Sleep had been nothing more than a ghost I couldn't quite catch. Even though my body was heavy, screaming that I was freaking tired, my mind refused to shut down. I had tossed and turned until the sheets were tangled around my legs, finally drifting off around midnight, but even then, it wasn't peaceful.
It was Evander.
It was always Evander.
I woke up with the same thoughts I'd fallen asleep with, looping in a dizzying circle. What was he thinking? I replayed our last interaction over and over, dissecting every glance, every silence, and every shifting expression on his face. I still couldn't get him out of my mind. It was infuriating. I needed a distraction, or at the very least, enough caffeine to jumpstart my heart.
I dragged myself into the kitchen, the morning light too bright and too cheerful for my mood. I brewed a fresh pot, the dark, bitter aroma filling the small space. I poured the steaming black liquid into my favorite mug, wrapping my hands around the ceramic warmth, and collapsed onto the couch. I brought the rim to my lips, ready to let the coffee burn away the fog in my brain.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I froze. The mug hovered halfway to my mouth. Who on earth would be here this early? I wasn't expecting anyone, and Evander certainly wouldn't knock like that—impatient and authoritative.
With a groan, I set the coffee down on the table, mourning the sip I hadn't taken yet. I padded barefoot to the door, hesitation gnawing at my gut. When I yanked it open, the disappointment was instant.
It was the boring, impassive face of my brother.
He looked as if he had stepped out of a magazine, despite the hour. He was dressed in a sharp, blue-black suit that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe, and he stood there with that familiar air of arrogance.
"What do you want?" I asked, not bothering to hide the venom in my voice.
He didn't flinch. He just stood there, meticulously adjusting the silk tie at his throat. "You had the whole night to think about what I said last night," he replied, his voice smooth and devoid of emotion.
My jaw tightened. I knew exactly what he was talking about. He wanted me out. He wanted to control where I lived, how I lived, and who I associated with. But I wasn't going to make this easy for him. I crossed my arms over my chest, creating a barrier between us.
"Until the person who rents the house comes, I will stay here," I said firmly. It was the only compromise I was willing to make. I needed time, and I wasn't going to be thrown out on the street or forced into his car this second.
He paused, studying me with cold calculation. Then, a small, triumphant smirk touched his lips.
"A deal," he said.
He offered his hand for a shake. I looked at his palm, then up at his eyes. I hated this. I hated making deals with the devil, but I didn't have much of a choice. I gripped his hand—his skin was cool and dry—and gave it a single, firm shake.
"Good," I muttered.
I tried to push the door closed to end the conversation, desperate to get back to my coffee, but he slammed his hand against the wood, stopping it mid-air.
I glared at him. "What now?"
"Don't try to back out," he warned, his voice dropping an octave. He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out his phone, waving it slowly in front of my face. The screen was glowing. "I have recorded everything."
My blood ran cold. He had recorded our verbal agreement. Of course he did. He never left anything to chance.
"You—"
He didn't let me finish. He began moving backward, a smug look of satisfaction plastered on his face. He walked casually down the driveway, reaching his sleek, black car. He slid into the driver's seat, the engine purring to life instantly.
He rolled down the window, leaning out just enough so I could see his eyes behind his sunglasses.
"Coming afternoon, darling," he called out, his tone dripping with false sweetness. "Wait for me here."
It wasn't a notification. It wasn't a request. It was an order.
"What an asshole," I murmured to myself, the anger bubbling up in my chest.
I slammed the door shut, locking it violently, wishing I could lock him out of my life just as easily.