BOOK 3. MY ALPHA'S SISTER

CHAPTER 1 - Watch Me

ANNELISE

“For the third time, Tony. I’m asking you.” I try to keep my voice steady and firm. “Where were you last night?”

“Annelise, I’ve told you already. I had to work overtime.”

“In that member of the parliament? As security?” I taunt.

“Exactly. I’ve told you a thousand times.” Tony whines.

“Yes, but I don’t believe you,” I utter, and I have solid proofs in my hands.

“You should.” He glances once again in his sports bag to see if he has all his gear inside.

“I called the police station, you know…” I trail, and his head snaps in my direction, his eyes throwing daggers at me. “Your colleague told me that you left when your shift ended, dressed in plain clothes, not in your uniform.” I quip. Well, to be exact, I asked what he was wearing, pretending we had a date, and I didn’t want to miss our reservation at a restaurant.

“How dare you?” He fumes, prowling at me menacingly. He grabs my chin, turning me to look into his eyes. “How dare you, Annelise? Calling at my job now? Looking for me like I’m a kid? What do you want to make me the laughingstock of the office?” He puts more pressure on my chin, and it starts to hurt.

“You’re hurting me.” I whimper. It’s the first time he’s treating me like this. Aggressively.

“I’ve told you a thousand times. Never call in the office.” He barks, releasing me.

“You were late. You weren’t answering your phone, and I was worried, Tony.” I justify, but my words fall on deaf ears.

“I was more than fine. I can’t have my phone on me sometimes. But listen to me, princess. Never again. You hear me? Under no circumstances should call again at the station. You hear me, Annelise?” He demands, and oh, I’ve already had enough.

“Then stop ghosting me!” I snap.

“What?” He seethes.

“We’re supposed to be a couple, Tony. I haven’t seen you for…” I raise my hands in frustration. “I even forgot the last time I saw you,” I say, exasperated.

I am always alone in this house!

And I hate being alone.

“It’s not my fault that you’re working all the time, Annelise,” he sighs.

“Well, someone has to work; to pay the bills and the rent. My salary from the daycare isn’t enough.”

And it’s not that you seem to contribute much to the household, anyway.

But I don’t dare say it aloud, as I don’t want to anger him more.

“I’m working, too, Annelise.” He snaps.

Well, it seems I didn’t say it, but he got my insinuation.

“It’s not enough,” I murmur. Life is hard. I’ve cut down to the basics, but with only my salary and the extra from the second job, I just cover the rent and all the bills. He sometimes pays half of the rent and always has to pay for his gym, gear for his job or his training at the fighting club, and the installments for his motorcycle, that he crashed. Always finding excuses. And I was left to pay for everything.

“Then ask your parents to give us some money.” He suggests.

“No.” I deadpan. Here we go again. What are my parents? Our sponsors? I refuse to beg for money from them. I’m an independent adult, and I have the dignity to fend for myself.

“Then lower your expectations!” He goads.

“I’ve already done that, Tony. Unlike you!” I point out pressing my index finger in his chest infuriated. He pushes my hand away and reaches for his sack on the floor.

“I’m out!”

“Yeah, do what you know best. Leave.” I scoff. “As if you’re ever here,” I grumble, stepping to the side.

“Shut the fuck up, Annelise.” He bellows and shoves my shoulder as he passes beside me to get to the door full of dander.

I’m not expecting him to push me like that, and I stumble on my feet. I turn to grab something to hold, but instead, I find myself tripping and falling on the back of a chair. The raw force that my body takes from the impact makes my breath hitch. 

The door slams, and I tilt my head toward it, hopeful that he’ll turn to help me get up, but Tony has already disappeared behind it.

He’s gone again.

“Good riddance,” I murmur and try to stand up. Wincing in pain, I bend over again, placing one hand on my stomach—where I took the blow—and one reaching for the table beside me, trying to find a leverage. But instead of the table, my hand lands on the vase I had forgotten to the side, decorated with some fresh flowers —one of my students brought me today—only to push it off the table. It lands on the floor with a loud smash, breaking apart into pieces, and water splashes everywhere.

Great! Now I have to clean up, too. Here goes my lazy Friday evening.

I try to crouch and gather up the mess, only to flinch from the sharp pain in my ribs. Oh God, I hurt myself good. I’m so careless.

With heavy steps, I reach the couch and sit carefully on it. Taking a few deep breaths, the pain subsides. But how does falling on the back of a chair hurt that much?

I’m so clumsy sometimes.

I reach with difficulty for my mobile on the table. No notifications. Who will search for me, anyway?

My only friend is busy with her extravagant life. Hunting men.

My brothers in Thessaloniki rarely call.

My father should probably be at work now.

And my mother? She’s flown to America to my little brother, John, for his party.

I felt so disappointed and betrayed six years ago when I learned that my dearest brother wasn’t my father’s child. 

I was heartbroken.

We talk once every other day. Even with messages when he is busy—and lately he’s a lot busy. But I know he loves me, and I love him, too. Very much.

It doesn’t matter that we are half-siblings. To me, he’ll always be my brother. I never call him half-brother. I hated this word. And I think he’s on the same page as me on that.

I wanted so much to go to his party. The last thing I wanted was to meet his biological father—I hated him with vengeance—but I was really curious about his life there.

He told me that this party was about his inheritance acceptance. It was typical in their family—something like a tradition to pass on to the next generation all their assets at a young age— his words exactly. Honestly, I was confused. I didn’t understand a word he said when he invited me, but I was so curious to see where he was living and, of course, the way he was living abroad.

When he invited me, I immediately said, ‘Yes.’

Then he said that only the family was invited. Tony got angry that he wasn’t welcome to join us, and he prohibited me from going.

With a heavy heart, I announced to John that I couldn’t go under the pretense I couldn’t take leave from my job.

[...]

After I drink two painkillers, it doesn’t hurt that much. I sit on the couch mindlessly watching television, and I sigh.

I should have asked to work tonight as well. Deep inside, I hoped that Tony and I could sit and chill this Friday night at home, but obviously, he has other plans, and I’m definitely not in them.

So why do I bother having him in mine?

A sudden thought crosses my mind, and I open my bank account app for my balance. Then I turn on my laptop and search for the available flights. Okay, I can make it.

I won’t have a lot of money for the rest of the month, but I don’t mind eating spaghetti for a while. I tap my fingernails on my desk as I’m waiting for my ticket to be printed.

I take my small suitcase from above my wardrobe and throw in some clothes, underwear, my toiletries, and all my necessary stuff for a couple of days. I wear my favorite gray high-waist jeans and a crop top, take a jacket in my hand, pull on my all-star sneakers, grab my purse, and off I go.

I just wish the return ticket John had bought for me would still be valid.

So, I wasn’t allowed to visit my brother abroad without you, huh?

Yeah. Sure.

Now.

Watch me!

A/N: I'll post Ian's POV tomorrow.