“Beats us; it was Catalina’s idea.”
“Start making sense, or I’m taking all electronic devices.” They huffed and puffed and did that twin shit where they look at each other and communicate without speaking.
“Okay, dad, but you can’t tell her that we told you.” I’ve been around these fucks for sixteen years and counting, so I know how to read between the lines of their bullshit. The only reason either of them would willingly do anything their little sister asks is if she has something on them. Later for that, I need to know what the hell is up. My son just showed me a blank screen while pretending that he was recording Roxy. Shit makes no sense.
I knew he was lying even before he showed me the screen because they know that they’re not allowed to record family for their online fuckery, but I have no explanation for the elaborate ruse. “Are you saying that you’re more afraid of your little sister than you are of me?” They both swallowed hard enough for me to hear and swear to fuck they looked like they were thinking it over.
“Boys…”
“Sorry, dad, but you know how she is, and you never let us retaliate when she does stuff to us.” Quint sounded mighty hopeful when he made that observation, but all it took was a raised brow to bring him back to his senses.
“Okay, fine! Roxy asked us to show her how to hook up the sound system to our iPod, then she asked us about this particular song.”
“Go on!”
“Okay, so we know the song, and it’s kinda…raunchy. We didn’t ask any questions, just did as she asked, but once we left, Catalina came after us and threatened to tell you and mom what we were up to if we didn’t do as she said.”
“What were you up to?”
“Nothing, promise, we just went up to the gallery to watch Roxy dance.”
“How did you know she was going to dance?”
“Come on, dad.”
“She could’ve just been exercising to the music.” They both looked like the thought had never crossed their minds.
“But Catalina said she was going to dance and that we shouldn’t tape her, but if anyone asked, we should pretend that we were doing it for the Tiktok challenge.”
“Dafuq is a Tiktok challenge? Never mind, forget I asked.” I cut them off when they both looked way too fucking happy to explain their teenage shit. I had bigger shit to deal with right now anyway, like what the fuck was Mengele up to now.
Roxy
Jason didn’t look pissed when he walked into the room. Annoyed, sure, but not disappointed or disgusted the way I’d hoped. I’m still not sure what happened to my grand plan, but from the way the little girls were whispering to each other while looking in my direction, I got the sneaking suspicion that they had something to do with it failing, especially Catalina.
As soon as the women saw Jason, they grinned and made their excuses to leave, leaving us alone as they dragged the girls off with them. He didn’t say anything for the longest while, and me, the girl who’d long given up caring what anyone thought, found myself squirming under his knowing gaze.
“What? Just spit it out.” Maybe he knew after all. When he clasped my nape and pulled me in, I thought he was going to say something harsh, but instead, the words he whispered in my ear confused the hell out of me. “Whatever you were planning, it backfired.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I didn’t look into his eyes; when he pulled back to look down at me, couldn’t is more like it.
“I know those boys weren’t recording you, and I know you weren’t taking part in any online challenge. No one on the run would be that stupid. So why?” I didn’t answer because I have no idea what he’s talking about. Who was taping who? He didn’t wait for an answer, didn’t seem to need one.
“My guess you were trying to piss me off. I’m getting too close, and what’s more, you’re starting to like it, and that scares you. You don’t feel like you belong, so you’re trying to make everyone here hate you or see you as an undesirable mess. Do you want to know what the men you were trying to use to do your dirty work were doing while you were down here, shaking your ass?”
“They were trying to protect you. None of them looked at you, none of them will, and Roxana, that’s your one and only chance at subterfuge. If you ever pull another stunt like this, I’ll turn you over my knee.”
“How do you know it’s an act? Maybe that’s just who I am.”
“Quit while you’re ahead, baby. Not everyone is like the monsters who hurt you.”