The toffee brown bob she sported now suited her just as well. It brought out the specks of green in her brown eyes and framed her heart-shaped face. What it didn’t accentuate was the pinched lips and tightness around her eyes whenever she looked in my direction.
“Tell your br— Eli,” she corrected.
I did as she asked.
“Can I go into the library?” Eli replied.
I repeated the question.
“No,” she said to me. “There are first editions in there that are worth a lot of money.”
“You should speak directly to him,” I said. “It’s him you’re talking to.”
She frowned. “No, I’m not. I’m speaking to you.”
I shook my head as she and Uncle Harrison climbed out of the car. They accepted the drinks the butler held out to them and then disappeared in the house without a backward glance.