The Drake Twins
Автор
Rowan Cody
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Flashback
REECE
My legs wouldn’t stop shaking as I sat outside the Drake office, waiting for my ten o’clock interview. The secretary had told me to be on time—like, really on time. She’d warned me that the Drakes didn’t tolerate lateness.
But here I was, almost an hour later, still waiting.
Should I just leave? I probably should have known better than to even try for a job with those two assholes.
The Drake twins, Theo and Will, were basically my worst nightmare—times two. Why was I putting myself through this again, after seven years?
Oh, right. Because I needed a job. And they just happened to have one that paid decent money.
I couldn’t decide if finding their job posting online was good luck or some kind of curse. Their dad had started Drake Construction back in the eighties, and both twins had gone to college so they could work for the company in some fancy role.
From my late-night internet stalking, I knew Theo was an architect and Will was an engineer. But honestly, I wondered how much work they actually did.
Back in high school, they’d worked in their dad’s office and mostly just fucked around. Last week, Drake Construction had posted an opening for an account specialist—someone to help with accounts receivable and payable.
I’d hesitated before applying, especially after I confirmed the twins still worked there. Seven years ago, I’d left town on the first bus after graduation.
I’d spent my whole life saving up for a chance to get out of Cass. Growing up as the only child of an alcoholic dad and a mom who could win gold in mental abuse wasn’t exactly a dream.
School was supposed to be my safe place. But Theo and Will had made sure it was anything but.
Maybe it was because of my messed-up home life. Or maybe I just preferred their brand of torture to my parents’. But the truth was, I’d secretly crushed on them all through high school.
I hated them, but I also fantasized about them. Yeah. My head was seriously fucked.
They started tormenting me as far back as I could remember, but high school was the worst. Theo and Will were co-captains of the football team and every girl’s fantasy.
They were everything every other guy wanted to be. And I was just the chubby redhead who made an easy target.
I took a deep breath and stared at the floor, thinking about what it had been like with them back in high school.
SEVEN YEARS AGO
I opened my locker and glanced down the hall, making sure the coast was clear before I started grabbing my books. If I didn’t hurry, I’d be late for fourth period.
Mrs. Kirkland, my English teacher, had kept us after class because someone mouthed off to her. I shoved my English book inside and reached for my AP Economics stuff.
I felt, more than saw, a shadow fall over me. My heart jumped as I turned and saw Theo Drake standing right next to me.
His locker was beside mine, but everyone just assumed he was there for his books. They didn’t know he barely used his locker.
He only ever came over to mess with me. I looked up at him, trying to steady my breathing.
Theo Drake was basically a god, and he knew it. He stood there with his arms crossed, staring down at me like I was the one invading his space.
I shut my locker and tried to walk away but froze. Will—Theo’s twin and fellow god—was standing on the other side of my locker, arms crossed, blocking my path.
You’d think I’d done something to deserve this. Like I’d spread rumors about them or something.
But I hadn’t. I just existed, and apparently, that was enough to piss them off.
Maybe I’d done something to them in kindergarten and just didn’t remember. It felt like they made it their mission to make my life hell.
Not that I needed any help. My life was already bad enough.
“Excuse me,” I said to Will, trying to squeeze past him.
He shifted, blocking me. “Not so fast, Red.”
“Will, please. If I get another tardy, I’ll get detention.”
“Too bad,” Theo said from behind me.
The hallway was almost empty. I looked around, hoping for anyone—teacher, student, janitor, literally anyone—to show up.
I turned to face Theo and instantly regretted it. The twins both had that tan skin and dark hair, but Theo’s eyes were a deeper brown, almost dangerous.
“Theo, please.”
Sometimes, begging worked with them. They liked being in control—loved it, actually.
But the way Theo was looking at me right now, I could tell today wasn’t going to be one of those days. “Worried your detention’s gonna make you late for your shift at the grocery store?” Theo’s voice was sharp, his eyes glinting. “I’m sure Mr. Cooper would let it slide if you took him to the back and blew him.”
I swallowed hard as Theo stepped closer. My body reacted before my brain could catch up—I took a step back, right into Will.
Theo glanced over my shoulder at his brother, and I wished I could read their minds. What are they planning?
I’d dreamed about being this close to them before, but it never felt like this. Not when I was actually stuck between them.
“Maybe you should try lunch detention,” Will said, his tone almost playful. “Missing a meal won’t kill you.”
Will snatched my book and binder from my hands and tossed them behind him like they were nothing. The bell shrieked through the hallway, making me flinch, but they didn’t even blink.
No one would ever dare mark them tardy. “Please, just let me go,” I whispered, staring at the floor.
Theo leaned in, his voice low. “Beg me again, Red.”
God, why do I get turned on by these assholes? “Please, Theo.”
He laughed, propping himself against the locker like he had all the time in the world. “Why do you even bother coming to school? We all know you’ll end up just like your whore mother. Maybe she can teach you a few tricks, so you don’t have to get your clothes from the Goodwill box.”
His words stung, sharp and familiar. I’d heard it all before, but hearing it straight to my face was different.
It hurt more. They knew I was self-conscious—about my curves, my red hair, all the things that made me stick out.
“Just let me go,” I begged again.
Will’s phone buzzed. He answered it, and for a second, hope flickered in my chest. Maybe someone was calling them to class. Maybe I’d get lucky.
“Gotta go, Red,” Will said, glancing at Theo before heading down the hall.
Finally.
I turned to leave, but Theo’s hand shot out, grabbing my waist and slamming me back against the locker. My breath caught.
Before I could even react, he pressed his body against mine, trapping me.
“Did I say you could go, trailer trash?” His words were cold, but his body was hot against mine.
I inhaled sharply and felt tears slip down my cheeks. I didn’t know which display made him laugh—maybe both.
“No,” I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut.
Theo didn’t move. His cologne wrapped around me, and I knew I’d smell like him all day. Not that I minded.
He smelled amazing. He grabbed my chin, forcing my eyes open. His face was so close, his eyes burning into mine.
“I told you to stay away from us, Red.”
I didn’t even get a chance to argue that it was always them coming after me. His lips crashed down on mine—hard, wild, nothing sweet about it.
It was over before I could even process it.
Theo stepped back so fast, you’d think I’d burned him. He bent down, grabbed my book and binder, and shoved them at me.
“Take your ass to class,” he spat, then walked away like nothing had happened.
The air felt thin, like I couldn’t breathe. My lips still tingled from his kiss.
Theo Drake had kissed me.
Me.
I knew I’d pay for this later. The twins were never nice to me. Could you even call that nice?
I’d only ever dreamed about feeling their touch. Closing my eyes, I knew they were trouble, but I couldn’t help wanting to feel Theo’s lips on mine again.
PRESENT DAY
“Ms. Frazior?”
I blinked, coming back to reality. The older lady from earlier was standing in front of me, looking less than thrilled.
“Yes?”
“The Drakes are ready for you.”
But was I ready for them?
I stood up, smoothing down my shirt, hoping I looked okay. I’d picked blue jeans, a black button-up, and black flats.
The lady on the phone had said to dress casually. It felt less like an interview and more like walking into a firing squad.
I followed the woman down the hallway, my heart thumping so loudly I was sure she could hear it. She stopped at a pair of double doors and pushed them open, revealing a conference room that felt way too big for just the three of us.
The twins were already there, sitting at the far end of the table. They stared at me like I was some kind of puzzle they couldn’t wait to solve.
Seven years had passed, but they looked almost exactly the same. I couldn’t tell them apart anymore—not that I ever really could.
I can’t do this. The thought hit me hard, making my palms sweat.
When the door clicked shut behind me, it was like I’d been dropped right back into high school. Right back at my locker, surrounded by memories I’d tried so hard to forget.
“Hello, Red,” one of them said, his voice dark and smooth and just a little bit dangerous.
Theo. That voice still slipped into my dreams sometimes, whether I wanted it to or not.
Will nodded toward the chair across from them. “Sit.”
I walked over, feeling their eyes on me the whole way. Even though I’d lost some weight since high school, I was still curvy—size fourteen on a good day.
I could feel every inch of myself under their gaze.
I sat down, ready to thank them for meeting with me, but the words got stuck in my throat. There was something in their eyes—something dark and wild—that made me want to bolt.
But at the same time, I couldn’t help feeling a rush from being the center of their attention again.
I am so fucked.
