Naughty or Nice

Mark grew up with our parents who were drug addicts, living in the worst places until my mom handed him over to Grams the same day I was born. I don’t know my mother, but I’m thankful to her for at least giving me some sort of life she never gave Mark. I didn’t have to go through what he did and I’m sure I only know a little of what his life was like before. Sometimes I wonder if his anger towards me is because I didn’t have to go through what he did. He’s like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, only Mr. Hyde is around more and more since Grams passed, and I was actually thankful when he didn’t show up for Thanksgiving.

I glance over at the clock thinking maybe I’ll go over to the animal shelter and see if they need any extra hands tonight. It’s better than sitting here waiting for something to happen. That’s how it’s been for the past few months. I dread tomorrow, knowing my long weekend will be over and I’ll have to go back to work. Seeing my brother is inevitable and I know the break is too good to last.

I decide to go get changed but scream when the front door comes flying open. It hits the wall so hard I can feel it shake and I clutch my chest as my heart nearly jumps out.

“What’s the fucking point of a phone if you don’t answer the damn thing?” my brother asks as he steps inside.

My eyes dart to the guy who follows him inside. Aaron Slate looks so out of place here with his suit that costs more than I want to know. Mark is in jeans with a simple black shirt and muddy work boots. Men like Slate need people like Mark to do his dirty work so that he can keep his hands clean. I know because I’m slowly being pulled into their world.

“The ringer must be off.” I tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I was going to go over to the animal shelter. Did you need something?” It’s the nicest way I can ask them to leave.

“You and that place.” My brother shakes his head in annoyance.

He thinks I spend too much time there, and maybe I do, but I love the shelter. Grams and I spent every Sunday volunteering and I don’t understand how cute little puppies and kittens could annoy anyone. I picked up hours for them anytime they asked, and there was talk about them hiring me, but I don’t see that going over so well with Mark. With him I get paid in cash and I never know what he’ll ask me to do. When I was younger, I loved the extra money, but I’m not sure everything he has me do is legal. Some of the pick-ups and drop-offs are sketchy with mystery envelopes and boxes.

“I asked you to do one thing.” My brother folds his arms over his chest, making himself look even bigger than he already is. He should really lay off the gym. “One fucking thing and somehow you manage to mess that up. I don’t know why I even keep you around.” His words shouldn’t hurt because I know he’s a jerk, yet I still feel their sting.

Looks like we have Mr. Hyde today. It’s no surprise because he’s worse when Aaron Slate is around and he’s trying to show off. I want to ask what he’s talking about because he asks me to do all kinds of crap for him. It’s a struggle to not roll my eyes, but it wouldn’t be good if I disrespected him in front of Aaron. My brother has never touched me before, but I have a fear that if he was angry enough there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do.

“I wouldn’t say she fucked things up,” Slate chimes in and comes to my defense. I’m surprised, but it’s short lived. “Though she might get herself fucked.” He smiles at me and all the air leaves my lungs as his eyes roam over my body. He’s assessing me like I’m one of the girls that work in his club.

Mark doesn’t say anything and it’s unlike when I’m on his job site. He would threaten to kick the guys’ asses if they talked like that in front of him, but now I wonder if that’s for show. You can’t be beneath my brother in command and disrespect something he feels belongs to him.

My stomach tightens when Slate stares at me, and I remember that I’m wearing old sleep shorts I should have thrown out years ago and a thin shirt. Grams’ house is always hot because the furnace doesn’t kick off when it should.

“A little thick for my taste, but I can see the appeal. Normally she’s wearing baggy clothes, but you really have grown up, haven’t you, Claudia?” His words are laced with desire and my stomach rolls.