Losing Nuka (Litmus Book 1) by Kayla Howarth Read Free Book Online

“Your mum’s not too bad … as long as you’re on her good side.”
    “How old’s Sasha?”
    “Sixteen,” Drake answers. Five years. I was five when Sasha was born. “Doesn’t help that Sasha thinks she’s older than what she is. She doesn’t exactly appreciate Mummy’s rules either. She’s certainly a handful.”
    “She kind of sounds like a spoiled brat,” I say.
    Both of the guys laugh now. “Yeah, I can already tell you two are related,” Brett says.
    “Excuse me?”
    He lifts one of his hands off the steering wheel, showing me the blisters on his hands.
    I shrug. “That was your own fault.”
    “Yup, just like Sasha,” Brett says, putting his hand back on the wheel, a small hiss escaping his lips at the pain.
    Before long, we’re pulling up to a gigantic stonewall fence with a wrought iron gate in a fancy suburb I’ve never been to.
    “Where are we?” I ask.
    “This is the main residence,” Brett replies.
    “Main residence? How many are there?”
    Brett looks in the rear-view mirror at Drake. “A few,” Drake says.
    Brett reaches through his window and presses a code into a keypad that sits in a box coming out of the garden next to the driveway. The gate begins to open, and it suddenly feels like someone has punched me in the stomach; it’s churning so much. Sweat starts beading down my forehead.
    “Is it really hot in here? I feel really hot,” I say, trying not to freak out.
    “Don’t worry, she’ll be happy to see you,” Brett says, but it does nothing to reassure me.
    “At 2:30 in the morning?” I ask, noting the time on the dashboard clock.
    Brett lets out a small laugh. “You’re cute when you’re nervous.”
    “Careful there, bro,” Drake mocks.
    Brett rolls his eyes as we arrive in front of the biggest house I’ve ever seen. He kills the engine and climbs out of the car, reaching my door before I’ve even had the chance to take my eyes off the brick monstrosity before me.
    He gives me his hand to help me out. I take it in mine, still staring at the giant Victorian mansion. Drake moves the car seat forwards and climbs out behind me. He starts pushing me, my feet stumbling to the front door as I’m wedged in between the guys.
    “Can’t I come back another day when I don’t smell like nightclub and alcohol? I think I’m starting to sweat the stuff—it’s gross.”
    “She’s not going to care about that,” Drake says. “You’ll practically smell like the rest of the family.” He laughs as if he’s joking, but I get the feeling he’s not.
    Brett takes his keys out of his pocket and opens the arched wooden door. The foyer is completely white, so white it’s almost blinding. Or maybe I’m already starting to feel the effects of a hangover kicking in.
    I shouldn’t be doing this now, this is crazy.
    Is this really happening? I wish Declan were here.
    Taking a deep breath in, I tell myself to calm down.
    “Come into the informal living room,” Brett says. “I’ll go wake her up.”
    The foyer leads off into three directions. There’s a staircase to my left and another to my right, each leading upstairs to two different hallways. Brett walks down the three steps in front of us to the split-level. I follow and we continue into a living area on the left and a small kitchen on the right. By the size of this house, I’m guessing this is one of many kitchens here.
    “Take a seat,” Brett says. I wander over to the plush cream L-shape leather couch and sit on the very edge. I think it’s obvious I’m not too comfortable because Brett shakes his head and laughs at me before walking off. “I’ll be back down soon.”
    My leg starts bouncing uncontrollably.
    “Calm down,” Drake says, sitting on the other side of the couch from me. “I know this is probably hard for you—”
    “Hard? I’m about to meet the person who turned me over to the Institute when I was just one year old. She abandoned me, what’s to stop her from doing it again? How can you