STEPBROTHER (R-18) novel Chapter 40

Scarletts P.O.V

Helplessness is dictating. It seizes your mind, unwarranted, as you watch Oliver being walked out of the house, arms cuffed behind his back, a trail of speckled blood along the floor.

This is fucking ridiculous! He didn't do anything wrong! He was just protecting his mom... someone who failed to protect him.

Angry tears sluice over your cheeks as you twist to face the masked expression of your mother.

"What the fuck, mom? How could you?"

You drag shaking fingers through your knotted hair, before swiping the tears from your face. Your disappointment is evident as you frown at her. She denies guilt with a shrug of her shoulders and a gentle shake of her head, like she's only looking out for whats best.

"Scarlett, you need to let those men do their jobs. I'm not going to interfere with things when I don't know what the hell fully happened."

"Are you kidding me? This isn't his damn fault!"

You wince when your mother throws her arms up defeatedly.

"This is exactly why you shouldn't have gotten involved with him. You're letting your feelings cloud our judgement."

You press your hands against your chest and raise your brows incredulously at your mother.

Jesus Christ, she doesn't know what the term 'loyalty' is at all.

"You're something else, you know that? Can't be fucking loyal to anyone. If it was kirk you'd let them take him?"

she rolls her eyes, and wraps her arms around herself.

"That's enough"

"This is why we fucking bounced around from man's house to man's house when I was younger.

You cant just firmly stand behind someone. Its fucking pathetic. Unlike you, I'm going to fight for someone I care about"

You push past her, storming down the hall towards the front door, before ripping it open and jogging down the stairs.

"Scarlett! Get back here!"

Not fucking happening.

Your eyes scan the lawn before you spot the cop car parked in the driveway, the officer still toting Oliver towards it, a grim expression on the officers sweaty face.

I don't want him to go through this alone.

Your thoughts are jumbled as you stand there, horrified as the officer roughly shoves Oliver up against the squad car. You bite your lip hard, unable to contain the fear pulsing in your veins.

Maybe I should call Kirk? I cant just let them take him away.

Your heart pounds anxiously in your chest as you feel your lungs tightening, and suddenly its harder to breathe under the pressure.

I'm not going down without a fight.

Ignoring your mother's shrill voice from the doorway as you descend the stairs, you shoot kirk a quick text.

Scarlett: Oliver got arrested! Please come down to the police station!

Here goes nothing

Your legs carry you towards the policeman, and with a few sharp shakes of your head, you dispel the foreboding thoughts clumping together in your head.

Don't think-just act!

When you near them, the police officer frowns, and holds out a hand warning lay.

"Miss, I'm going to need you to back up"

"No. I'm not going to"

Oliver's brows knit together as he begins shaking his head.

"Scarlett... don't. Just go back inside"

"No. I'm not"

Oliver sighs, and you notice his jaw tensing as the officer raises his voice.

"You need to step back! Unless you want to get arrested for interfering"