~~PEYTON~~
OLIVIA: You’ve forgotten about me, you ungrateful child.
You and I need to have a serious talk.
Tucked right there between Odin’s increasingly frantic messages, a new text catches my eye.
Sent just an hour ago.
From my one and only stepmom.
My stomach clenches hard.
Just as I think I’m getting a handle on this messed-up morning, she has to pop up.
A fresh wave of pure dread washes over me.
This is different from the annoyance Odin always causes.
This is a deeper, colder kind of unease, the kind that whispers your problems are just getting started.
Olivia.
Just thinking her name sucks the air right out of me.
She’s a master manipulator, always finding a way to make me feel like I owe her, even when she’s the one who makes my life a living hell.
“You owe me, Peyton. I took you in when no one else would.” Her exact words, sharp as daggers, echo in my head.
I practically fly down the stairs, not even thinking about covering myself anymore.
All I feel is this fresh anger simmering inside me.
As I hit the bottom, the smell of roasted chicken fills the air, and my stomach rumbles despite my frayed nerves.
In the living room, a sight I definitely don’t expect greets me.
Axel is still on the couch, now just tearing into a chicken leg.
He’s wrapped in a rumpled blanket from his torso down, looking totally at ease.
Raphael, who was like a silent statue before, isn’t so formal anymore.
He’s parked right next to Axel, both of them chowing down on chicken like it’s the most normal damn thing in the world.
They look like two overgrown kids at a sleepover.
It’s almost cute, in a weird, annoying way.
“What the hell is going on here?” I demand.
They both turn.
“We’re eating. You want some?” Axel asks, flipping a chicken leg from the platter and stretching it toward me.
I grimace, ignoring his greasy offer.
I just walk straight to where my tops and shorts are, folded perfectly like a freshly ironed apology.
I snatch them and my bag.
I need to get away from these menace twins, as Odin calls them.
And honestly, he’s not wrong.
As I start walking to the exit, Rap’s voice cuts in, “Going so soon?”
I turn.
“You want me to stay?
So you can dive into my privacy?
Or you can sit there while I strip because you love a good porn, and I look like a pretty good pornstar to you?”
”Wow,” Axel whistles, stifling a laugh.
“And you. Don’t even get me started.”
Axel tries to hide his smile, but when my eyes bore into him, he sighs, giving up.
“I’m sorry about my brother’s complete lack of boundaries and basic human decency.
He can be a jerk sometimes…
I mean, all the time.”
”You both are jerks,” I snap, and start storming off.
“Have a good day!” Axel calls after me.
I don’t know if it’s going to be a “good” day.
Probably not.
My stepmom’s text flashes in my mind again.
Those short, punchy phrases, like a ticking bomb ready to explode.
I know them all too well.
She’s indirectly asking for money, of course.
I need to find a way to make enough cash to silence her, even for a little while.
My savings are almost gone, dwindled by basic necessities.
I stop in my tracks.
It’s a long shot, but what do I have to lose?
Swallowing my pride, which tastes like ashes in my mouth, I turn back to the brothers.
“Um, I’m kind of looking for a job. If you have any recommendations, feel free to call me. I prefer one that will make me scarce. I got a bachelor’s degree in business administration.”
Axel blinks then glances at Raphael.
“Rap’s got recommendations.”
Raphael slaps Axel on the back of his head.
“You fucking stupid, do I look like HR?”
Axel winces, “You’ve got recommendations; help my girlfriend out.”
”Girlfriend?” Rap raises a brow, his gaze flicking to me then back to Axel.
He looks like a mother who just found her son’s messy room, but instead of dirt, it’s a new, unexpected girl.
“Yeah, she’s my girlfriend. Got any problem with it?” Axel shoots back, a challenge in his eyes.
Watching their back-and-forth, I suddenly feel stupid for asking in the first place.
These brothers are something else, alright.
In fact, Odin’s entire family seems utterly unhinged.
They have no idea that my life somewhat depends on this job.
They can’t possibly understand the kind of pressure I’m under because of that vile woman, Olivia.
She won’t let me be, won’t let me breathe.
And Odin?
He’s useless.
Broke and even in huge debt with his own brother.
Even if he could squeeze out some cash, he’d probably just shower it on his two-minute lover.
Kira isn’t going to last long, I know that in my gut.
But the sad truth is that he’ll just find another chick to replace her.
I let out a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me.
My life is becoming a total mess as the day goes on.
I came to Axel’s place for a breather, a moment of peace, but it seems it only brings more chaos.
Without another word, I just walk out, slamming the door behind me.
Axel and Rap’s voices fade into the background.
I feel like they’re calling out to me, maybe even laughing, but I don’t care.
My mind is in a jumble.
Olivia, Odin, Kira, money, jobs.
It’s too much.
Oh, yeah, my car.
Great.
It’s out of gas.
Just another thing to add to the pile.
Luckily, I have some cash in my bag for a taxi.
I’ll text Axel later and have him help me fill it with gas, then I’ll pick it up in the evening.
I need to solve my problems one at a time, or I’ll burn out before I even get the chance to fix my life.
First, Odin.
He’s the most immediate problem, the one I can tackle right now.
The taxi pulls up to my building, and I practically leap out, paying the driver without a second glance.
The familiar facade of the building usually feels like a safe haven, but now, it just makes my heart slam in my chest.
Memories of last night, Kira’s audacity, Odin’s betrayal, flood my mind.
I try not to recall any of it as I push through the door.
The moment it swings open, I see Odin.
He’s standing just inside the entryway, hands flat against the wall, face scrunched up, eyes narrowed.
Does he think he looks good with that face?
His mouth twitches, probably about to blast me with his usual interrogation, something like, “Where have you been? Why did you miss your curfew?” But I don’t expect him to raise a crumpled piece of fabric to my face.
“How did this get into the package Mother gave us yesterday?” he asks, his eyes still narrow but now with a different kind of intensity.
A dangerous kind.
My heart seizes.
It’s not just any piece of fabric.
It’s my black lace panties.
The one I wore days ago to the club.
The one Axel…
Did Axel really… Oh my god.