Navy's Sons: Bullied by Quadruplet Stepbrothers novel Chapter 17

16.Good Girl-1

Tabitha’s POV

Reed’s grip on my wrist is like iron as he drags me through the front doors of the Aldair estate. The moment we enter, the sudden noise of the door slamming startles the staff. A few maids freeze mid–step, eyes wide, while one of the butlers nearly drops the tray he’s carrying. They all stare at Reed’s hand wrapped tight around my wrist, at the other Aldair brothers trailing in behind us like shadows cast from a storm. The air shifts, thick with tension.

Reed doesn’t even slow down. “Out. All of you,” he barks.

“Now.”

He doesn’t have to repeat himself. His order practically jolts everyone into submission. The staff scrambles, scuttling down side halls and staircases like roaches caught under a jar. Within seconds, the grand foyer empties, leaving nothing but the echo of fleeing footsteps and the suffocating heat of the boys‘ silence closing in around me.

Evren walks ahead in silence, his hands tucked into his pockets, jaw locked tight, while Jace closes in behind me, every footstep of his pressing tighter on my nerves. They’re surrounding me. Herding me like I’m some kind of criminal. I feel like a cattle being herded to my own execution.

“Where exactly are we going?” I snap, yanking against Reed’s hold. Although it’s useless to fight against this brute.

They don’t speak again until we reach a narrow hallway I’ve never been in before. The walls are darker here, the air colder. The further we go, the more the warmth of the rest of the estate fades behind us. And then we stop in front of a thick door. Evren pushes it open without a word.

Inside is a dimly lit training room. The concrete floor is scuffed, the punching bags in the corner torn from long use. A wall of mirrors runs along one side, and the smell of sweat and leather clings to the air. The lights overhead are a dull yellow that illuminate every brick in the space.

The door slams shut behind me. My eyes snap at my four stepbrothers who are now circling around me, their eyes still flaring in evident irritation. But strangely, I don’t feel scared.

Sure, they look mad, but they don’t look like they brought me here to hurt me. Although I know I’m in danger, I just don’t know what I’m in danger of yet.

“Why did you bring me here? Are you trying to start a fight?” I glance at the punching bags and the wall of sparring weapons like they’re part of some twisted setup.

“Take off the jacket,” Luca says, nodding to the one I wore earlier… the one Arthur lent me on the boat.

I take a step back. “What? No.”

Reed steps forward, a vein popping on his forehead. “Okay. Either you take it off yourself, or we’ll do it.”

My heart lurches in my chest. They have gone crazy. But I know that they are not joking. My fingers tremble, but I reach up and peel the jacket off. I still have my shirt on underneath, but it feels like it makes no difference. Their gazes grow heavier the moment the fabric leaves my skin. All four of them are staring, watching, like wolves scenting prey.

“What is your problem? Why are you acting like this?” I demand, voice cracking under the tension.

“Throw the damn jacket away, Tabitha,” Jace barks.

I scoff and begrudgingly throw the poor jacket on the floor. 

“Is this what you brought me here for? Because you beef with Arthur’s jacket?”

“You reek of him,” Jace growls from behind me. “It drove us insane.”

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