Back Then

**** 11 YEARS AGO ****

{ Lily, 15 years old }

I don't think my mom knows what the hell she's doing. She got married to her boss after only dating him for five months.

Mom said she got into this relationship solely for the money, but Harry is very handsome, not a wrinkled old man, and I've seen them kiss each other. I don't think money can buy that type of chemistry.

I think she actually likes him. And to be honest, he has been nice to me so far, so I like him too.

And he’s the reason why I'm here. Living in the rich side of Altamira, in a HUGE mansion by the beach with three random boys around my age.

One of them is sweet: Dean.

One of them is terrifying: Damon.

And the other one is... I don't know yet. Aiden is an enigma.

I haven't been able to really get a read on him. I think he wears a mask most of the time.

But the worst part is how insanely hot all three of them are. Tall, built and beautiful, they all look a lot like their father. Brown hair, olive skin, amber eyes, thick eyebrows.

Dean is beautiful in a slightly feminine way, with softer features and a slender frame.

Aiden is handsome in a rough, manly way, with a sharp jaw and big shoulders.

Damon is just plain gorgeous, like a movie star. Perfect in every way. He’s just… very aesthetically pleasing.

I can’t stop looking at him as we all eat together in my new house. Mansion, actually.

God, I still can't believe I'm in this situation.

We've never been poor, but after my parents' divorce, we were struggling.

That's why my mom got a job as a model. Quickly after that, we were able to rent a nice apartment and I really liked it... but I was only able to enjoy it for a few months before my mom had a whole new husband.

Harry Carrington, owner of a company named Tundra Models. A model agency, of course.

Apparently, there's a lot of hot people in Altamira, starting with him and his kids. And my mom.

"We're going on our honeymoon," Harry tells us, snapping me out of my thoughts, "You guys are going to stay home, but don't think for one second you'll get to do whatever you want. Uncle Soren will be coming from time to time to check on you. Also, the driver is instructed to take you to school and back home every day. I'll be calling him to ask if you guys went inside the school or not."

"How long are you guys gonna be away?" Damon asks.

"Two weeks," my mom answers, making me let out a shocked sound. How the hell is she going to leave me for two whole weeks? In this house with these boys I don’t even know?

"I know it's a lot of time," Harry says, looking at me with a grimace, "But once we come back, we will all go on a trip together. I promise. Where do you want to go, Lily?"

"Disneyland?" I ask, Aiden groans a little and Harry’s eyes fly to him.

"Yes!" Dean cheers, looking at me with an excited smile, “Disneyland!”

"Fuck no. We should go skiing," Damon says, "I miss St. Moritz."

"You'll love St. Moritz, Lily. I'll take you shopping when we’re there," Harry promises, making my shoulders fall. Of course he cares more about Damon and Aiden’s opinions. I share a disappointed look with Dean, but he shrugs, as if he’s used to disappointment.

"We can discuss that trip later," Harry continues, dismissing the subject with a hand wave, "We'll be leaving this Friday, so I hope you guys behave. And take care of Lily."

"We'll behave, father. Like we always do," Damon says with a sarcastic tone. Harry gives him an unamused look.

"Come on, you know you have nothing to worry about. I'll keep everyone in line," Aiden promises and I guess he’s the good son because Harry nods and relaxes a little bit, as if he trusts him. Even my mom relaxes.

But when Friday comes and our parents leave early for their honeymoon, I see Damon smile like a snake and do some weird manly handshake with Aiden, as if they’re a team.

"How much are we going to fuck shit up?" Damon asks, making me feel anxious.

"Bad. It's been a while since we've had a pool party," Aiden says with a smile. This is the first time I see him with his mask off, "Let's go to school today, invite everyone."

"I like the way you think, brother," Damon says and he winks at Aiden before walking away, ignoring me and Dean completely. We’re still sitting at the table, having breakfast together.

"Hey, kids," Aiden says, walking to our side and stealing a piece of toast from Dean's plate, "We're having a pool party today so you two should stay in your rooms."

"Why?" I ask, looking up at him as he eats the piece of toast. I think this is the first time I’ve said anything to him directly, "Why aren’t we invited? We're sixteen."

I’m actually still fifteen for another month, but it’s the same thing. Both Damon and Aiden are seventeen, not much older than us at all.

"No losers invited. Sorry, kid," he says with a chuckle. Awesome, so he’s really as much of an asshole as his brother, "You guys are welcome to hang out together."

"What if I tell our parents about your party?" I ask, making him lift his eyebrows in surprise. Dean pinches my leg as if warning me to shut up.

"You really want to make an enemy out of me this early?" He asks and there’s something in his eyes that makes me backtrack immediately. I prefer him when he’s wearing his ‘Good son’ mask.

"No, you’re right. I think we should all be friends, so I'll keep my mouth shut,” I say, forcing a smile.

"That's smart of you, sis," he nods and then his eyes roam down my body. I get uncomfortable instantly, very aware of the fact that my uniform is a size too small and my boobs are stretching the buttons to the max, "Your tits are bursting out, by the way. You should fix that... unless that's the look you're going for? A slutty look?"

My face gets hot. Boiling hot.

"My mom got me the wrong size," I mutter, trying to make myself smaller to hide my body, "I'll buy another one soon."

"Stop being so annoying, Aiden," Dean growls, "Leave her alone. Also, she's your sister now, you shouldn't notice her tits."

"I was trying to help. If I notice, other guys will notice too," he says, "I don't want my sister to be the talk of the school because of her huge tits. That's embarrassing."

"Fuck off, Aiden,” I let out, my embarrassment turning into anger, “I thought Damon was the mean one.”

"He is," he says with a chuckle, "I'm the smart brother, Damon is the mean one... and Dean is the gay one."

"Shut the fuck up!" Dean yells, "Stop bothering us. Go suck Damon's dick or something."

Oh, god. Even I know that was the wrong thing to say.

Before I know it, Aiden is grabbing Dean’s face in his big hand, squishing his cheeks. It looks painful.

"Watch your fucking mouth when you're talking to me, fag," Aiden warns in a cold tone, making my heart stop and Dean’s amber eyes start to get wet immediately. I think this will start a fight or something and I really don’t want to be here for it, but just a second later, Aiden rolls his eyes in annoyance before tightening his grip on Dean’s face, "Come on, fight me. Don't fucking cry."

"Sometimes you're worse than him," Dean whispers, not fighting Aiden at all, "I'm not a fag."

"I know that, Dean, but you have to be better at defending yourself. You should've punched me, not cried," Aiden complains with a disappointed shake of his head before slowly letting him go. He even pats Dean’s face in a sweet gesture.

"Just go," Dean grumbles and turns to me again. His eyes are still wet and it breaks my heart, "Lily and I will stay in my room tonight. You guys can do whatever you want."

"We will. And you should let her know the way this house works, too," he says, giving me a final up and down look before walking away.