Scarred (Bullied Series #5) (SAMPLE)

Chapter 2

I parked in front of the limestone mansion I now called home and leaned my head against the seat. As I looked at the house, my gaze averted to the stone statue of a winged woman out front that felt so out of place. I imagined grabbing a hammer and smashing it to pieces as a way of relieving my tension. The thing was so ugly I would be doing the world a big favor.

I unfastened my seat belt and climbed out of my Ford Fiesta. Everything about this place felt wrong to me. It was a bitter reminder that my parents' marriage had fallen apart and Steven and I were the casualties. It was a symbol of failed vows of eternal love and respect. It showed how easy it was to utter words of profound love and then stomp on them. Nothing was eternal. Good times didn't last forever.

My mom had said she'd bought this estate because she wanted me and Steven to have a normal home, ignoring the fact that all Steven and I wanted was a normal family. And I wouldn't call a colossal Cruella de Vil mansion purchased during a divorce a normal home. It was unnecessarily lavish and over-the-top in every way, flaunting its nine bedrooms, greenhouse, and indoor pool. It was like a neon sign for my dad that read "I'm over you, fuck off."

Sure, she was doing much better; she worked her ass off at her real estate firm and hung out with her friends every Friday and most weekends, but the same could not be said for me and Steven. We were getting worse.

I vividly remembered the old days when Steven and I were conquering the world. With there being only a ten-month age gap between us, people often thought we were twins. We surely acted like twins, always together and supporting each other through our highs and lows. We even looked like twins, and people often got us mixed up. Our parents even enrolled us in school starting the same year.

We had the same blue eyes. The same somewhat crooked nose. The same heart-shaped face that earned Steven a lot of taunts because it looked too feminine on him. The same tall and skinny body that earned me the nickname Tomboy. The same loud laughter and shrill voice. The same tendency to get into trouble.

That time had been the most awesome period of my life, and I'd loved him more than anyone in this world.

But then, three and a half years ago, that Halloween night had happened, and I'd spiraled down the path that led me further and further from the happy, normal girl I'd been. Soon after, Steven had met the crowd that led him closer and closer to the wreck he was today.

Our relationship wasn't the same after that.

I pushed the bittersweet memories away and checked my phone once more for any messages from Steven, but all I found was a big fat nothing, and it was difficult to ignore the sudden chill of disappointment and fear. This better not be another episode of Houdini Steven.

I went inside and disarmed the security system, welcomed by echoing silence. It was as quiet as a tomb.

"Steven?" I called. Nothing. "Steven, are you home?"

More silence. I could almost hear crickets.

I checked the GPS app again, but there was no trace of him. He could have his phone turned off, but I was sure he'd already deleted the app I'd installed on his phone. I'd have to up my secret agent skills to find him if he decided to disappear again.

My footsteps echoed off the marble floors as I crossed to the split grand staircase. The front hall was spacious and adorned with crystal chandeliers that cost a small fortune, and paintings from some of the world's most renowned artists hung on the wall above the landing. My mom was a sucker for art.

She was also a sucker for wasting money, proving addiction could come in many forms.

Steven's room was in the east wing, next to mine, and I headed there now. Our mom slept in the west wing to give us some privacy, but I loathed that privacy, as it allowed Steven to smuggle in drugs. It allowed him the freedom to destroy his life a little more each day, and I alone wasn't enough to make a difference, no matter how many times I raided his room and flushed his drugs down the toilet.