Three.
As ballsy as she is, I never expected that. And they’re not just any men. They’re her stepbrothers.
Now here I am with ten stepbrothers of my own. I wonder what she’d think of that.
Amazing opportunity, probably!
I take my laptop out of my bag and sit on the bed with it on my knee. The mattress is so lovely and soft. I pull up the folder I created with pictures of the McGregor brothers. I flick through them again, taking extra time over the ones I’ve already met. Antony, dimples in full force on the beach. Damn. Elliot sitting outside a café, his stunning eyes bright, sunglasses perched on top of his head. Barret and Blake, one smiling, one serious. Donnie with his ethereal grey eyes and soft wavy hair.
Five down.
Five to go.
This is my life now, for better or worse.
I’m hoping for better.
3
My stomach growls.
I’ve been hiding away in this room for a couple of hours but my body needs feeding so I’m going to have to brave it and find the kitchen. I’m guessing that Mom is still at the apartment dealing with the removers because she hasn’t come to find me yet. So much for there not being much left to do.
I open the door, step out into the hallway and look in both directions. There’s nobody out here and I can’t hear any voices so I head back the way Antony bought me until I’m standing at the bottom of the giant staircase. The floor is cool under my bare feet and I gaze around, feeling as though I’ve stepped into one of those stupid ‘housewives’ shows. This place is unbelievable, and it’s now my home.
It’s going to take me some serious time to get used to this.
I hear voices in the distance so I decide to follow. At least if I find someone, they can show me where to go to eat.
I get to a door, behind which I can hear loud male voices and the clinking of dishes. I stand for a few seconds, steeling myself to enter. Without knowing who’s inside, I feel completely unprepared. It could be all the brothers I haven’t met yet. That would be seriously #AWKWARD. I consider running back to my princess room and hiding out but my stomach growls again.
Ugh.
Where the hell is Mom? I should have stayed with her until the removals guys had finished up. Then she could have helped me with orientation around here. I wouldn’t be feeling so out of place if she was here, too.
I’m about to put my hand on the handle when I hear my name.
“So Laura’s finally here.”
“Yep. . .poor girl has no idea what she’s getting herself into.”
“Well, I think she knows there are ten of us,” a voice that sounds like Antony’s says.
“Yeah, but not what Roddy has in mind.”
“Don’t let Dad here you calling him that,” another voice warns.
“Fuck sake. I’m a grown man, I’m not scared of Dad anymore.”
“Good for you. But you’re still going to have to toe the line on this one, Grant.”
“I don’t fucking think so and I can’t believe that you’re so calm about it. This is fucking unnatural.”
“Look, you had to know this was coming. Dad hasn’t exactly kept his ideas to himself over the past few years.”
“To be honest, I thought he was getting dementia.”
“He’s as sharp as a tack.”
“Yeah, but still bat-shit crazy.”
“Crazy or not, if you want your share of the business, you’re gonna have to do what he wants.”
“It’s not like she’s ugly,” a voice that sounds like Barret’s says. “She’s fucking gorgeous.”
“Yeah?”
“Donnie wants to paint her soul.”
“That gorgeous?”
“Exactly.”
“She’s never going to agree to this.”
“It’s not like we’re ugly, dude. Girls pretty much fall over themselves to get with one of us, let alone ten.”
I inhale sharply. Did they just say what I think they said?
“One is a relationship, ten is a gang bang.”
Holy fuck. They did. My heart begins to race as I lean in closer, trying to hear better.
“It doesn’t have to be like that. It’s not a fucking porno!”
“Sure sounds like one to me.”
“Well, you always did watch too many dirty movies.”
I take a step back, pressing my hand over my mouth with shock.
Shit. Did I really just hear all that?
They want to share me like I’m a piece of meat. Like I’m one of those women with big plastic looking tits and blown-up lips.
Ten of them.
I’ll admit to having some naughty little fantasies over their pictures, and for having a bit of a thing about Reverse Harem romance novels since I found out about Katelin, but this is real life. They’re talking about this shit in the open with each other, not just imagining it in their heads.
And not only that, their Dad is in on it, too. Is that why he wants my mom? To get to me. I feel ridiculous for even thinking that because I’m a nobody from nowheresville. If Roderick wanted to snag a potential wife for his sons, I’m sure there’d be plenty of eligible girls out there from the State’s top families to consider.
“It’s not like any of this is a done deal,” a voice I think is Antony’s says. “We still have to win her over. . .we still need to make her want it.”
“She’ll fall in line. When she hears what’s on offer. Who’s going to pass up a marriage proposal that comes with all this?” another voice says. It sounds like Antony’s but the tone is harder.
“I don’t think that you should assume that,” a laid-back voice that I think is Donnie warns. “We all need to treat her carefully. Laura isn’t the kind of girl who’ll respond well to being told what to do.”
“Most women love a bit of domination,” the harsher voice says.
“Most women who put up with you.”
There’s a scoffing noise. “At least I’ve got a woman.”
“Not for long. Not when Dad sets this whole thing in motion.”
I don’t get any of this. They’re all gorgeous. Surely their father should want them to all find nice girls and live their spectacular lives in relative normality. What the hell has he got to gain to try and get them to share me? I remember someone mentioning a share of the business. Is that what this is about? I don’t get it.
I can’t go in there now. How can I face them with the taint of this conversation in the air? I need to get out of here and clear my head. I need Mom to get here so I can ask her what hell is going on.
I stumble further down the hall towards what I think is the back of the house. I come to a door which is open to the gardens. The fresh air hits me like a welcome balm and I draw it deep into my lungs, scanning for somewhere I can hide out. There’s a seating area that’s sheltered with large bushes and I make my way over, perching on the dark wooden seat. I exhale, my hands clenched tightly in my lap, my mind rushing over the conversation I just heard.
It would be easy to convince myself that I made it all up because it’s so obscure and so hard for me to get my head around as a result. These men are strangers to me and yet they have such assumptions about how I’m going to be involved in their lives. Add to that my stepfather’s involvement and I have no idea what to make of any of it. All I can think is that I’m not going to be able to live here. All the planning my mom has done has been in vain, but we no longer have our apartment. I have nowhere else to go, and could I really snatch this all away of from Mom? She’s had it so tough and has finally met a man who treats her well and has the capability to be able to look after her for the rest of her life.
I think about my friends. Would any of them be willing to let me stay? Maybe for a day or two but longer than that would be tough. I could move into accommodation at college if there was any free but I’m deep into the semester so it’s doubtful. I’m just starting to think about excuses for Mom when I hear voices.
�
�The new contractor that Dad has brought it is gonna cause us a lot of ball ache…”
Their conversation comes to a halt when they see me.
“Hey,” one of them says. They’re identical twins with sandy blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. Their faces, although similar, have something different about them. . .I know I’m staring but it’s like looking at one of those spot-the-differences puzzles. It’s their noses. Maybe they’ve been broken.
“Laura?”
“Course it’s Laura. Who the hell else would it be?”
They shove at each other like naughty kids. “Hi,” I say, offering a pathetic little wave. I’d smile but I’m still thinking about what I just heard.
“Hey,” they say in unison. “I’m Casey,” one adds. “And I’m Cameron,” the other says. “What are you doing out here?”
“I’m just getting some fresh air.”
“Oh yeah,” Cameron says. “And the bare feet?”
I look down, embarrassed and have no way to explain that bit.
“They say something to frighten you off already?” Casey asks. It sounds like a joke but maybe it isn’t.
I blush, wondering if he’s referring to the conversation I overheard. I don’t think they were in the room because they’ve come from another direction but I can’t be sure. I don’t know this place well enough to find my way back to my own bedroom.
I shrug. “I’m an only child. I’m not used to living with this many people.”
“This many strangers,” Casey says.
I nod.
“Well, we won’t be strangers for long,” Cameron says, running his fingers through his hair.
“So I’ve heard,” I can’t help mumbling.
They glance at each other and then back at me.
“What did you hear, Laura?”
I say nothing and that must be enough to confirm their thinking. “They told you about the plan?” they say together. It’s said with a whole lot of disbelief.
I nod. “I overheard some stuff I probably wasn’t meant to.”
“That you definitely weren’t meant to.”
“Not yet anyway.”
They shift from foot to foot.
I blink, shocked that they’re not denying anything. Although I know what I heard, I was half hoping that maybe my listening-through-door-skills weren’t great. It’s stupid but my throat starts to burn and I blink, fearing that I might be about to cry. It’s not like me to get emotional but this is just too much on a day when I thought that things were going to be so different. This isn’t the kind of different I was expecting and I need to get them away from me before I make a fool of myself.
“If you don’t mind, I think I’d like to be alone,” I tell them.
“Okay,” Casey says looking worried. They don’t hesitate so at least that’s good but I can’t get my head around how they seemed so casual about the idea of stripping me bare and taking turns with me. I watch them go and when they’re out of sight, my shaky hand goes for my back jean pocket and I pull out my cell phone. I think about messaging my mom. She needs to know what’s going on here, but I’m worried that she won’t believe me. I mean, Katelin was a real shock for both of us and her future happiness is so wrapped up in this family.
How do I deal with this without causing a whole heap of drama?
No matter how I run things through in my head, I just can’t find a way.
Mom has been my rock for so long. I trust her. I guess I just have to be honest and see what her reaction will be.
I quickly tap out a message to my mom. Mom, I need to talk to you? Where are you?
Seconds later, my phone chimes. What is wrong? I’m gonna be there soon. Just gotta finish up here.
Can it wait? I guess so, but what do I do? Skulk back to my ridiculous cotton-candy room and hide until she gets here? I don’t even know how to get there without asking for help and that is something I just don’t feel comfortable to do.
I message again. I just overheard something, Mom. Something not good. I need you to get here quick.
There is no answer and my heart kicks up a notch.
My phone rings. It’s Mom. I guess messaging wasn’t really working for this kind of discussion.
“Laura, are you okay? What’s going on?”
My heart thuds in my chest. “I don’t know how to say this, Mom. I know how you feel about Roderick and we’ve just moved all our stuff and let our place go. . .but, I don’t think I can stay here.”
“What are you talking about, honey. What’s happened? Have the boys been unwelcoming?”
“No, not exactly?”
“What did you overhear?”
I take a deep breath. My mind rushes through all the different ways to say this and there is no perfect solution. “I know how this is gonna sound,” I start. “I know you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I think that Roderick is blackmailing his sons…to…” I pause because what were they really saying? The sex talk was only half of it. The business and the marriage part seems more important to mention. “Marry me.”
There’s a pause on the other end of the phone and I start to doubt myself. This is ridiculous. Surely I’m mistaken. Mom is going to call me out and tell me I’m losing my mind, but then I remember how clearly I heard the McGregor boys talking in the dining room, and how Cameron and Casey didn’t deny anything. I know I’m not making this up.
“What did you hear, honey?” Her voice is calm. Strangely calm. No laughing or accusations about the level of my insanity.
“I heard them talking about a plan for them to share me, Mom. They’ve created a ridiculous pink princess bedroom for me like I’m five years old and now they’re talking about passing me around ten of them like I’m. . .a piece of meat. There’s something wrong going on here, Mom. Something very wrong. This isn’t what I signed up for.”
The end of the line is silent and I’m imagining Mom trying to get her head around what I’ve said and thinking about how it’s going to impact all her plans.
“Where are you right now?” she asks.
“I’m on a side patio. I’m alone and safe. What do you want me to do? Should I just call a cab?”
“Just stay where you are,” she says.
“What?” I’m flabbergasted that there isn’t an ounce of shock in her voice or even any denial of the information I’ve just given her.
“I’ll be there soon. We can talk about it when I get there.”
“Talk about it.”
She sighs and I pull my phone away from my ear and look at it as though it’s malfunctioning. “Did you not hear what I said?”
“I heard,” she says. “You weren’t supposed to find out this way.”
“What?”
“Let me finish up here and I’ll tell you more later.”
“Are you serious?” My voice sounds frantic. “You knew about this?”
“It isn’t what you think, honey,” she says.
“I know what I heard, Mom. And to be honest I don’t even know what I think,” I say, and without waiting to hear another word, I disconnect the call.
She knew. Mom knew about this and she still moved us in here. Is that the deal? Roderick gets Mom and I come as part of a weird package deal? I feel sick.
So sick I actually consider calling my father. For a fraction of a second I really consider dialing his number and ordering him to come and pick me up. And take me where, I think.
That’s really not an option.
He’s been about as present in my life as a dead person since he moved away, and I know that all I’m going to hear is insinuations about my mom’s mental state and how she’s been stealing his money, AKA child support. I can do without that particular pile of shit right now.
I’m stuck. Stuck waiting for Mom to get here and explain herself. Stuck with nowhere else to go. I stand but I have no idea what to do next. Rubbing my throbbing head, I look around. How can Mom even have considered moving me in here with these ten men? I’m her only daughter
and this is what she sees as best for my future. I mean, I know we’ve had it hard the past few years. Since Dad left, Mom’s really struggled to keep us afloat. Is that what this is? Her way of ensuring that neither of us ever have to struggle again?
“Hello,” a soft voice sounds from near the doorway.
I jump back, started out of my internal struggling.
“I want to be on my own right now,” I say, when I find Donnie coming towards me. His eyes are soft, his hair flopping gently. I wonder if his brothers chose him as the least threatening of the lot of them. I hope he’s not going to try and deny things. Instead, he puts his hands up and tries to smooth things over.
“We aren’t going to hurt you, you know.”
I scowl. “No, you’ve got other things planned for me.” He seems to flinch at what I’m suggesting.
“Most of us aren’t any happier about this than you are, in case you were wondering.” He looks as miserable as I am.
I glance behind me, worried I’m about to get ambushed by them all, but we’re alone.
“I just feel as though…” I trail off, not really knowing what to say.
“That you’ve been brought here under false pretenses.”
I nod. “I don’t get how this is even something that anyone in this household would consider.”
Donnie nods. “I get that, but you’re an only child, right?”
“Yeah.”
“So you don’t get how close a person can be with their siblings.”
I frown. What is he suggesting? “Sharing toys is one thing, Donnie. Sharing women is something else.”
He shrugs. “It happens, though.”
“Maybe in your weird world of the rich and fucked up. Is this what goes on behind closed doors where there is money involved?”
He runs his hands through his hair and looks contrite. “It’s not like that, Laura. My brothers and I would treat you as you deserve.”
Oh my god. Is he serious with this? “You can’t actually think it’s a good idea.”
“My dad has his reasons,” he says with another shrug.
“And you all just follow on like eager little puppies.”
10 MEN: A MEGA MENAGE REVERSE HAREM ROMANCE (HUGE SERIES Book 7) Page 3
