Page 17 of Scream Little Sister

Aiden grunts as we toss the body part into the fire, then claps his hands together to wipe off the blood and dirt.

“Not gonna lie, you guys,” Aiden says with a sigh. His expression sobers as he places his hands on his hips and gathers his next words. “I’m kind of jealous of Jaxon, and not for the reason you think.”

Well, that’s out of the blue.

Hawk and I share a look, then turn to Aiden as he stares at the fire with longing. We’re talking about our sisters, for Christ’s sake. He can’t seriously be jealous of Jaxon’s relationship with his sister?

“I like how he doesn’t give a flying fuck what anyone thinks.” Aiden pulls out his vape and draws in a long inhale of whatever flavor he chose for this week. “Love is love, right?”

Didn’t Aiden tell Jaxon he’s weirded out by his relationship with his sister? What changed in such a short time?

Aiden drags in another lungful of the sweet vapor and blows it out with a shake of his head. He turns to us, his lips flattened and eyebrows pinched together, which is mildly concerning because he always jokes around and smiles. “I keep thinkingabout what I’d do if I fell in love with Nova.” A strange look passes over his face before he locks it away. “You guys have sisters. What would you do if you caught feelings?”

Hawk snorts. “It’ll never happen.”

“So you’re telling me you wouldn’t fuck your hot-as-hell sister?” Aiden jabs his tattooed finger in Hawk’s direction.

Hawk waves his hands by his blond head, clearly frustrated about this conversation. “No! What the fuck?”

“Technically, she isn’t even your sister. She’s adopted,” Aiden says. “So you still wouldn’t get your dick wet with her?”

“Same applies to you about your foster sister. Would you fuck her?” Hawk snaps.

Aiden’s mouth slams shut.

“Exactly, fucker,” Hawk says with another wave of his hand.

I wander to the cooler and grab a beer from the ice. I pop off the metal cap and toss it aside, then sip the cold beverage while I watch my friends argue. My thoughts center on Aiden’s question, wondering what I would do if I caught feelings for my stepsister.

I’ve had a crush on her since we were pre-teens, feelings for her that are sick and wrong. I can’t be around her for a second without my dick getting hard as I secretly check her out. But she’s my sister, for god’s sake.

So to answer Aiden’s question: Nothing. I would do absolutely nothing as I tried to get past those feelings. I’ve already been doing it for years now.

Besides, even if she weren’t my sister, why would I want to be with someone who ran with the crowd who made my life a living hell in school? Why would I want to touch someone whose father had no problem laying his hands on me while making me lose the will to live? My friends are the only reasons I’ve stuck around this long.

That’s a lie. Madison has helped, too,a tiny voice whispers in the back of my mind.

“Come on,” I say to the two jokers. “We still need to burn the rest of the bodies so I can go home.”

After graduating high school, I left my stepfather’s house and moved into an abandoned mansion in this neighborhood. It’s been a nice break from being under Jerry’s thumb, but it gets lonely as shit. Even when a woman warms my bed for the night, I still feel alone.

Aiden smirks and waggles his eyebrows. “Wanting to get home to the sister so fast, I see.”

I scoff. He knows I’m not going to Jerry’s house, where Madison still lives. “If you’re so dead set on fucking a sister, you should fuck yours. Now shut the hell up and help me with the rest of the bodies.”

“Ooh,” Hawk sings, then bites his bottom lip while looking at Aiden. “Daddy Ryder is out to play. You better behave, Aiden, or he’ll whoop your ass.”

I shake my head and down the rest of the beer.

I kick the front door shut behind me. The entryway is dark, not because the sun hasn’t risen yet, but because I don’t take off my tinted helmet. I pull off my gloves and toss them onto the catch-all table next to the door.

Home sweet home.

It’s not much, but it’s been a safe place for me. The mansion I chose for myself was furnished by the last owners, who didn’t bother packing up before they left in fear of being targeted by the Exiled.

I stride through the hallway and cut through to the living room. Before I left last night for Hellfire Night, I left the TV on with music playing. It’s something I’ve done since day one of living here. It helps ease the loud silence every time I return.

I take off my helmet and set it on the large kitchen island. My stomach growls as soon as I approach the fridge to search for something to eat. I frown at the lack of options: spoiled milk, food that’s molded and becoming sentient, and a couple of beer bottles.