Suri Nightingale
Tell me the universe is conspiring against you without telling me.
In my case, it was the last of the brothers staring me down like I didn’t belong here, like they wanted me nowhere near this place, their place.
And I know that. I know that very well and I wish they’d just see that I wasn’t trying to be their enemy. Hell, in the first place, I never wanted to be here. I should tell them that it’s their father that practically kidnapped me, and maybe then they’d lay off me. Even for just a little bit.
I figured that since I’ve met Atlas and Wes, then this one was no doubt Devon. The swimmer that was not in the pool, and from the looks of it, he was busy running.
Topless.
Does nobody in this house own a shirt? For someone so rich, they sure lack the most basic item a human being needs.
But again, like all the other brothers, I can clearly see that the appeal is there. He’s unbelievably handsome, too. You can tell he’s the youngest by how conserved he is with the way he stands–less c o c k y–but his emerald green eyes are a sight to behold just as his paper-cutting jaw and wavy light brown hair is.
Although none of that really matters because I need to stay away from them. All of them.
“Look, I don’t want to cause any trouble.” I told him flat out since there was no point at making things even more complicated than it already was.
He raised his brow at me and I think my stomach just fluttered.
Damn it. Do all of them just have that ability to make you swoon by just standing there looking god like or what? It was so unfair and so not helping my case here.
Devon just continued to look at me amused and I was starting to get really uncomfortable. First of all, because his presence is rather intimidating, it was hard to get my thoughts in order.
And second of all–and probably the most important–how is he around the same age as me but his body looked like he’d been working out since he was, what, five?
Thinking back at it now, all of the brothers had an amazing physique. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were half gods at this point, and by a god I meant someone more like Hubris, not the nice ones like Hermes or something.
“I didn’t say you were causing any trouble,” Devon finally spoke up, but his response just confused me further.
These boys were so good at playing mind games, and honestly, if they were going to be like this then fine, I reckon there would be no harm playing their silly little games.
I crossed my arms in front of my chest, trying to instigate some sort of dominance in between the two of us, but I highly doubt that it was working. Either way, I can’t back down now.
“You don’t have to,” I told him. “Your two brothers already think I’m a waste of space here and frankly, I’m sick and tired of being accused of something I didn’t do and I’ve barely even done anything! For God’s sake, I just arrived here last night.” I complained, annoyed.
“Suri, I–”
“No, let me finish, because all you guys have done was cut me off and shove your absurd demands on me like I’m a nobody, like I’m not a guest in this house. It’s just so rude how none of you can even greet me with a proper ‘hello’. Instead it’s ‘leave Suri’ or ‘we don’t want you here Suri’. It’s so exhausting!”
Wow. Letting all that out was somewhat… therapeutic. I felt some weight lift off of my chest, but that doesn’t mean it was over. In fact, I think I just dug myself a deeper grave because I showed one of the brothers that their stupid antics were affecting me.
Ugh. Whatever. What’s done is done.
“Did they really say those to you?” Devon asked and I blinked at him confused.
I was expecting him to laugh at me or mock me, but instead, he’s looking at me like he’s actually… concerned? Ah, he must still be playing with me.
I shook my head slightly. “No, not exactly those words, but I’m not stupid. Those were what they were trying to convey.”
“I see…” He responded as he placed his hands in his pocket so cooly and then let out a sigh.
And then he gives me a smile and I think my panties just dropped.
“For the record, I don’t think you’re stupid, and you’re free to stay here for as long as you want or like or need. Our father told us about your situation and his relationship with you and trust me, he’s been trying to find your mother for years so finally being able to bring you here was really good news for him. Regarding my brothers, yeah they can be a bunch of d i c k s, but they’re generally harmless. Don’t let them get to you.”
Did he just… give me assurance?
Okay, I have no idea if he’s being serious, but I think I like this one son.
I was rendered mute when he started to take steps towards me. As much as I was telling my brain to move my legs, it just wouldn’t. I just stood there… dumbstruck.
A few seconds later, he was standing right in front of me. I watched as he pulled out one of his hands from his pocket and then it went up to my face.
Before I could do anything else, he tucked a loose strand behind my ear.
My stomach did a backflip at it.
And as expected, he looked even more handsome up close, and when he smiled, his eyes glistened.
“I like your eyes, by the way. First time seeing someone with heterochromia. I’m sure you get a lot of weird looks, but I think they’re cool as fuck.”
It’s official. He is my favorite out of all of them.
I cleared my throat and took one step back so he wouldn’t notice me blushing over him and his words.
“I– uh, thanks… I guess.” I rubbed my neck sheepishly. “Sorry about… um… shouting at you earlier.” My cheeks were getting warmer and I just wanted to disappear.
I can’t believe I ended up making some big stupid outburst about my frustrations towards them when he seems to be the nice one. I’m so stupid. I should really just keep my mouth shut from now on.
“No biggie. Seriously. I’ve lived with them for seventeen years. I know exactly what you mean.” He smiles at me again, but it’s not the kind of smile his other brothers have directed towards me.
No, this one is… sincere.
I like it when he smiles.
Just as we were awkwardly standing in the middle of the gigantic mansion, Keith appeared out of nowhere, and I thanked the gods for him for that.
Devon may be the nice brother out of all of them, but I still can’t trust him, and being alone with him isn’t good for my sanity.
Scratch that, being alone with any of them.
“Oh, great. You two are here already.” He said it like he's planning something.
Did I say I thanked the gods for him for appearing? Never mind, I take that back.
Why is he planning something related to me and this guy and what could it possibly be?! I am not ready for this.
Keith walked towards us and I just noticed he had changed into more formal clothes. He was now wearing something you would wear for a business meeting – all dark gray, complete with a coat and black tie.
“Hey, dad.” Devon greeted him and I noticed he was the first one out of all them to call Keith their ‘dad’ and not just by his first name.
Not just that, but Keith also seemed less tense around him. Maybe Devon really is the good guy.
“Hey,” he smiles warmly at him and me, before adding, “I kind of need a favor from you.”
“Me?” I asked with a tilted head.
“Well, both of you.” He specified.
Lord, help me. What could I possibly have to do with him?