House

by Rachel Angel

  I watched the faces of Seb and Thomas, seeing if they still thought my mother had something to do with their mother’s death two years ago.

  But before they could do anything as a reaction, a loud bark came from the foyer of the house. Then a door slam and footsteps.

  “Hey losers,” a loud melodic voice called out. “I’m home!”

  Scrambling taps sounded against the marble ground and then a loud bark as a little ball of fur that looked like a walking plush toy found its way into the Den.

  And made its way over to me, sniffing me all over.

  The little corgi stopped at my feet, and I bent down to pat its head, “Hey there,” I said, “Aren’t you cute?”

  “There you are,” the rock star voice said at the door of the den.

  I stood up before looking over at the man cake leaning casually against the doorway. Can each of the Keystone brothers be just like everyone else?

  Can’t they just have some flaws on them? Wrinkles, pimples, balding foreheads? Instead, all three of them had smoother flawless pore less skin a teenage girl model would envy. Glossy shiny healthy hair that looked windswept. High cheekbones that could cut glass, and full lips that plastic surgeons could get inspired to duplicate.

  Ash was back, and dressed in black leather pants that hugged his muscular legs and chiseled butt, while proudly displaying his obvious round bulge in front. His matching leather jacket was opened exposing his tattoo chest and hard abs. Of course being Ash, the youngest Keystone brother and the rebel, not wearing a shirt and sporting a hard-on whenever I saw him, was just Ash.

  The prettiest of the Keystone brothers, Ash was prettier than girls with his natural long lashes and kissable rock star lips.

  Then there was his baby blue eyes that was now staring into mine. Hooded, interested, and definitely aroused. He looked like he couldn’t believe his eyes. Then he took me all in with a slow perusal of my face, my breasts, my legs like he was slowly undressing me with his eyes.

  “Fuck,” he muttered. “What the fuck are you doing?”

  He look down at my legs, and I blinked a few times, confused.

  “Bitch,” he said. “What the fuck are you doing?”

  I was about to give him a mouthful when I looked down. The corgi was humping my leg.

  “Bitch,” Ash called out. “Stop humping her leg.” He took a few steps with his long legs to stop in front of me before bending down to pick up his dog.

  I heard a chuckle from the spot Seb and Thomas was standing.

  “Only you would be so cruel to name a boy dog a name like ‘bitch’,” Thomas said.

  “That’s because he is,” Ash said, taking out a diamond-studded Tiffany blue collar to put on Bitch. “He likes to wear bling, and he growls whenever he sees a hot sexy woman near me.” Ash looked at me and grinned, showing perfect white teeth.

  “Oh so he humps them,” Seb said.

  “Seems more like he’s growling because he doesn’t want you near the sexy females in his territory, Ash,” Thomas said.

  “Claiming his ‘territory’,” I said. I bent down to pick up Bitch with both my hands, carrying him up to face me. “Is that what you were doing, Bitch?”

  “Well,” Ash smiled. “Bitch is a Keystone male. Seems like he can’t help not keeping his dick in his pants when it comes to you, Kaley.”

  “Typical mindless male,” I muttered under my breath.

  Ash leaned into me and took in a deep breath. “You smell like sex. No wonder Bitch was humping you.” He looked over at Seb and Thomas.

  “Which one of you fucked Kaley already?”

  Seb and Thomas didn’t answer.

  “Really? You two just couldn’t wait, could you?”

  “No,” Seb said. “As soon as I saw that hot ass walked through the door, I had to lay claim on her first.” He cocked his head up to look defiantly at Ash. Then Thomas. “I’m the oldest. I get her first.”

  “So Thomas is next, and then me?” Ash asked.

  “Fucking right,” Seb said. “Just like everything else.”

  “No, not like everything else,” I said coldly. I turned to them and watched each of their faces. “You cannot lay claim to me at all because fucktards, you do not own me.”

  I placed Bitch into Ash’s arms and walked over to the door, lifting my chin up as I passed by Seb and Thomas, while exchanging a glance at them.

  “I thought you had all grown up but you’re still the same sorry sad sacks I left two years ago. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to call that lawyer to get this reading of the will started so I can get the hell out of here and go back to my life elsewhere.”

  Chapter 6

  Kaley

  I walked out of the room and into the living room where I pulled out my phone to call the number on the letterhead. When would he get here?

  As the number dialed, I read through the letter again. According to the letter, the meeting should have started half an hour ago. But where was Mr. Jonah Sloane?

  The phone picked up, and a man asked, “Yes, hello?”

  “Is this Mr. Jonah Sloane?” I asked.

  “What is this in regards to?” the man asked.

  “The reading of Mr. Keystone’s will,” I said.

  “Oh, you must be Kaley Crawford,” he said. “I am Mr. Sloane. I’m late, but I’m on my way to the Keystone Manor right now.”

  “How far away are you?” I asked.

  “I’m making my way up towards the gate of the Keystone estate,” he said.

  “Oh thank God,” I said walking over to the front door to open it to look out. If he was coming up to the gate and then the long driveway, I would see him.

  There he was.

  I waved.

  He had extended his hand out his car’s window as though he was punching in a code to open the gate. When that didn’t work, Mr. Sloane got out of his car to talk into the intercom.

  I was about to buzz him through the gate with my code when I thought I saw a shadowy figure punched Mr. Sloane before knocking him on the head. Then as fast as a blink of an eye, Mr. Sloane’s car drove off with Mr. Sloane in it and his attacker.

  “Shit no,” I muttered, calling the police.

  “Hello?” the police dispatcher asked.

  “I’d like to report a kidnapping or an assault. Maybe both,” I said.

  “Who was kidnapped or assaulted, Miss?”

  “A man named Sloane. Mr. Jonah Sloane. He’s a lawyer.”

  “Can you describe him?”

  “Sorry, I can’t,” I said, realizing I’ve never even seen the man.

  “How do you know it’s him?”

  “Because I was just on the phone with him, and he said he was driving up to the gate at Keystone Manor. I went to the door to look out to see if there was a car driving up to the gate, and sure enough there was.”

  “Did you say you’re at Keystone Manor?” the dispatcher asked.

  “Yes,” I said.

  A whistle. “That house…just one thing after another.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s an old house, and it’s owned by the Keystones. Enough said. Now what about Jonah Sloane?”

  “We’ll send someone right over,” the dispatcher said.

  “Can’t you find out what is Mr. Sloane’s vehicle…the model and make? Then dispatch cars to look for his car?”

  “We have to get a statement from you first, search the Manor…”

  “A man’s life is at stake,” I said.

  “The police will be at your house soon, Miss,” the dispatcher said.

  “By then it might be too late,” I yelled into the phone.

  “Miss, I said there will be someone there soon,” the dispatcher said.

  “Do I have to be here?” I asked. “I’m going after that car…”

  “Yes you have to be there. And I would advise that you stay in the house. Let us do our job, Miss. We will try to locate Jonah Sloane.”

  “Okay,” I said, trying to keep calm. “Okay.”

/>   I hung up and made my way toward the den. Maybe one of the Keystone brothers wouldn’t be such an asshole, and would try to help.

  I walked as fast as I could, keeping my phone out in case I get a call from the police or even Mr. Sloane himself.

  When I reached the den, I stopped.

  None of the Keystone brothers was in sight.

  Even Bitch, the little corgi was gone.

  Were they even in the house all this time I was on the phone?

  I walked back to the front door, opened it and looked outside.

  The blue Ferrari was gone.

  The silver Audi was gone.

  The only cars parked in front of Keystone Manor was Mustang and my mother’s old white Ford SUV.

  Chapter 7

  Kaley

  I heard shuffling in the house. Someone was in the kitchen.

  “Hello?” I called out before approaching the kitchen cautiously. Now that I’ve witnessed someone being attacked and then kidnapped right outside the gates of Keystone Manor, my senses were heightened. What if the attackers were still around?

  Maybe even in the house?

  I reached into one of the umbrella stands and grabbed one of the larger and sturdier umbrellas before making my way to the kitchen.

  The problem with living in a house the size of Keystone Manor, even making your way to the kitchen was quite a distance. Scratch that. Making your way anywhere was a good hike.

  As I made my way there, memories of being in the kitchen, helping out with the cook, even helping Mom out when she filled in for the cook on weekends when the cook didn’t come in, brought a smile to my face. Because Camilla and the Keystones rarely stepped into the kitchen; it felt like our own space.

  Of course whoever was in the kitchen wouldn’t be the Keystones.

  I was about step foot into the kitchen when I heard a loud knock on the door.

  Probably the police, who needed to get a statement from me before actually going out to find Jonah Sloane.

  Another loud knock, and I was now flying down the long hallway to get to the door.

  Only I wasn’t fast enough to answer it.

  Dressed only in a bathrobe, his black hair wet and dripping, Ash had opened the door. Where was he this entire time? Did I not see his car?

  “Hi Officers,” he said, “What brings you here?”

  “Someone called about an assault and then a kidnapping?”

  Ash shook his head. “I wouldn’t know anything about it.”

  “This is Keystone Manor?”

  “Yes, it is,” I said, walking up to the two young men in uniform.

  Each of the officers looked surprised as they noticed me. “And you are?”

  “The one who called,” I said.

  Ash looked over at me, equally as surprised as the officers. “Kidnapping? Assault?”

  “Yes, that’s what I saw,” I said.

  “Can you tell us more about it, Miss?” one of the officers asked, looking at me with gentle eyes. “Or could your boyfriend give us more details?”

  “Not my boyfriend,” I smiled. This wasn’t going to be so bad. And he seemed nice. Even good-looking.

  “Well, Miss…”

  “Kaley Crawford,” I said.

  “Miss Crawford,” he smiled. “Can you give me a statement as to what happened?”

  “Sure,” I smiled, glancing over at Ash.

  He was watching my every move with such intensity, I could practically feel the heat coming off of his skin while standing next to me.

  “Why don’t you come in?” I asked leading them to the living room where they sat down on the smooth leather sofa.

  “Nice place you have here,” the officer with sandy-colored hair, green eyes, and a great smile, said.

  “Well, it’s Keystone Manor,” I said. “Nothing but the best for the Keystones.”

  Ash, who had walked with me over to the living room shot me a smirk before sitting down across from the officers.

  The good-looking officer glanced over at Ash. “That’s understandable. Mr. Keystone’s buildings are the most spectacular ones in town, from what I could see.”

  “Good-looking and smart,” I teased.

  The handsome officer grinned, showing dimples on his cheeks. “Well, Miss Crawford, let’s get a statement down first before I can show you more about what I know about the Keystones.”

  Ash stood up to sit right next to me on the sofa. I could smell his masculine but freshly-washed scent, and feel the heat of him near my skin. He smelled so good, I wanted to bury myself in his chest.

  “So, can you tell us what you saw?” the handsome officer asked.

  “It was dark and a bit far, but I saw the headlights of a car in front of the gate and stopped at the intercom in front of the gate. When it didn’t seem to be working, the man in the car got out of the car to talk through the intercom. When he was talking, someone jumped him, hit him over the head, until he collapsed, and then they took off in his own car.”

  “And you are sure it is Jonah Sloane?”

  “Well, I don’t really know how he looks like, but I was on the phone with him before he arrived, and it seemed he was right. He was approaching the gate, and…”

  “Okay, that’s a statement we can use,” the handsome officer leaned in. He placed his hand on my knee and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll find him.”

  “I sure hope so,” I said.

  He reached into his pocket to pull out a business card. “If you think of anything else, just call me.”

  I looked down at the card and was surprised to see he was an investigator. Not just an officer. “You’re the Head investigator for this region?” I asked. “Mr. Sutton Gaines.”

  He stood up, signaling for me to stand up. He looked me over and said under his breath. “Beautiful.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “You’re very beautiful,” he said simply. “And please, just call me Sutton.”

  I laughed. “Sure, Sutton.”

  He looked over the living room, glancing over at Ash, and said, “If you need me or you think you need help, don’t hesitate to call me.”

  “Sure again,” I said.

  Sutton looked over at his partner, nodded, and they both walked out the door.

  Chapter 8

  Kaley

  As soon as the door close behind Sutton and his partner, Ash was already on me, pushing me against the door, his mouth on mine, kissing me like a madman. “I’ve waited so long to kiss you, Kaley. I waited until everyone left to hold you in my arms.”

  He peppered me with kisses against my forehead, hairline, my cheeks, and then my mouth again. Finally he broke off his kiss and brought up both hands to cup my face in them stroking my bottom lip with his thumbs.

  “Ash,” I said, looking up into his eyes with mine. “You don’t hate me too, like your brothers?”

  “How could I?” Ash asked, his face twisted in anguish. “I fucking loved you, Kaley. More than anyone, I loved you so much. Then you just walked away, tore my heart from me as you went.”

  “Can you blame me?” I asked.

  “You could have stayed,” Ash said. “I would have supported you and your mother.”

  “But not against Seb and Thomas,” I said.

  “You don’t know that,” Ash said. “You never asked me.”

  “You never stepped up to the plate to bat for me,” I said. “How could you expect me to ask you when you didn’t fight for me?”

  Ash sighed. “Not true. I did. But you were already gone.”

  My eyes widen. “You did?”

  “Yes, I did,” Ash said. “How do you think your mother could live here safely after you left?”

  “What did you do, Ash?” I asked.

  Ash rolled his head side to side before it cracked. “It’s a long story so do you mind we find a more comfortable position to be in?”