The Entitled (The Entitled Duet 1)

Removing the charger, I glance at my phone. Three missed calls. My heart pounds.

Frowning at the screen, I say, “It’s late. Get dressed, and I’ll have my driver take you home.”

“You okay?” She tries to touch my arm. Christ, when did she become so clingy? Pulling away from her, I walk into the other room. As I close my tired stinging eyes for a moment, I take a breath and brace myself for what’s about to come—my past, threatening to take me over.

Pressing my finger on my brother’s name, I glance at Victoria, relieved that she’s dressed now. I’ll need to be alone for this call, and I want to be sure she’s on her way out.

Waiting for Jax to answer, my mind drifts to the last time I saw my twin.

“Don’t do this, Reed. Give her time—just give her time,” he’d begged me. If only I had waited. If only.

“Reed.” Jax’s voice fills my head. I miss him. My eyes dart around my empty space while I try to compose my voice.

“Reed? You there?” Shit, it’s bad. I can sense it through the wire.

“Yeah, I’m here…”

The ominous silence over the phone makes my skin prickle. Glancing down at my Rolex, it’s 3:00 a.m. London time. Panic grips my chest… Tess!

No matter how many years go by, that’s my first thought whenever a 212 area code shows up on my phone. Jax clears his throat.

Fuck! The past, it’s like a python slowly choking me.

“Reed… sorry, I know its early.” My brother sounds tired.

“What’s wrong?” I demand.

“It’s Grandfather Ian. He had a massive heart attack yesterday and didn’t make it. You need to come home.”

Guilt takes over as I puff out the air I didn’t know I was holding.

The relief that this call has nothing to do with Tess makes me sink into the chair. Jesus, I truly am a shit.

“How’s Dad holding up?” It’s all I can think to say.

“I think everyone is in shock. One minute, Grandpa was laughing with a drink in his hand. The next, he’s dead.”

“I’ll take the G5 Jet. Be there in ten hours or so.”

A hand caresses my hair, startling me. Victoria leans close, her perfume almost choking me. “Should I pack too?”

How did I forget she was still here? The past! That’s how. All my mistakes have conspired against me, dragging me back to my life before I became a monster.

Jax clears his throat again. “Should I warn everyone you’re bringing someone?”

“No.” My voice is harsh. “It will just be me.”

“Good.” Silence fills the phone. I should hang up, but I wait as if Jax is going to say something that will make it all better. Make me better!

“I miss you, man. Everyone does.”

Staring numbly at my blank walls, I say softly, “Me too, brother, me too.”REED

Past – eight years old

New York, NY“Boys? Come downstairs. They’re here!” my mother yells from the bottom of the stairs. When I glance at Jax, he rolls his eyes.

“Keep going,” I urge.

“Working on it.” He frowns at the computer screen. We’re in Jax’s room since his computer is better than mine.

Clenching my fist, I shift from one foot to the other. “Come on. She’s going to yell at us to come meet that stupid girl.”

“Don’t rush me. I have no idea what Dad’s password is. It takes time,” he says with a hiss.

“What takes time, boys?” I jump and turn to stare at my dad’s green eyes. They’re filled with suspicion.

“Nothing.” I shrug, trying to play it casual.

“What are you two doing?” His face tightens as he stares at the screen. Thankfully, Jax has put on some educational stuff. He’s a computer whiz. I smirk. Figures, he’d be ahead of Dad.

“It’s for school,” is all Jax says. I hold my breath.

Frowning at us, Dad says, “I don’t know what you two are up to, but your mother’s childhood friend is here with her husband and daughter.”

Crossing his arms, he looks at us pointedly. “We expect you both to be kind and take her under your wing. She is the same age as you two and will be starting at your school in a couple of weeks.”

Groaning, I say, “We know, Dad. Mom has been talking about this for a month.”

“Good, come on then.” He still eyes the computer screen, then gazes around the room.

Jax’s room is super clean compared to mine. All his games, cars, planes, Legos, and marbles are put away in their proper place. Greens with greens, reds with reds. His need for order drives me crazy.

Although, he does have a bunch of Pokémon cards on the dresser. And a few of them have even fallen onto his thick blue rug.

My room is so much cooler. Our mom decorated both of ours the same way. But unlike Jax, I leave all my Legos out. I mean, it takes forever to put them together. Why tear them apart, right?