I watched as emotions played across his face, incredulity, anger, fear, hate, longing, incredulity, before settling on anger.
“How dare you! Who do you think you are to order me around! I’m the one who pays most of the bills–”
I reached out and cuffed him upside the head. “You truly are an idiot! Do you think that just because one of their lackeys is dead and another locked up that they’re done with you? Who am I? I’m the man who’s going to protect this family! And if that means getting rid of you to keep us safe, don’t think I won’t do it,” I replied in a cool, even tone.
As I spoke the anger washed off his face and was replaced by fear.
I took a deep calming breath before continuing, “Now go upstairs. Shower, change, and go to bed.”
Acting like the good little kid, Karl did as he was told.
When I turned, I saw my sister looking at me. She wore an expression I’d never seen on her face before. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have sworn it was lust.
She walked right up to me and slipped her arms around me. I could feel her quaking in my arms. “Thank you, Kurt. I don’t know what I would have done if he went back to the track or casino.”
I rubbed her back as I replied, “I know. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that nothing ever happens to you. I love you.”
“I love you too, Kurt.”
It was only a few minutes after we released the hug, when Catherine called me for my birthday dinner. She made all my favourites. Roasted rabbit, cheesy mashed potatoes, with butternut squash for the vegetable. The potatoes and squash both came from our garden. It might not have been much, but the seasoning of love makes it all the better.
The rest of the night, Catherine and I watched a movie in the living room, before heading up to bed.
I was just crawling into bed, when there was a slight knock at my door. I looked up to see my sister slipping into the room.
I gave her a questioning look, but she avoided my gaze, and simply climbed into bed with me. When I didn’t immediately get comfortable, she silently reached up and pulled me down. Once I was laying down, she reached over me, and turned the light out. I couldn’t help but feel her breasts pressing against me.
Catherine gave me a quick sisterly kiss on the lips, then snuggled in for sleep.
I didn’t know what to think.
“Sis?”
“Shh, I can’t sleep next to him, and I don’t want to be alone. Please don’t make me leave!” she whispered.
I simply tightened my arms around her, and kissed the top of her head.
***
I’m going to break out of the story for a moment to explain the next few months. We, as a household, settled into a sort of routine. I was crazy busy, between school, sports, all the legal troubles, and managing my sister and brother-in-law. It took a lot of time. I also started spending as much time as I could hunting. Between the skins, and selling the meat, I managed to get a little extra income to ensure our bills were being paid; the added legal costs were murder on our finances.
Now I mentioned ‘managing’ the others. What I mean by this, is making sure Karl went to work, and all his legal appointments. I didn’t forcibly restrain Karl from going places to gamble, but there were a few times when I reminded him I would ensure the safety of my family, no matter what. That ‘no matter what,’ could be construed as a threat, and I suppose it was, but the only vague threatening thoughts I experienced were about kicking him out, not causing him bodily harm.
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