Chapter 5

Laughing, I took his phone from his hand and calmly dialed his father's number.

"Go on," I said, holding it out to him. "Tell him."

Predictably, the call went straight to voicemail.

Andrew seethed with helpless rage. He grabbed Lucas, pulling him back protectively.

"Dad's just busy! You wouldn't dare kick Lucas out for real. He'd kill you!" he growled.

I shook my head, my patience wearing thin. "I'm so tired of hearing that," I snapped. "Why don't you watch me?

"Layton. Alex. Now."

As Alex reluctantly took hold of Lucas' arm, he was weeping internally.

Where in God's name did Richard find this demon?

After all, it was my second day here, and I was already throwing one of the kids out on the street!

Alex wanted to protest, but Richard's orders had been absolute: unless it was a life-or-death situation, my word was law.

The thought of having to report this incident made him want to keel over on the spot.

Lucas looked from my coldly determined face to his older brother, who was powerless to stop me.

The terror was real now.

"I'm sorry!" he wailed, his voice breaking. "I was wrong! Please don't make me leave! I'll never break anything again! I'm sorry..."

He was crying so hard that the windows rattled. If the entire estate wasn't Sinclair property, the neighbors would have filed a noise complaint.

Layton's heart was breaking.

He had watched these children grow up, so they were like his own grandchildren.

He was the one who cared for them when their father was away.

Seeing Lucas this distraught was more than he could bear.

He looked at me, his old eyes pleading.

"Mrs. Sinclair, perhaps... perhaps we could let it go this time. He knows he was wrong."

I kept my expression stern, but inwardly, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

I had been afraid the little monster would fight me to the bitter end.

I knelt and pulled Lucas into my arms, gently stroking his back as his sobs shook his small frame.

"It's okay," I whispered. "As long as you know you were wrong."

Lucas was just a kid, so he didn't understand the complex power dynamics at play.

All he knew was that the terrifying woman who had been glaring at him moments before was now speaking to him softly.

A fresh wave of self-pity washed over him, and he wrapped his arms around my neck, clinging to me as he cried.

"You scared me," he hiccuped. "Mommy, hold me... Mommy..."

I brushed the tears from his face and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

"Shhh," I murmured. "Mommy's got you."

Watching us from the doorway, Andrew clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles were white.

He finally understood exactly who he was dealing with.

I executed the carrot and stick to perfection, having his gullible brother dancing to my tune.

Yet, he stood his ground with a silent vow that he would make me work for every inch from here on out.

The next morning, Andrew cornered Lucas in the hallway.

"You don't actually believe that witch, do you?" he hissed. "Have you forgotten how she was ready to throw you out on the street yesterday?

"It's all an act! She's just tricking you. No one could ever actually like a brat like you except family. If you fall for this, you're the biggest idiot in the world."

With every word, Lucas' bottom lip jutted out further.

He found Andrew getting more and more annoying.

Just because he had a few years on them, Andrew acted like he ruled the roost. He loved lording it over everyone, only to smugly recount his "leadership" to their father.

Besides, I already explained everything to Lucas last night.

I told him gently but firmly that violence and screaming were never the answer.

Acting out wouldn't make his father care. Instead, it just exhausted him.

I also reminded him that adults are messy creatures. We're stubborn in our errors, so he shouldn't beat himself up for things that are out of his control.

I pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, whispering that he was the best boy in the world.

Then, to sweeten the deal, I promised I would convince his father to bring him a special present upon his return.

So when Andrew called him a brat one more time, Lucas snapped.

He launched himself at his brother, slapping at him wildly.

"You take that back, you jerk! I'll rip your stupid mouth off!"

Andrew, clutching his smarting cheek, could only stare in shock.

Well, one of them defected. But it was okay. Sophia and he were still a team. It was all good.

But he had no idea that the sister he was counting on was about to face her own reckoning.