Remember I said, I didn't talk much.

Well, there were two bitches who started snitching on me.

To Lucian. Cue the shudder.

"We tried giving them fresh clothes to change into and they denied it. Well, Bunny did. I don't know about Rose," Damien said.

We were almost finished with dinner.

Lucian looked at him then looked at me and my twin.

"They didn't want to wear old clothes. Josiah offered he ordered something. They think we're doing them a favor by doing that," Jayden said, making Lucian look at him.

I just clenched my jaw and glared daggers at Jayden.

Asher spoke, making me look at him.

"We are your brothers. Nothing we do for you is a favor."

"Brothers?" I feigned confusion, making everything go deathly silent.

"We don't even know you guys," Rose said. I had to pay close attention to her words to understand what she was saying. That sweet voice couldn't have just said that in the tone I just heard.

"We have enough time to know each other." Josiah smiled.

"We don't want to know you," I said, simply. "You can't just barge into our lives now and order us around."

"We had our reasons-" I cut Jayden off.

"What reasons did you have to not even try to call us once in eleven years?" I snapped, making him frown.

"Watch who you're talking to." He pointed his fork at me.

"A bitch who clearly needs to be put in its place," I said, letting my anger take control. "You left us be for eleven years, we'd like it if you leave us alone now."

I took a deep breath when Rose grabbed my hand that was clenched into a fist on the table.

"So you're sore because we didn't contact you." Damien concluded.

"We simply didn't want you to contact us. We're sore because you're making us live with you against our will," I said, turning to face him, immediately regretting it when I saw the glare Lucian had on his face.

My throat started closing on its own, but I forced it open.

"Meet me in my office after dinner," He said. "Both of you."

I just looked down at my almost finished food and gulped a little.

Lucian finished first and stood up. I kept my head bowed and heard his footsteps retreating.

I was done too, Rose was still eating, so I sat there staring at my lap.

"I'm done," Rose said, softly. I nodded and stood up, not even trying to pick up the plates this time.

"Don't forget to go to his office," Jayden said from behind me, when I turned around to face the door.

The step I was about to take stopped mid-air.

I took a deep breath in again, trying to keep my temper in control, accidentally holding Rose's hand too tight. I released it quickly and raised my other hand over my shoulder to show him my middle finger.

"I'm going to tell Lucian," He sang, chuckling with Damien.

"Go do it now. I want everything to be over with in one meeting," I said, before I started walking with Rose following close behind. As soon as we were out of that door, she stepped beside me.

"A hug helps sometimes." She offered for the nth time in the two years.

"I'm okay," I said, hiding my inner panic as we made our way to our room.

Rose didn't say anything in protest, which I was again thankful for.

"Babies!"

I rolled my eyes and looked back.

"What?" I asked, which came out colder than I wanted it to.

Asher stopped just before us, a pitying look on his face.

"Let me show you the way," He said, giving us a sad smile.

I shrugged.

"Stop calling us babies though."

"I will when you stop being so adorable," He said it like he was making a deal. I just shook my head and pointed my hand in a random direction, asking him to show the way.

"Right," He said and started walking.

"Don't take Damien's words to heart," He said, out of nowhere. "It's adorable how you take care of each other."

"It's her who is taking care of me. I don't think I do anything," Rose mumbled, maybe not even knowing she was saying it out loud.

Well, just her being on my side was enough. Just knowing she has been there and will always be there was enough.

Asher looked at her over his shoulder and smiled, with a knowing look on his face.

I frowned in suspicion but didn't say anything. Rose was looking at our entwined hands, unaware of the smile being shot at her.

He stopped before a scary looking door and turned to us.

"Try to be a little calm. Okay?" He asked, putting his hands on his thighs and bending down to our level. He was looking at me while he said that.

He stood back up when we didn't do anything except stare at him.

"Alright. Good luck," He said, before walking away.

I took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in."

I'm already scared.

I opened the door and entered, Rose following close behind and rubbing circles on the back of my hand.

Lucian glanced up from the papers spread on his desk and nodded. He looked back down, dropping the pen in the stand and gathering up all the papers.

We stood there awkwardly in the middle of the office, watching him put the papers away.

"Sit." He said, never looking up as he leaned back in his chair and opened his desk drawer, to put the papers in.

If it was anyone else, anyone who was just a tad bit less scarier than Lucian, I would've given them a piece of my mind.

But since I didn't have the courage to even look him in the eye right now, partly terrified of whatever was coming because of the way I spoke, partly terrified of him in general, I walked to the chairs before his desk and sat down after making sure Rose was seated comfortably.

Rose wasn't letting go of my hand and I was grateful for the comfort she was providing.

"I'd like to make some things very clear," Lucian began, not in his usual plain tone, but in a cold stern tone that made me gulp a little.

"Look up, Bunny." The order was thrown at me and it hit me like a slap as I looked up quickly, without even thinking.

Okay. That was embarrassing.

"Hm." Lucian hummed in approval, taking his cold gaze off me and shifting it to my sister. "First, I'd like to hear what you want to say."

"We don't want to live here." Rose started.

"And we don't want favors," I added, before putting my hands in my pocket. I got the ten dollars I had on me out and put them on the desk.

Lucian looked at it with his emotionless piercing gaze.

"It's for whatever you've done. This is all we have right now. I'll pay you later if there was something extra expensive in the food."

Lucian looked at the money for a moment with a frown before looking at me.

"So you're telling me that you wanted to live on your own with just this much?" He pointed his index finger at the money.

We shrugged.

"We'd manage," I said, making Rose nod in agreement. His frown deepened before he sat straighter.

"You're not going anywhere. I have your custody and you're smart enough to know that running away is not an option."

He turned to look at me again, while I fought to maintain eye contact.

"I'll drag you back here in no time," He said, raising an eyebrow.

"We don't-" Rose began but was silenced by the simple raise of Lucian's hand.

"I don't care," He said, making me frown. "You are my sisters and you're staying here with me."

The scoff that escaped my mouth was unexpected. For us and for Lucian, because his gaze snapped towards me.

I tried to stop it, I swear!

"Do you have something to say, Bunny?" He asked, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. His tone almost had a challenging edge to it.

I don't know where the courage came from but I started talking.

Maybe it was the breaking of eye contact that gave me the courage. I pretended to forget Lucian was sitting before me and started speaking.

"Well, you forgot about our existence for eleven years." I repeated my complaint again. "And now that we don't want you in our lives, you're bothering us."

"I don't like to repeat what I said, but if you can't look me in the eyes when you speak, I'll pretend I didn't hear you," He said, making me look at him again.

"We didn't forget anything. We had our reasons, which you do not have to bother yourselves about," He said, clasping his hands together and putting them on the desk. "As for you Bunny, I'm not the slightest bit happy with the way you're behaving. This is the only time I'm letting it slide, there will be consequences next time. Start getting used to everything."

I struggled not to look down. Again, I hate myself for letting him scare me.

"There are rules that are to be followed in this house and respect is the most important out of them-"

I made the mistake of cutting him off.

"Respect goes both ways."

"Do not interrupt me again." His cold gaze fixed on me as a glare.

"You are to respect everyone, whoever it is." He looked between us back and forth, before continuing while looking at me. "That means, no talking back, no mouthing off, no cursing at your brothers or anyone whatsoever."

He moved his gaze to Rose again.

"You are to report to me or any of your brothers whenever you go out, whether by text or call or in person. Do what you're told, without arguing or throwing a tantrum. I'll be in control of everything you consume, so I doubt you will even see alcohol or drugs."

His gaze kept flicking between us two.

"That's all. You have to keep everything I said in mind and act accordingly. I don't want to hear of any kind of misbehavior from you two. Am I clear?" He asked. I dropped my gaze back down when he gave me a pointed look at the end.

We both nodded which perhaps wasn't satisfying enough, because his tone made me shake.

"I asked, Am I clear?" He nearly gritted.

"Yes," Rose muttered while I stayed silent for some reason.

"I expect an answer, Bunny," Lucian said, most probably glaring at me.

My heart was beating fast as Rose nudged me a little.

"Am I clear?" He did grit his teeth this time, so I muttered a quick quiet 'yes' as soon as he finished the question.

"Good. Now you will go straight to your rooms and wear the clothes Josiah ordered for you," He commanded, looking at us for any signs of argument. Looking at me most of the time.

Please welcome the mental eye roll.

"Very well. You're dismissed," He said. I glanced at him to find him already staring at me. Rose stood up first, followed by me as I followed her out.

As soon as the door shut behind me, I released a shaky breath and thanked my luck, I got away easy.

This could've gone way worse.