Fourth Debt

I stood in front of V, cutting Jaz off. “I won’t let them keep him in that place.” Putting my hands on my hips, I glared. “Why can’t you just let him go? You were off the estate tonight. Just take him back to London and let him hide until this is all over. Cut can just blame me if he gets suspicious.”

Vaughn grabbed my shoulders. “You think I’d do that? Run away and leave you here?”

I shrugged him off. “If you’re not here, they have nothing to control me with. I’ll be free to do what needs to be done.”

Vaughn’s eyes flashed. “Don’t be so stupid, Threads. I’m not going anywhere without you. End of fucking story.”

Jaz stiffened. “You do realise saying ‘when this is all over’ is accepting your death, right?”

I groaned. Great. Perfect thing to say in front of an overprotective twin.

“What?” Vaughn demanded. “What the fuck does that mean?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not accepting death. I have my own plan to end this. Either way, I need you gone, V. I can’t have people I love here.”

Jaz suddenly shot forward and grabbed my hand. “Don’t do anything reckless, Nila. I made an oath to Jethro to look after you. I can’t break that promise.”

My eyes widened. “When did you make that?”

Her face softened. “There are a lot of conversations and stolen moments in this house that you don’t see or hear. The day the police came for you after the Second Debt, I knew you’d changed him. He refused to speak to me. He pushed me out of his life completely, but he didn’t need to tell me for me to understand.”

“There is so much shit I don’t know about,” Vaughn grumbled. “I need some education. Someone needs to fill me in on what I missed. Second Debt?”

Jaz and I ignored him.

My heart galloped, drunk on the thought of Jethro. Imagining him alive and happy. The fact he’d talked about me…that his sister knew how he felt about me—it made our love so real. Even if it was forbidden.

My voice dropped to a whisper. “You’re like him…aren’t you?”

“Like who?” V asked around a mouthful of hobnob biscuits.

Jaz lowered her gaze. “He told you?”

Her tone was both awed and slightly miffed.

“Does that offend you?” The residual dislike for her tainted my voice.

She shook her head. “Offend? No. Surprise? Yes. But…I knew he’d fallen in love with you. I could feel it in him.”

“Feel it?” V wiped crumbs off his t-shirt. “That’s a strange thing to say.”

I turned to face him. “She’s a VEP.” After Jethro’s lesson the other day, I felt cocky to know the term. To know the technical name for a condition so common in people that it’d become a regular flaw, according to society.

V scrunched up his nose. “What the hell is that?”

Jaz chuckled. “No. And Nila has it wrong. I’m empathic to the point of emotional sensory but nowhere near as bad as Jethro. I don’t call myself anything different. Just attuned to my brother—same as you’re tuned to each other.” She waved at V and me. “You’re twins. There are differences between you, but overall, you share enough genetic make-up to sense each other on a deeper level.”

Vaughn nodded. “That’s twins for you.”

Jaz smiled. “Twins and Empaths.”

A loud noise slammed a few rooms down.

We all froze.

The inhabitants of Hawksridge were waking up.

I hated that answers had to come later, but I would hate it even more if we were caught. “As much as I want to continue talking, I think…it’s time to hide.”

Jaz nodded, rolling toward the door. “You’re right.” Without looking over her shoulder, she said, “V, I’ll take you back to your room.”

My heart twitched at the casual way she called my twin by his nickname. I wanted to tell her she had no right. But, then again, I had stolen her brother. I’d forced myself into his life and replaced her with myself.

Suddenly, I understood Jaz a whole lot more. She liked me because I was good for her sibling. But at the same time, she despised me taking him away from her.

Rushing forward, I opened the door a crack but put my foot out to prevent her from disappearing. Bending down, I whispered, “I just want to thank you. You have my word I won’t hurt him—ever again. I’m in this for life, and I hope you know that I would never take him away completely.” I smiled. “I’m very good at sharing.”

“Sharing what?” V asked, coming to place his hands on Jaz’s shoulders.

The unthinking action after a night of escapades and contact spoke more than words ever could. They were relaxed around each other. Whatever had happened had formed a trust far quicker than Jethro and I had built.

I’m…I’m jealous.

But also, strangely happy.

“Nothing.” I backed up, smiling at V.

Jaz understood, though.

She shrugged, dislodging V’s touch. “I think there’s hope for you and me, yet, Nila Weaver.” Patting my hand, she wheeled into the corridor.

V followed, pausing to kiss me on the cheek. He’d draped the two jumpers I’d given him over his shoulder and hugged his pilfered food. “I’ll see you when I see you, I guess.”

Sooner, rather than later.

I squeezed him hard. “Everything will be okay. You’ll see.”