Chapter 1

I woke panting and out of breath, my hair sticking to my forehead and cheek. My steamy dreams always left me this way, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

In my dreams I was strong, confident, and sexy—and adored by my men. I was none of those things in real life: I always second-guessed my decisions, and my long hair was plain Jane brown. I had strange eyes that seemed to unnerve people. They were a bright shade of green, and there was a ring of yellow around my pupils. I was not adored by anyone in real life. My mother beat me throughout my childhood, and my father left with my twin sister just after we turned five.

My mother would tell me that she was preparing me for when “the others” would come. I never knew what that meant, and if I tried to ask, she would simply say I needed to toughen up. That was always her excuse for beating me and locking me in my room for days on end.

“A weak bitch can’t lead anyone,” she’d yell when I begged her to let me out.

“You will die after a day if you don’t suck it up.” She told me there come a time when I would be caged, and I needed to learn how to cope.

Shaking myself from my inner thoughts, I peeled the covers off my sweat-laden body and went to grab some clothes from my bag so I could have a quick shower. I had stopped at a hotel the night before, too tired to drive the full distance to Stevie’s house. I still had a long drive ahead of me to reach my sister, and we still had a lot to get ready in the two days before we left on our big trip to Alaska. My life was finally my own and not ruled by my mother, and I was going to enjoy every moment of it, with my sister by my side. 

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I was almost bouncing in my seat with excitement as I arrived at my sister’s house. There were two cars in the driveway; I knew one was Stevie’s beat-up old Mini, but I had no idea who owned the other.

As I got out of my truck, I heard the front door swing open. My sister came running out to greet me. She looked as beautiful, as always. She was the better-looking twin, with long brown hair and hazel eyes—with no weird yellow ring around her pupils. She had a slim figure with curves in all the right places, and even in a plain white V-neck shirt and a pair of worn-out jeans with tears on the legs, she still looked like Victoria’s Secret model.

“Sissy!” she screeched as she pulled me in for a bone-crushing hug.

“Hey, Stevie,” I murmured, hugging her back.

“How was your drive? You must be tired. Come on, let’s get your bags and get inside. I’m freezing my balls off.” I couldn’t help but laugh at my sister, who continued her chatter as we pulled my two bags from the trunk. She never had a filter— not that I was any different. My mouth always got me in trouble with my mom, but I just couldn’t help it. I am who I am, I guess.

“So, do you want to tell me who that car belongs to? Or do I have to

guess?” I asked. She always had boys falling all over her, so it wouldn’t surprise me if it belonged to some guy she knew.

“Oh, you will just have to wait and see when you get inside. It’s a surprise! I’m sure you’ll love it,” she said with a wink.

Now I was on guard. My sister was always one for the dramatics. You never knew what to expect when she said she had a surprise for you. I just hoped it was nothing like the surprise she sent me for my sixteenth birthday. I have never hated a gift more.

She had one of our cousins—Chase—show up at my high school and bring me flowers and chocolates and act like he was my new boyfriend! She did this because my ex had recently dumped me in front of the whole football team. They all laughed their ugly asses off. Needless to say, don’t ever tell Stevie when a guy dumps you.

As soon as we passed the front door threshold, I was grabbed from behind lifted off my feet.

“Put me down!” I yelled, trying to wriggle around and see who the hell had grabbed me.

Once on my feet, I swung around to see my cousin Chase hunched over, laughing his ass off. He looked up with those sky blue eyes, and I couldn’t help the grin that tugged at my lips. Once he stood to his full height, he was over six feet tall.

“I can’t believe you still scream like a girl,” he said, still chuckling.

“That’s because I am a girl, you jackass,” I huffed.

“Now, now, you two—cut it out. You know you love him still, Ry, even if you did fake break up with him in eleventh grade,” Stevie said, grinning like a fool. Chase gasped.

“Oh my God! Yes! Stevie, you still owe me for that. Ryan nearly punched me in the face that day for telling her friends I was her boyfriend.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I hate you both.”

Just as I turned away from their giggling nonsense, I was grabbed again and let out another screech, sending Chase and Stevie into howls of laughter once more.

“Holy shit, she sounds like a cat that got its tail stepped on,” Chase said between guffaws.

Once I was put back on my feet for the second time that day, I looked up to see my other cousin—Chase’s older brother, Alex.

“Alex!” I pulled him in for a hug. I hadn’t seen Alex in years. Chase and Alex were my uncle’s sons, from my dad’s side. I was never allowed to visit them, and Mom had told me that my uncle hated me because I lived with her. After Mom went missing, I found out that my uncle didn’t hate me—it was just Mom trying to turn me against Dad’s side of the family.

“Hey, squirt, how are you? It’s been way too long. I see you finally grew into your big head,” Alex joked. I smiled sweetly at him.

“Aww, it must run in the family. You finally grew into your ears.”

Looking at the beautiful man that now stood in front of me, it was hard to believe he was the same kid who was called Dumbo on the playground. He still had his coal-black hair and baby blue eyes, though. He was a bit taller than Chase, but not by much, with a strong jawline and high, defined cheekbones. He could have been a model—heck, maybe he was. I didn’t know very much about these boys anymore.

Despite Chase’s sandy blond hair, the brothers looked very much alike. They also looked like they spent every spare minute they had at the gym.

“All right, enough of the pleasantries, family. Ryan’s had a long drive, and I am sure she would love to take a shower and rest before dinner.” Bless you, Stevie, for reading my mind.

“I would really love a shower. I feel icky after the long drive.” Chase and Alex started giggling like schoolgirls. I pinned them both with a glare.

“And what the hell is so funny now you two goons?” I snapped.

“Well, for one, no one outside of first grade says icky,” Chase said with a snort, trying to cover his laughter.

“Shut up. Lots of people say icky,” I argued.

“Oh yeah, like who, squirt?” Alex was grinning at me now.

“Well, I can’t think of anyone right this second, but…” I was cut off as all three of them started laughing their asses off at my expense.

“Okay, okay. Chase, you start getting the meat on the grill. Alex, you can make us all some drinks while I take Ryan up to her room. Once you’re done with the drinks, Alex, can you bring Ryan’s bags up?”

Stevie was like an army general barking out orders to everyone. Both the boys gave a nod and went about their tasks.