Prologue

Prologue

Alaric

Another rich man for my mother and another sibling for me. I turn my head and stare at my two brothers, although neither are my biological siblings. They’re byproducts of my mother’s marriages to wealthy men. Men she seduces and eliminates, sucking up their wealth like a succubus.

Asher sits across from me in the limo, his eyes on the trees rushing by. We’ve been driving on what seems to be a barren road for ages—nothing in sight but the lush forests and a dirt track. No doubt Mother likes the isolation—no one around to rush in and save her new husband when he dies from a mysterious heart attack.

How long will we have to wait before adorning our mourning black and pretending we give a fuck about the impending loss?

River is wearing his headphones, most likely listening to some obscure death metal band. He shrewdly observes his new daddy. Will he fuck this one like he did the last? I glance at his crotch and smirk at the visible outline of his dick.

The previous guy was fun. I enjoyed his talented mouth. We used to bring him out for parlor tricks when buddies were over and see how many dicks he could shove into his mouth. Sadly, the maximum was only five, but that didn’t stop us from fucking his ass two at a time to satiate our disappointment.

Asher didn’t like fucking that dude. But he sure liked to torture him. He called him pathetic while he stretched his ass wide with a speculum until it fit the barrel of a baseball bat and swag. Asher joked about how he wished he’d done the same thing to his little league coach ten years ago. But I guess a nine-year-old boy isn’t as imaginative as a twenty-nine-year-old man.

I spot my mother fussing over her new man in my peripheral view. Her over-sweetened voice is enough to make me gag.

“I can’t wait to meet your little girl,” she simpers.

I bet she can’t. My mother has a penchant for breaking sweet little things. From how my new step-daddy describes his little girl, she’s a decadent cupcake with a mouthwatering buttercream frosting.

The stretch limo may as well be a cramped closet because my ability to breathe is constricted. All I want is to get away from this woman and the toxic environment she created from the moment I was born. My attachments are misguided now, and I’m locked in with the two young men sitting across from me. Asher would likely fuck the bitch with a knife and rid us of her, but he’s not easy to convince—probably because she’s fucked him up since childhood. My mother calls him a good boy, and he salivates like a starved dog spotting a piece of prime meat. I guess it’s why he has a hard-on for leashes.

“Oh, Charles, it’s beautiful,” my mother coos as the limo pulls up to a large black cast iron gate protecting a giant stone mansion.

The place must be at least thirty-thousand square feet. My mother has come a long way from the trailer park where she lived with my sperm donor.

“I’m so glad you like it, Celeste,” Charles whispers as he kisses her palm. His gaze moves to me. “I hope you four will be as happy as Ella and I have been here.”

My ears perk up at the mention of his daughter—my new twenty-one-year-old sister. My dick got hard the first time I saw her picture. That’s never happened before. There was something about her, a body made for sinning and a face God himself would bow to in reverence. A perfect mix of saint and sinner.

Mother’s lips turn up at the mention of her name. She’s never had to make a female come to heel before. I’m sure she’s gloating about how much easier it will be to manipulate a girl over the three boys she’s molded to her liking. My stomach churns as Mother glances nonchalantly at Asher’s and River’s cocks before licking her lips.

Sick bitch.

The iron gates swing open, and the limo pulls up in front of a stone staircase leading to two giant mahogany doors with a cliché gold knocker. But the extravagance before me pales compared to the curvy brunette with the bright smile.

The scorching afternoon sun sends rays of light into the dark limo. Mother and Charles step out first. Like a Hollywood actress, she runs to her new stepdaughter and begins her ritual. My ears burn with the poison seeping from her lips. Bullshit lies she spins to catch the young beauty in her web. The nausea induced by witnessing her deceit is why I never lie. Omit the truth? Yes, all the time. But I never lie.

The girl smiles politely at my mother before leaping into her father’s arms. Charles twirls her around, and they both laugh.

“Don’t you think you’re getting too big for such antics?” Mother asks, hiding the venom in her voice with an overdose of sweetness.

Charles laughs. “She’ll never be too old to give her dad a hug, will you, Princess?”

“Never, Daddy.”

My dick jerks at her words, letting them wrap around my shaft like a wet cunt.

Mother’s sinister smile splits her sweet stepmother persona as she turns toward the three of us.

River steps forward first—shocker. He’ll fuck anything with a hole. I’m sure he’s already picturing Ella on her knees with tears streaking down her face while her mouth is busy worshipping his dick.

“Hi,” he greets in a chipper voice, “I’m River. I’m charmed to make your acquaintance.”

“Nice to meet you,” Ella murmurs, her sweet smile causing my heart to beat erratically. She bypasses River and steps toward Asher. “And you are?”

Asher smirks as he steps forward. He leans in and places a kiss by her ear, whispering low enough for only the three of us to hear. “Your worst nightmare.”

I smack the back of his head, and Asher growls as he glares at me. Fine by me. Better me than her. Besides, I did him a favor. Can’t have him scaring the little thing before Mother puts her plan into action. Asher would be in a world of pain. Then again, he’d enjoy every ounce of torture I could muster up for him. My gaze roams to the vicious marks along his arm, and my conscience rears its ugly head, reminding me that they’re my fault.

I smile. “Don’t listen to my brother. He’s an idiot.”

Ella’s pretty green eyes land on me, and the ground under me splits open, sending me plummeting into the unknown. If I believed in the almighty, I’d be forgiven for thinking she was an angel sent down to ordain me as a prophet. Her lips turn up and her smile widens as if beckoning me to the heavens. I shake my head to clear my brain of her hypnotic spell.

Extending my hand, I reciprocate her warmth. “Hi. I’m Alaric.”

Mother clears her throat as Ella places her soft hand in mine, forcing me to add quickly, “Your big brother.”

Ella blushes at my emphasis on “big.” What other parts of her body can I cause to blush so prettily?

River inches closer to her, blocking my view. He wraps his arms around her waist, hoisting her in the air before he twirls her around. Her laugh tinkles like melodic wind chimes. She seems so innocent and carefree. Part of me is envious—I never had the option of being carefree.

It’s too bad I’m about to destroy her dreams and drown her in nightmares.