Max (A Carter Brother series Book 4)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  Then her words replay in my head. I need to pay for what I did. This is about her brother. I need to tell her. Maybe then she can finally move forward.

  I stand up ready to take a step towards her but a choking sound leaves her throat and she looks up at me, her eyes pleading and her hand held out in front of her for me to stay where I am.

  I do what she wants, although every instinct in my body is screaming at me to move, to open my mouth, to tell her.

  “Lake, I have so-”

  “NO! No, I need to say this, I need to get it out before I finally lose my mind. You’ve drove me insane from the minute I saw you. You’ve gotten under my skin. You’re like a rash I can’t get rid of.’’

  “Thanks?’’

  “What I’m trying to say is; before you I didn’t let anyone in,’’ she breathes.

  “You let Kayla and Joan in,’’ I remind her, not wanting to be put this high on a pedestal. I hate heights.

  “Not like I let you in. I’ve told you more than I’ve told anyone I know. But there’s something you need to know,’’ she tells me taking large gulp.

  I take another step forward, my gut not able to handle seeing her struggle this much. It’s killing her and she hasn’t even told me anything.

  “I know everything,’’ I tell her, wanting, no, needing her to know.

  “No, you don’t know anything. I killed my brother,’’ she blurts out, tears falling from her cheeks. “I killed my brother,’’ she sobs and falls to the floor. My legs move before my brain even registers and I have her in my arms and across the room back to my bed. I tuck her against me, her head in my shoulder. Hearing her sobs rake through my body are like torture. I can’t take much more.

  “Baby,’’ I whisper soothingly.

  With each sharp intake of breath and each sob escaping her body, the more I realise just how much she needed to get this out. Whatever I have to tell her can wait until after. It’s clear whatever I tell her now she isn’t going to believe anyway. Not when she really believes she killed her brother.

  “I had been so wrapped up in my new boyfriend that I didn’t realise until it was too late. I had been one of the popular kids at school but even that status could never get the attention of Darren Young. He never dated anyone from school. If it wasn’t for the fact he was seen dating college chicks we would have thought he was gay,’’ she starts.

  Hearing her mention another man in her life has my fists clenching at my sides. I’m so caught off guard that I miss what she says.

  “What?’’ I ask. “Sorry, I’m still processing you having a boyfriend,’’ I tell her honestly.

  She chuckles dryly. “Do you want to hear it? It’s not pretty?’’ she whispers.

  “Yeah, baby. But first you need to realise life isn’t pretty. Life is the hardest thing anyone will have to do. We make mistakes, we learn from them, but we can also misjudge situations. Like my Granddad believed he was the reason for my mom’s behaviour, that it was his fault, but it wasn’t. It had nothing to do with him or the way he raised her. It was what it was,’’ I tell her. Hoping she understands. “Okay, that wasn’t really a good way of explaining what I’m trying to explain. But yeah, I’m going to shut up,’’ I grumble, feeling like a twat. Jesus! I can talk the fucking ear off a McDonald’s worker, but when it comes to some serious shit I come up with that.

  “Are you ready?’’ she whispers, snuggling closer to me. My arms around her tighten and I kiss the top of her head, inhaling her strawberry scent that I love so much. It helps calm down my raging heart. I’m sure she can feel how fast it’s strumming with her head against my chest.

  “Yeah, babe. Tell me everything from the beginning,’’ I tell her, knowing what I read today isn’t half of what happened.

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  LAKE

  One Year Earlier

  The picture sent to my phone is all the proof I needed. My boyfriend, soon to be ex boyfriend, is a drug dealer, maybe murderer, and is currently the reason for my brother’s behaviour.

  I’m already pissed. Darren, my so called boyfriend, and I got in to a fight tonight at prom. It was meant to be the one night he didn’t ditch me to do whatever it was he did when he disappeared. But no! All night the jerk has disappeared, leaving me sitting at the table all alone while everyone around me were having the time of their lives.

  Now I know the answer to all my questions, I’m triple fuming.

  My Mum is already suspecting something is going on with me and Darren, especially when I came home early throwing a tantrum. I literally ran right up to my room, undressed and brushed my stupid hair-do out. I know as soon as she finds out I’m going to get a big fat, ‘I told you so,’ from her.

  Most of all she is going to lose her shit when she finds out about Cowen, my brother. My infuriating twin brother, who has been moody, bad tempered and acting like a complete wanker for the past few months which is so unlike him.

  We used to be so close. We would tell each other everything and we hung out with the same crowd at school and out of school. But for the past few months he’s been secretive, avoiding me, and no longer hanging with any of our friends at school. When he does show his face he does nothing but throw insults and start fights.

  It all started when his ex-girlfriend broke up with him. He just changed. He wouldn’t even talk to me about why they broke up. He just shouted at me to mind my own business.

  I kept blaming his moods because of the breakup still being so fresh but over the course of a month his behaviour changed drastically. So drastically I began to worry myself sick.

  That’s when I started watching him more closely and found drugs in his room. He denied it at first, telling me they were his mates. He forgot that I knew all his mates; they were my mates too. It’s the first time he ever lied to my face and I won’t lie and say it didn’t hurt because it did. It hurt me deeply. After that I watched for other signs and they were there. The dilated pupils, the nose bleeds, his mood changes, it was right there. He may as well have carried a neon sign around saying, ‘I do drugs’.

  Looking back down at the picture of him buying drugs from my now ex-boyfriend brings tears to my eyes. I guess I didn’t want to believe it even though deep down I knew I was right.

  Emma, my best friend in the whole world, lost her sister eight weeks ago. She was sold drugs that ended up killing her.

  It’s how the picture came to be on the screen of my phone. Emma and I have been doing our own investigating. She couldn’t get over her sister’s death and wanted answers. Drugs weren’t her sister’s thing. All we knew was that the night she died, she was out to meet her secret boyfriend.

  Rumours were flying around the school about who sold Maisie the drugs and when Emma heard a few she came up with this master plan.

  My phone rings, snapping me back to the present. Emma’s name flashes on my phone and I rush to answer it.

  “Are you okay?’’ I ask frantically, knowing she went to the after-party tonight with her date. I ended up staying home, not wanting to be the third wheel.

  “Yeah,’’ she sighs, tears in her voice. “I just don’t know what to do, Lake. Can they even arrest him for selling her drugs? It’s not like we have proof he was the one who sold them to her. He killed my sister,’’ she whispers, a sob escaping.

  I sigh, feeling angry on her behalf and hurting for her. She’s my best friend. When she hurts, I hurt.

  How could Darren do this? Yeah, he’s always been a bit of a bad boy but he’s also one of the most popular boys at school. All my friends are jealous. He’s never dated anyone from school before. He always dated girls from college. There were even rumours he dated someone’s mum from school. He never confirmed or denied. But even with all the stuff I know about, I never thought he’d willingly sell drugs to someone. He’s been known to take something on weekends but I’ve only ever seen him smoke weed.

  A sniffle down the phone wipes any thoughts of past Darren away.

  “Of
course they will, Emma. He’s committing a serious crime. We need to go to the police right away.’’

  “But what about your brother?’’ she sniffles.

  “He made his bed, he can lie in it.’’

  “Oh Lord!’’ she whispers. The fear in her voice has my back straightening.

  “What? Are you okay? Did Darren hear you?’’ I rush out in a panic.

  “Um, Lake, I think you need to come and get your brother. Like, now.’’

  “Oh no! Why? What’s happening?’’ I cry, a sick feeling hitting the pit of my stomach.

  “He’s climbing on the roof,’’ she tells me quickly. “Someone stop him!’’ I hear her shout before she talks back into the phone. “He’s completely off his trolley, Lake. I think he’s on something.’’

  “No. Please, no,’’ I cry. “I’ll be there soon.’’ I end the call before she has chance to answer me.

  I grab my brown leather boots and pull my feet into them, zipping them up before I stand.

  My mum is so going to freak out when I tell her.

  “Mum,’’ I shout at the top of my lungs as I run for the stairs.

  “What on earth?’’ she asks, rushing out of the living room with her hand on her heart. “What is all this yelling, young lady?’’

  “It’s um,’’ I stop, pausing to think about what to say. “Cowen. Yes, Cowen. He called me and said he needs us to pick him up from Banner’s party,’’ I lie, hating every second of it. It’s one thing we don’t do with our parents. Lie. We’ve always been brought up feeling safe enough to talk about anything. We know no matter what we’ll never lose the respect or love from our parents but I’m scared if I open my mouth and tell mum what Cowen has been up to she’ll look at him differently.

  Maybe when I’ve talked to Cowen, found out how bad it is and what else has been going on, we can sit down with mum and dad together.

  “The weather is pretty bad. Linda mentioned she hired a gazebo. Hope their night isn’t ruined,’’ she mumbles, her voice full of worry.

  “Yeah,’’ I agree, remembering the storm I felt brewing yesterday. It hit yesterday and hasn’t eased up. It’s another reason I didn’t want to go to the after party. My hair can’t take it. The length is a few inches above my waist and when it’s wet the knots are a killer to brush out.

  “Well, come on then, Lake,’’ Mum chuckles, snapping me out of my daydream. Looking over I find she’s already got her shoes on and is currently pulling her coat on.

  The drive over is silent on my part. Mum must sense something is going on and bothering me because she lets out the ‘mum sigh’. The one that warns me I’m about to get a lecture any second.

  “I can’t take it. What is going on, Lake River Miller?’’ she sighs, using my full name. God, I hate when she pulls out the full name card. Not only because it’s a ridiculous name but because I know she means business.

  When I don’t answer right away, I feel her glance my way, scrutinising my expression before she shifts in her seat a little.

  “Does it have anything to do with your brother’s weird behaviour lately?’’

  Lately? Where has she been? I know she’s noticed. Her and Dad have both tried talking to him but it’s just caused fights. Another thing that is unusual in our house.

  “Yeah,’’ I whisper. I know I need to tell her the truth and I will, eventually, but my twin bond is what is stopping me. You can’t understand until you have that strong bond, that tight connection.

  In the end I tell her what I can that’s as close to the truth as I can get without losing my brother for good. “He’s been drinking a lot,’’ I tell her, which is the truth. He has never been a big drinker. He’s just changed so much. I miss my brother.

  Tears have filled my eyes and I turn my head towards the window so my mum can’t see how much he’s hurting me.

  “That boy! Since he broke up with May he has been acting out of sorts. Your father and I were talking about confronting the issue again. Last time didn’t exactly go very well, but I just presumed it was because of the breakup still being so fresh. It’s been months. I didn’t even think they were that serious. I just don’t understand what is going on with him,’’ she sighs.

  Drugs!

  That’s what is going on with him, but I don’t say that out loud.

  We turn onto Banner’s road and as soon as the house comes into view, both mum and I gasp, horrified. Cowen is standing on the garage roof, swaying.

  “Oh my Lord,’’ Mum gasps, her one hand not on the wheel reaching for her chest.

  As soon as she pulls up to a stop we rush out of the car. The wind and rain whips my hair around my face, loose strands covering my eyes.

  “Cowen Daniel Miller, get your ass down here, right now,’’ Mum shouts over the rain, a thunderous expression on her face.

  “Burn,’’ someone shouts. “She used the full name.’’ Drunken laughter erupts from the growing crowd and I look around wondering why no one stopped him before he made it up. It’s not like there aren’t enough people here.

  “MUM! Come up here and join me,’’ he grins, holding his hands out, palms up, and lifting his face to soak in the pouring rain.

  “Hi, Miss Miller, we’re just getting the ladder out of the shed to get him down,’’ George Banner tells Mum, handing her his umbrella with a sheepish smile.

  “Thank you, George,’’ she smiles sadly, gratefully taking the umbrella from him.

  Normally I’d snicker at hearing Mum calling him George. I think, apart from his parents, Mum is the only other parent to call him by his given name. Everyone else calls him Banner.

  Mum and I watch in silence as Banner rushes off to his mates who are already getting the ladder ready. The rain is pouring heavy and my heart stops in my chest hoping nothing happens. It isn’t until he’s on the ground that I begin to relax.

  When he staggers closer he notices me standing slightly behind mum and a furious expression grows on his face.

  “Should have fucking known you were involved,’’ Cowen snarls, running his fingers angrily through his soaking wet hair.

  “Do not talk to your sister like that,’’ Mum snaps, handing Banner his umbrella back before grabbing Cowen’s arm and dragging him towards the car.

  ‘Sorry,’ I mouth to Banner, knowing he and his parents spent a fortune on this party only to have Cowen ruin it for everyone. He gives me a chin lift before heading back towards his group of friends.

  Following Mum and Cowen, I catch up pretty quickly. Just as I reach the car a hand grabs my elbow, startling me. When I turn around I expect to see Emma but instead Darren stands there dripping wet, his slick black hair looking wild, giving him a darker edge to his already bad boy image. He’s wearing his signature leather jacket and his black boots, not what he was wearing a few hours ago when we went to prom.

  “What?’’ I snap, my lip curling in disgust at seeing him. Just looking at him and being near him has my skin crawling. Whatever did I see in him? He gives me a confused look, like he doesn’t understand the reason for my hostility. If I didn’t have the picture proof and people’s word that he sold drugs to them, I would believe he was innocent.

  “Hey, what’s wrong, baby?’’ he asks sweetly, his voice carrying a rough tone to it. He steps forward trying to take my hands in his, but I step back moving my hands away.

  “Don’t touch me,’’ I hiss, ignoring the sounds of my mum and Cowen arguing in the car, their voices rising.

  “What’s going on?’’ he sighs, the sweet facade disappearing and a bored expression now taking its place.

  “I know,’’ I tell him firmly, not breaking eye contact.

  “Know what?’’ he cries, throwing his hands up in the air.

  “That you’re the one selling drugs to people at school and whoever else. You’re the one who got Maisie killed,’’ I snarl, leaning in closer so my mum doesn’t happen to overhear. That’s all I need.

  He steps closer and a chill runs down my s
pine. “Watch your fucking mouth, Lake. You have no idea what you’re talking about,’’ he barks, his voice above a whisper. I take a step back out of fear. I’ve never heard him talk like that to anyone before. Also, the thunderous expression he’s currently supporting is kind of scaring the crap out of me. He looks like an entirely different person. Not like the Darren I had a crush on all throughout year nine.

  “Tell that to the police,’’ I hiss, finding the courage to stand up to him before turning to storm off. The minute my body turns, I’m swung back around sharply, my shoulder screaming in pain from the force.

  “Let go of my daughter, Darren,’’ my Mum shouts, stepping out of the car.

  Seeing my mum for the first time he lets go of my arm quickly, but not before giving me one last painful squeeze. Taking the opportunity and needing the space put between us, I rush around the car, jumping in the passenger seat.

  As soon as the driver’s side door slams shut and mum has her seatbelt on she’s pulling away from the curb, nearly hitting a parked car in front of us.

  “What was that about?’’ Mum asks softly, her eyes flickering to me briefly before turning her eyes back to the car.

  I look away, my gaze staring out the window, watching the streets pass us by. My brother snorts from the backseat which has my back straightening. I turn around giving him a glare, still pissed off at him. Not just for the drugs but for putting himself in danger. He’s my other half. Without him I’m just a shell of a person. As much as I hate who he’s become, I love my brother with everything inside me.

  “Grow up, Cowen,’’ I snap.

  “Fuck off, Lake,’’ he laughs dryly. “We can’t all be a goody fucking two shoes like you,’’ he replies sarcastically.

  “Watch your mouth, Cowen. You’re not too old to put over my knee,’’ Mum warns him, her eyes looking at him through the rearview mirror.