Sister for life 1608 Words I take Haru straight to my room when we get to the compound. Ignoring everyone around me, including my brother and father, I head up the stairs. Haru is gripping my arm like a lifeline, trembling. I slam the door behind us with my foot and lead Haru toward the bed. "Don't worry, you're safe. You know I'd never let anyone hurt you again." Haru looks up at me, and after a couple of silent minutes, her eyes shift and her body begins to relax. "I hate when that happens." Haru flops down on the bed and stares at the ceiling. She's turned Grey. That's good. "Thanks for being my friend, Violet." I snicker in response. "You're the only person who understands me. Like I'd want to lose you," I say. "Where's your stuff? Did you just take the bus here without bringing anything?" Haru shrugs and lifts her head off the mattress to look at me. "I don't have anything valuable anyway. Why waste energy on that?" "Uh, maybe clothes? You planning to walk around here naked? Not a great idea, if you ask me." Haru lets out a soft laugh and sits up cross-legged on my bed. "You can lend me some of your clothes. I have enough money to buy my own, so we can go shopping tomorrow." I frown. She knows I hate shopping. "Are you trying to piss me off?" "I like to tease you from time to time, so yes. Got a problem with that?" I hold my hands up in defeat. I should've known. "Fine. We'll go shopping tomorrow." "Thanks. Love ya." I just grunt in response and head into the bathroom. "Use my toothbrush and anything else you need." "Oh, like old times. How exciting." I let out a chuckle. Normal people might find it gross to share a toothbrush, but after a life of rat-filled cells, dirty floors, and garbage dinners, I couldn't care less about germs. I brush my teeth and hand the toothbrush to Haru when she walks in to take a shower. While she brushes, I lean back against the wall. Thin white lines mark the back of my best friend, nearly identical to mine. Only mine are bigger. Nastier. Uglier, no doubt. "Stop looking at me. I get shy," Haru jokes. "Liar," I smile. Someone knocks on the door. I meet Haru's eyes in the mirror. "Stay here," I tell her. She nods, and I step out of the bathroom, closing the door behind me. Leaving some space between me and the main door, I answer. "What?" "We need to talk." Great. My brother probably talked to my cute bodyguards and now wants answers. I'd hoped this could wait until morning-it's already 2 AM and I'm exhausted. Opening the door just a c***k, I glare up at my brother. "Can't this wait?" "No." I sigh and step out of my room. "Let's talk somewhere else," I tell him. Devil raises an eyebrow, but I catch the twitch at the corner of his mouth. "That was the plan." I follow him downstairs and notice we're heading to the so-called Church Room-the one I wasn't allowed to enter before. I guess I've been promoted? When I walk in, I realize this isn't a one-on-one meeting. My dad, Killer, Iren, Wilhelm, Jaxon, Sherlock, and two other guys whose names I've already forgotten are sitting around a long table. "Sit down," my brother orders. I fight down a nasty response. I'm not a damn dog. Still, I play the good girl and take the only empty seat-the one at the other end of the table. "So, what do you want to know?" I'm not stupid. They want to know about Haru. "Who's the girl?" my father asks. "A friend." "And how long is she staying?" "For as long as she wants," I reply, already feeling defensive. "Look, Violet. You can stay here because you're my sister and the daughter of one of the Founders. But your friend's a different story. We have rules. If she wants to stay, she has to work, become a Souleater, earn her place. Or she could become an old lady. But that probably won't happen, knowing my boys." I stare at my brother in disbelief. Anger boils inside me, and I do everything I can to push it down. For now. Did he just say they want to turn my best friend into one of their sluts? "Excuse me?" I ask, needing to make sure I heard him right before I lose my s**t. "She either becomes an old lady or a Souleater," Devil repeats, serious-like he didn't just sign his own death warrant. I stand, pushing my chair back so hard it falls. My mind blanks. Tunnel vision kicks in. My breathing slows. The rage vanishes. I go cold. "You want to use my best friend for your little fuckfests?" My voice is calm. Detached. Ice-cold. "Listen, sis-" I leap onto the table before he can finish, walking across it past the "brothers" who've wisely stayed silent. I crouch in front of my brother, staring straight into his eyes, tilting my head slightly. I've been told I look like a psychopath when I get like this-and from the look on my brother's face, it must be true. He looks at me like he's never seen me before. "Be careful what you ask of me, brother. Don't be stupid. You'll regret it," I whisper. My father stands, pointing a finger with a scowl. "Know your place, Violet. Devil might be your brother, but he's still your President. It's either that or she's out. That's how this club runs." I laugh, knowing it sounds anything but pleasant. "You're asking me to let your filthy brothers touch my friend? My f*****g sister-with or without blood? You should understand how a bond like that works. Isn't this club all about brotherhood?" I rise and stretch my legs. "Anyone who touches her is dead. You want her gone? Fine. I'll leave too. I don't give a f**k about you. You may be blood, but that means nothing to me right now. Make a decision. She's treated the same as me, or we're both out." "You can't make decisions like that!" my father nearly yells. "I can. Watch me." My brother looks furious. He closes his eyes, taking a few calming breaths. When he opens them, he meets my gaze. "Fine." "Devil," my father warns. "This is my club now, Chaos. I want my sister more than I want to please my brothers with some fresh pussy." My father leans back in his chair, shaking his head. "Whatever you say, Prez," he mutters, clearly unhappy. I glance at the bikers who had the sense to stay silent. I read the names "Cig" and "Maker" on the cuts of the two I didn't know. I meet every pair of eyes at the table before turning back to my brother. "I'll say this one more time. If one of your brothers touches her, they're dead. Don't think I'm joking." With that, I jump off the table and storm into the bar, slamming the door behind me. I climb onto one of the tables and shout loud enough to grab everyone's attention. "You all saw a girl walk into the bar with me just now. I'm only going to say this once. Touch her, and you're f*****g dead." I turn to the group of Souleaters lounging by the bar or perched on bikers' laps. "And you Souleaters over there-if you touch her, look at her, or even speak to her, I swear I will stitch your STD-infested, dirty caves you call p*****s shut. You got me?" I don't wait for an answer. I catch my brother stepping out of the meeting room. My father stands behind him, face thunderous. Devil looks pissed-but there's pride in his eyes too. What a weirdo. I hop off the table and head upstairs. Some bikers smirk as I pass, amusement lighting their eyes. Probably think I'm bluffing. They shouldn't. They don't know me, and they sure as hell don't know the life I've lived. Back in my room, I exhale and lean against the door. The tunnel vision fades, my breathing returning to normal. Haru sits on the bed, her head tilted slightly, waiting for me to say something. When I don't, she opens her mouth to ask-but I cut her off. "It's not important. If someone f***s with you, tell me. I'll handle it. Got it?" Understanding flashes in Haru's eyes. She nods. "Come on. Let's sleep." Haru shifts to the other side of the bed, giving me space. I ditch my boots and toss my jacket and pants into a corner. I slide in next to her. Her arms wrap around my stomach, hugging me tight. A calm I haven't felt in years settles over me. Within minutes, I'm asleep.