❛𝐖𝐑𝐀𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐈 𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒!❜
⸻ in which Rory Hargrove is obsessed to uncover the truth behind Barbara Holland's disappearance, while facing her brother's enemy and buried secr...
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THE FRONT DOOR OF THE HOUSE SLAMMED shut after the roar of the blue Camaro's engine. The TV blared in the living room, but not loud enough to drown out Billy's return.
Neil barely turned his head toward the door. The sharp scent of tobacco and alcohol seeped into the house, mixing with the air of the perfectly furnished living room.
"Billy," his father called, voice steady but laced with warning. "Do you think those are decent hours to come home?"
Billy stood in the doorway, eyes half-lidded, his movements unsteady. Neil waited for another set of footsteps, for the other twin— but no one followed.
"Where is your sister?" His voice was quiet, controlled, but the weight behind it made Billy straighten, or at least try to.
Billy's mouth opened, then closed. His tongue felt thick in his mouth. "Uh... well... I thought she was home. She is home, right?" His words slurred, barely coherent.
Neil was on his feet in an instant, striding toward his son.
"No, she's not home. She went to the party with you, remember? Or we re you too drunk to remember you even had a sister?"
Billy blinked hard, trying to force his brain to work. "She left the party... I thought she came home..."
"You thought?" Neil's voice shot up, laced with fury. Susan flinched, standing quickly, eyes darting between them. "Have you lost your damn mind, William? I gave you one job. Take care of your sister. And you couldn't even do that?"
Neil's face was inches from Billy's, their foreheads nearly touching. But Billy didn't move. Didn't flinch.
"Where's your sister?" Neil asked again, trying to stay calm.
Billy swallowed, pressing back against the door. "I... I don't know."
"Are you kidding me?" He spoke in a low but sufficiently intimidating tone. Within seconds, Neil's fist sank into Billy's already bruised face. He leaned against the wall and knocked some pictures on the dresser to steady himself. Susan pulled her boyfriend back to avoid the worst and tried to calm him down.
"I can't believe this," he spat. "You are useless, Billy. You can't keep anyone safe. You couldn't even get Aurora home, and you were supposed to take care of Maxine too. But she got home—hours ago, in case you were wondering!" He dragged a hand through his mustache in frustration. "You left your sister there? In some stranger's house?"
