Devil on the Rooftop [Book 1]

Chapter 60 - Loyal

I strolled into the white kitchen and opened one of the many cupboards. I pulled a tall glass out and moved it under the refrigerator fountain. I pressed the rim of the glass against the handle and watched the stream of water fill up. Too many things had come into play since Arisa transferred in. The momentum wasn't slowing down and I was beginning to worry about the end game. It was my fault for getting her involved. If I hadn't recklessly carried her over my shoulder that day, if I never received that acceptance letter to Brown, then maybe things would be different. Hino wouldn't be stuck babysitting Carter on the rooftop, Zander wouldn't be on the verge of suspension, and Dobberman wouldn't have shown up to Jackheights.

Asking Khaleel to take charge of things was the right call. I knew it was but I couldn't shake off my insecurities. I expected him to take care of Arisa while I wasn't around but what if he took that opportunity to make another move on her? After our kiss, I hadn't really addressed what I wanted from her. Maybe it was too early to have a claim over someone, especially when she told me not to pursue a serious relationship with her.

The door to the backyard slid open and my mother stepped into the kitchen. Her stern brown eyes met mine for a second before she moved to sit on one of the stools by the counter. She was dressed in her gardening blouse and overalls. Her brown hair was knotted in a bun and she wore a pair of pink flip-flops. "Why are you home?" the woman asked.

I chugged the glass of water before answering. "Tommy wasn't feeling well so I escorted her back. Why are you home?"

"I was tending to my flowers," she lied. "What's wrong with your sister? Did she forget to take her medication again? I keep telling her to stop working so hard. It's a waste."

My blood curdled. "Maybe if you let her take over the company instead of putting all your expectations on me, then she wouldn't feel like she needs to prove herself."

My mother shot me a cold stare. "Don't make me out to be the villain here, Loyal. The sooner you accept your obligation to this family, the sooner your sister will accept that her efforts are futile."

I nodded, acknowledging my cue to exit. I refilled the glass and walked out. "I'm not finished speaking with you," my mother's voice shot through the foyer. I wasn't expecting her to follow me. "How long are you going to rebel against us? It's getting quite old."

"I'll stop rebelling when you stop putting your needs above ours," I said, facing her.

There was an uncomfortable pause.

"What are you really doing home, mom?" I asked, giving her another chance to tell the truth. I knew there could only be two reasons for her to be out of the office during the day. I already caught her in the act a few times before. She was either holding property meetings behind my father's back or weeding out the staff she couldn't trust with her secrets. There was a time when my mother was convinced the housekeepers were gossiping about her to us. It was the only explanation she could come up with when I called her out on her bullshit.

"I told you, I was gardening," she said. "I don't understand why you're so suspicious of me. What have I done to be treated so poorly by my own flesh and blood?"

I refused to answer her question. I always wanted to ask her why she felt the need to go behind my father's back and secure her own clients but never cared enough to investigate. If I had to venture a guess, I would say it was because she was hungry for more power. My mother was a shark and marrying into the Wilson family didn't change that. In her eyes, being a housewife meant a slow and painful death, which was why after giving birth to twins, she returned to the office three weeks later and left us in the maid's care. "I'll be home until Tommy feels better," I said solemnly. "Feel free to check on her but please don't make any comments about her health."

My mother rolled her eyes. "Who did you inherit your stubborn personality from?" she asked, walking back into the kitchen.

"You," I muttered under my breath.

I rushed up the stairs and walked into my sister's room. I found her curled under her covers, with her socks and sneakers kicked to the floor. The curtains had been pulled too, dimming the room to match her mood. I walked to the side of her bed and set the glass of water on the nightstand. "I'm sorry," I said, feeling the weight of my words. "It's my fault Dobberman showed up."

"Of course it's your fault," she replied, still crying. "It's always your fault!"

"I know you're upset," I said. "I know that you're going through things that I can't possibly know about."

Tomasia jumped up and pushed the covers away, revealing her haggard state. "I didn't want to text him back you know!" she cried. "I didn't want to associate with that asshole ever again but he had Arisa, and I wanted to make sure she was safe!"

"I know," I sighed. "Zander knows that too, he was just being emotional because he cares about you so much. You mean a lot to him, Tommy."

Tomasia grabbed a pillow and hit me with it. "Don't call me that!" she yelled. "I hate it! I hate hearing that stupid nickname everywhere I go!"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Come on, it's a cute nickname."

"I could kill Zander for starting it," my sister complained, hiding under the covers again. "I—just! I hate him the most!"

I couldn't hold back my smile.