Page 51 of The Forbidden Note

I contemplate ignoring the instruction. The last thing I need after the day I’ve had is a round alone with dad. I’m exhausted and restless. I was looking forward to crashing in bed and maybe playing a few video games before signing off for the night.

But Ron cracks his knuckles.

The sound of bones snapping sends anger swirling through my stomach.

The hell?

Is this what we’ve come to, dad?

Annoyance mounts inside me, but I don’t let it show. That’s my superpower.

I don’t scowl and grumble like Dutch.

I don’t keep my thoughts hidden like Finn.

I… laugh.

“Your bones are a little tense, Ron. You should consider yoga.” I grin. “Really loosen that up for you.”

Stark silence meets my quip.

Ron isn’t amused.

“What is this about, dad?” I tilt my head to the side. My smile is as sour as vinegar. “Wait… is this the apology tour? I heard you haven’t said sorry for throwing Dutch in jail yet.”

“I’m not going to ask twice,” dad growls.

A low buzzing starts in the base of my skull and drops to my toes. I swing off my bike, kick the stand and lean it on the side.

The wind goes dead as I stomp to the car.

Clouds thicken the star-lit sky, choking out the moon.

Even the night knows it’s better to hide from dad than to face him.

I wrench the door open and throw my bulk into the backseat. The leather is slick. My knees almost slam the back of the chair as I slide down the seat.

Grabbing the headrest, I hoist myself up. “There are nicer ways of saying you miss me.”

He scoffs.

Dad’s relationship with us is as varied as we are.

Dutch is the golden-boy. Literally and figuratively. My twin thinks fast on his feet and always has a solution. He’s sharp and decisive. It’s why he’s the leader of our band and the one we defer to when we make any big decisions.

To control him, dad had to jump through crazy hoops. Setting Dutch up to look like a drug dealer. Manipulating Cadey. Sending Dutch to jail. He put in vast amounts of effort because he sees Dutch as the brother most likely to squirm out of loopholes.

Finn, on the other hand, is harder to pin down, which is why dad seems the most nervous around him. It’s uncanny the way he shuts down when Finn enters the room.

Finn might be the kid dad adopted when he needed a PR boost but, in an ironic twist, I think he and Finn are the most alike. Both are quiet. Calculative. Sly. You never really see what their end game is until it’s too late.

With me…

It’s different.

Dad doesn’t fear me the way he fears Dutch.

He doesn’t respect me the way he respects Finn.