Page 28

28

SUNNY

“C harles, what are you doing here?” I demand, trying unsuccessfully to cover myself. The short nighty I have on is completely see-through. Add that to the fact that Kane’s cock is still out and his cum is all over my thighs and there’s no hiding what’s been going on.

Damn it, I never should have given Charles a key!

Charles stares at me blankly and shakes his head.

“I can’t believe this,” he says. “ And to think, I came here to save you!”

“Save me from what?” I ask. I’m feeling angry and defensive. “ If you’re going to start again about how my brother is going to ‘snap’ at any moment?—”

“That man is not your brother.” Charles points at Kane and his faces twists in disgust. “ Though I guess that’s a good thing, considering what the two of you have obviously been doing together.”

“What are you talking about?” I snap. “ Of course Kane is my brother!”

“That man isn’t your brother Kane , though,” Charles says, glaring at him. “ I went to the prison to check things out. Your brother—your real brother, Kane Michael Black —just got out and I was able to talk to him. Look —this is him!”

He holds out his cellphone and I see a picture of a man I don’t recognize. He’s big and burly with a shaved head and a thick black beard and mustache. He has tattoos all over his neck and chest and arms. But he also has the same eyes I do—the same unusual amber color that everyone always remarks on. Still , this can’t be right, can it? I mean, Charles must be lying because he’s jealous.

I look at Kane …and he won’t meet my eyes.

“Please,” I beg him. “ Please tell me this isn’t true! You’re Kane , aren’t you?”

He opens his mouth, but Charles is already talking again.

“That man—the man you’ve obviously been fucking— was your brother’s cellmate. Not only that—he was in prison for murder.”

“Murder?” I can’t believe this—it keeps getting worse!

“By the way, the real Kane told me he never answered a single one of your letters. To be honest, I rather doubt he’s even literate.” Charles sniffs. Clearly he doesn’t approve of my brother—my real brother.

I let that thought sink in. Can it really be true?

I look back at Kane again…or whatever his name is.

“Tell me,” I say, my voice shaking. “ Tell me what’s going on. Are you Kane or not?”

“No,” he says heavily. “ But , baby, I can explain?—”

“No!” I feel sick and my voice is shaking but I know what to do. I scramble off his lap and oh God —his cum is still leaking out of me, running down my thighs! I’ve been fucking a man I don’t even know .

“Baby… Sunny …” he begins again.

“No!” I shout. “ No , get out! Get out of my house right now!”

“I wanted to tell you!” he says, standing and pulling up his sweatpants. “ Look , your letters saved my life! I just couldn’t?—”

“You lied to me.” My voice is cold now—cold and hard though inside I feel like screaming and crying. “ You lied for two whole years and pretended to be my big brother. Then you came here and took advantage of me—took advantage of how badly I wanted to have family back in my life.”

“But, baby?—”

“I want you out.” I point at the front door. “ Get your things and leave— now!”

“But there are things I need to tell you—things you have to know about yourself. About what we are,” he says desperately. “ Remember I told you about my people? Well , you’re one of them. You need to know?—”

“The only thing I need is for you to be gone,” I say.

“You heard her—get out!” Charles snaps.

Kane…no, not Kane —the man who impersonated my brother—gives him a dark look but it’s clear he’s finally going. He goes to the bedroom and comes back with the keys to his truck and his cellphone and nothing else. Is he not even going to take his clothes?

I tell myself I don’t care. He can leave the house naked if he wants to, as long as he leaves.

Charles stands by the door like a sentry with his chest all puffed out but the man who pretended to be Kane walks past him without even looking. Then , at the doorway, he turns and looks at me one last time.

“I’m sorry, Sunny ,” he says and his deep voice is quiet and sincere. “ I never meant to hurt you.”

Then he’s gone, into the night, and I’m sure I’ll never see him again.