FUNNY HOW LIFE plays practical jokes.

The past few daysthat had to be a fucking joke, right?

No logical answer would make sense of what Id seen, heard, and lived the
past seventy-two hours.
My sister.
My best friend and twin.
This was what shed been living with? This was how shed been treated?
This was what she wanted to return to?
Motherfucking why? Why would she ever want to return to this insanity?
Wed been raised in a broken home, chained to an empire that absorbed us
right from birth. But we were kept safe, warm, and loved. We grew up together.
We shared everything.
But nowI had no fucking clue who my sister was.
But then she came to me.
A woman I never knew existed.
The most stunning creature Id ever seen.
Only she didnt come to me on feet or wings of an angel. She rolled into my
life and demanded my help.
And for better or for worse
I helped her.

LET ME GO!
Daniel cackled like a mad hyena, his fingers stabbing into my bicep. Without
breaking his stride, he stole me further away from the parlour and into the bowels
of the house.
I didnt want to go. I didnt want to go anywhere with him.
Take me back!
He cant be dead!
Just because he lay unmoving and bloody didnt mean he was gone.
Thats exactly what it means.
I shook my head, dislodging those awful thoughts. Hes alive. He had to be.
I couldnt tolerate any other answer. I refused to live in a world where evil
triumphed over good. That wasnt rightlife couldnt be that cruel.
Its always been that way.
My mind filled with images of my mother. My fathers desolation. My broken
childhood. Evil had puppeteered us from day one. Why should now be any
different?
Hes not dead!
I swallowed a sob.

Please dont be dead

I fought harder. Let me see him. You cant do this!
Daniel cackled louder. Keep begging, Weaver. Wont do you any good.
Hes not dead!
I locked my knees, fighting him every step. Stop! Looking back the way
wed come, the door to the parlour seemed so far awaya bright beacon at the
end of a festering corridor. They were your brothers, you insane psychopath.
Dont you feel anything?!
Please let me go to him. He has to be alive
Please let my twin stay alive
Let all of this be a nightmare!
I couldnt cope with Jethro murdered; Id go clinically insane if they killed V,
too.
I feel relief. I no longer have to put up with their simpering bullshit. He
flashed his teeth. Cut did us all a favour.
Cut will die.
He was evil incarnate. He deserved to die in excruciatingly painful ways.
I refuse to believe theyre dead.
I said stop! I wriggled harder, only succeeding in Daniels fingers tearing
into my flesh. Goosebumps covered my skin while ice steadily froze my veins.
Every second was endless torture. I couldnt live without Jethro.
It cant end like this!
You wont win, Weaver. Daniel tugged harder. Accept whats fucking
happened and obey me.

Excerpt #2
Cut shook his head, looking at his mother. They never fucking learn.
Bonnie laughed. Neither did you, dear. Not for a long time.
He wrapped an arm around her brittle shoulders. I cant imagine ever being
so terrible.
My fingernails dug into my palm as I witnessed a seemingly normal bond.
How could evil have so many layers? How could it be so obvious one moment,
then hidden by family ties and hierarchy the next?
Bonnie tapped her cane against Cuts foot. Youre not forgetting what you
did, are you? Because I have news for youyou were worse. A lot worse.
Moving forward, she dislodged his hold. But I straightened out the mess you
made. I put things right. I have every faith you will, too.
Cut nodded. Damn right, I will. His eyes strained but apart from a few
cracks in his smooth veneer, I would never have guessed hed pulled the trigger
on two of his children.
Hes dead.
Hes dead.
All because of me.
Inching closer to Jasmine, I whispered so only she would hear. He tried to
shoot you, but Jethro saved you. Do you have no shame?
Her eyes zeroed in on mine. Thoughts and emotions flickered over her face
but she didnt reply.

Her betrayal hurt. Jethro and Kes had loved her. Theyd died for her. Who
could claim to love them in return yet continue to be in the same house as the man
whod shot them?
My stomach twisted. You make me sick.
Her hands tightened around the rims of her wheels. Shutters slammed over
her eyes, but still no response.
Tears stung but I had nothing else to say. Only one promise that she might as
well hear, so shed know who truly loved her brother. Ill kill you for this. Just
like Ill kill them.