Anastasia barely had time to turn before the impact struck her face like a bolt of lightning. A sharp, searing sting burned across her cheek.
Beth had slapped her. Hard.
"HEY! What the hell?" Matt and Sean's voices clashed in unison, slicing through the stunned silence like daggers.
Matt lunged forward, grabbing Anastasia and yanking her behind him like a shield, his muscles tensed with fury. Sean stood like a stone statue, arms crossed, eyes dark with a dangerous fire.
Beth? She just smirked. The audacity.
"And what exactly are you two going to do about it?" she sneered, tilting her head, arms crossed in smug defiance. "Big, strong boys playing guard dogs for their little sister. Your father would be so proud."
Matt's hands clenched into fists. Sean's jaw twitched, his muscles visibly locking. The air around them grew thick, charged with unspoken threats.
Beth took a step forward, bold as ever. "Go ahead. Do something," she challenged, voice syrupy sweet, taunting.
"What makes you think you can lay a damn finger on our sister?" Sean growled, his voice dropping into something nearly animalistic.
Beth's smirk widened. "My daughter is being sent to Military School because of your annoying sister over here."
Matt scoffed, his rage barely restrained. "No, Britney is being shipped off because she's a spoiled, conniving brat. And guess what, Beth? That's on you. Not Ana." His tone turned lethal. "And just wait until Dad finds out you slapped his daughter."
Beth's smirk faltered for half a second. Then she squared her shoulders, her gaze slicing through Anastasia like a blade. "Anastasia, a word."
"So you can slap her again? Over my dead body." Sean's voice was ice.
Beth rolled her eyes. "It's in your best interest to speak with me alone." She turned, tossing her hair. "We'll talk just over there, where your oh-so-macho brothers can still see you."
Matt and Sean still weren't budging.
Anastasia swallowed hard. "It's fine, guys. Just give me a couple of minutes." She squeezed their arms, grounding herself in their strength.
Matt's glare didn't waver. "Two minutes. That's it."
She followed Beth down the hall, keeping her distance. A wicked grin stretched across Beth's face as she turned towards Anastasia. "From now on, you, Matt, and Sean will do everything I say. No questions. No backtalk. No running to Daddy."
Anastasia's stomach turned. "What—"
"Shh." Beth's voice dropped to a whisper, full of venom. "If you so much as breathe a word about me, Britney, or what happened tonight, I will ruin your brothers. I will frame them for theft, twist every little thing they've ever done into something more damning, and watch as your father turns his back on them forever."
Anastasia's heart slammed against her ribs.
Beth leaned in, her breath hot and sickly sweet. "I'll make them suffer, Anastasia. I'll make them hate themselves. Hate each other. And I'll enjoy every second of it."
Anastasia's throat tightened. Her body turned cold.
Beth smiled, victorious. "That's all. Sweet dreams, darling."
She sauntered away, leaving Anastasia frozen in place, drowning in dread.
Matt and Sean were at her side in an instant.
"What did that lunatic say?" Matt asked, his voice barely containing his rage.
Anastasia forced a shaky breath. "Nothing. She... she said she was sorry for hitting me. That she was just upset about Britney leaving."
Sean narrowed his eyes. "Bullshit. You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I'm fine." The lie tasted like acid. "I'm just tired. I'm going to bed."
Matt studied her, his frown deepening, but he let it slide. "You come to us if you need anything, got it?"
She nodded. "I love you guys."
"We love you too," Sean said softly, ruffling her hair.
As soon as she was in her room, she collapsed onto her bed, staring at the ceiling, her chest tight with silent panic.
"Oh God, how do I protect them from her?"
—
Morning came too soon, bringing with it chaos.
Anastasia cracked open her door, her head still foggy from lack of sleep.
Britney was dragging massive suitcases down the hall, huffing and puffing, her manicured nails clicking against the handles.
It was over. She was actually leaving.
Anastasia hesitated before stepping out. "Do you need help?"
Britney whirled around, eyes blazing. "From you? As if."
Well. So much for that.
Matt and Sean emerged from their rooms, headed to the kitchen.
"Guys, can you help Britney with her stuff?" Anastasia tried, already knowing the answer.
Matt let out a snort. "That's a hard no."
"The princess can figure it out herself," Sean added, smirking. "She's good at making problems. Let's see if she's good at solving them."
Anastasia fought back a laugh as Matt threw in, "Have fun at Military School, Cruella."
Britney's face turned a shade of red that could rival hellfire. She stormed up to Anastasia, standing just inches away.
"This isn't over." Her voice was deadly.
Anastasia exhaled sharply. "Britney, it is over. Let's just move on."
Britney's lip curled. "It's over when I say it is."
Anastasia shivered.
Wyatt's voice boomed from downstairs. "Britney, let's go!"
While waiting for Britney to get her last few bags, he asked the boys to help load her suitcases into the car.
"Dad, is she going to a Military School overseas?" Sean asked, eyeing the numerous suitcases by the front door.
"No, why do you ask?" Wyatt frowned, grinning at his son.
"Because it's not normal for anyone to have this much shit for a nearby trip!"
"Sean, it's not that nearby. It's at least a two-hour drive," Wyatt laughed. "And watch your language."
"He's not wrong though. It is a lot of shit! Does she think she's going to Australia? Not that we'd mind... hint, hint," Matt piped in smugly, looking at his father before smiling widely, showing his teeth innocently.
Anastasia started giggling as Wyatt put his hands on his hips and glared at Matt. But seeing Anastasia smile for the first time in weeks, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Mind. Your. Language," Wyatt said, pronouncing each word slowly and articulately. "Now stop messing with your dad and help me with all this shit, will you?" They all burst into laughter, and the boys started helping their dad load the heavy bags into the SUV. They almost didn't fit, but they made it work and eventually sat back down at the kitchen table with Anastasia.
Just then, Beth walked past the kitchen, chin lifted, and went out the door without even glancing at them. Britney followed, but as if in slow motion, stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, scowled at them, flipped them off, and proceeded to the front door.
Matt, mid-bite of cereal, choked, spitting milk across the table. "Did she just—"
Sean and Anastasia nodded wide eyed and trying to stop themselves from laughing but it proved to be difficult.
"BYE, Britney! We will miss you!" Matt shouted after her, swallowing the remaining cereal which was the last straw. Roars of laughter filled the kitchen, the first real moment of lightness in weeks. But as Anastasia watched the front door slam behind Britney, the unease in her stomach didn't fade.
What if Britney meant it?
What if it wasn't over at all?