We used to share a house closer to the main campus of Kroydon University, but once my family’s company purchased this small, seven-unit building, I was conveniently offered the top floor. They combined two units and converted them into a five-bedroom condo. I guess you could say my family has control issues, and this was a way to maintain control.
Maddox and Callen sharing one of the condos one floor below us was another way. There are four other apartments on the two floors beneath them, and a coffee shop and gym on the first floor. It’s a great place to live, but I’m not naive enough to think this place doesn’t come with strings.
My family has always been overprotective.
That kicked into overdrive after everything with Mom’s stalker.
Like I said, control issues.
Charles looks back at me through the rearview. “You ready to go, Madeline?”
“That seems to be the million-dollar question, doesn’t it?” Or at least one of many.
“I think your mother will have a few other questions.” He pulls away, and my stomach drops.
I fight the urge to laugh because I’m afraid once I start, I won’t be able to stop. “Any chance you can take the long way home?”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Unfortunately for me, we hit every greenlight on our way to Mom and Brandon’s. Our town isn’t that big, so there’s only three lights to go through, but still. Would it have been too much to ask the universe for just one of these suckers to be red?
As we pull into the private lakeside estates where half my family lives, I smile at all the holiday decorations lighting up the gorgeous houses. It’s barely December, and already, there’s a hint of snow on the ground and ice on the lake. It soothes my soul. This is my favorite time of year. My mother’s house is covered in white twinkly lights and green wreaths with red-velvet bows hanging from the windows. Small white candles light each one, giving off a warmth I know will change the second I step inside.
As soon as I wrap my hand around the front doorknob, my little sister, Raven, cracks it open with a finger over her mouth. “Shh. Mommy is in the kitchen with Aunt Lenny and Aunt Scarlet, and they’re talking about you.”
My bulldog, Myrtle, runs down the stairs and over to us, excited to see me. Miss overdramatic acts like I’ve been gone for two months instead of two days.
I squat down and squish them both to me. “How do they sound?” I ask quietly.
Her big brown eyes look up at me. “They sound loud,” she whispers, and I almost laugh. Almost.
“Madeline . . .” My oldest sister, Scarlet, also known as Brynlee’s mom, walks out into the hall and stops a few feet away. Her crimson lips press tightly together, and I prepare myself for the hit she’s about to throw my way. “Is your husband with you?”
And there it is.
“Hey, Raven, how about you go find Dad, okay?” I run my hand over her silky black hair and nudge her down the hall. “And take Myrtle with you, please.” When she turns toward the stairs, I stand back up. “Just me tonight, Scar.”
She gently shakes her head and wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Well, at least you did one thing right.”
She walks me into the kitchen like it’s my walk down the green mile, and my mom and Lenny both stand waiting for me at the end. The only one missing is— My brother’s wife, Juliette, comes out of the basement with two bottles of wine in her hands. “Found them.” She looks from Mom to me and hands me the bottles. “How about you pour us some wine, and then you can fill us in on how exactly you became my pseudo-daughter-in-law.”
I take both bottles from her and glance at my mother, who hasn’t said a word to me. “Have you talked to Easton?” My voice shakes, betraying my nerves.
Easton and Kenzie moved in with Juliette and my brother Becket when their mom died years ago. E and Juliette have always had a special relationship, which according to Kenzie, has only gotten stronger over the years.
“I’ve talked to his voice mail, if that counts. But he hasn’t called me back. So I thought it would be better to come straight to the source. Right now, that’s you, kiddo. And I figured someone needed to be here to stop your mother and Scarlet from murdering you.” Juliette hands me the bottle opener and looks at my mom.
“I thought that was my job,” Lenny offers, but I ignore her and face the music, also known as my mother.
“Hi, Mom.”
The mask of indifference she’s wearing slips and her exasperated glare zeroes in on me. “What were you thinking?” Her tone is sharp enough to cut glass.