Chapter seven

Chapter seven


Chapter seven

Astrid

It took me a few seconds to realize the person in front of me wasn't the asshole I just ran from. This person, although an uncanny resemblance of him, had dirty blond hair and a slightly approachable face. He doesn't scream danger and seem less of a sociopath.

But maybe, he was just better at hiding his dark side. Maybe I had just accidentally ran into a more dangerous monster.

My chest heaved as I began plotting ways to escape him. It didn't seem like he would attack me, but I didn't dare let my guard down.

“Are you lost, sweetheart?” He said, interrupting my internal plotting. His voice was deep yet gentle, almost sensual.

He crouched down so I was starimg directly into his eyes. Only then did I notice how green his eyes were and how striking his face was.

Damn, this place was filled with attractive men.

I fought the urge to reach out and touch his face. I've never been one to drool over a man at first sight, but right now, I didn't need to look in a mirror to know my face was red and it wasn't just from embarassment. I cleared my throat andlooked away.

“Uhm…yeah. Kind of. This place is pretty big. I was trying to get to the party and ended up here.” I chuckled nervously.

I tried to stand up from the floor but struggled with my dress. Seriously? Why does it have to be now?

This was why I hated dresses. I would never had this kind of trouble in a pants and jacket. And they don't embarrass you like this.

“Here, take my hand.” My gaze snapped up to see the man's outstretched hand. Well, at least, this hot guy had manners, unlike the unruly one.

I took his hand and he hurled me to my feet. I muttered my thanks to him.

“So I'm guessing you're Astrid Wolfe.”

My brows furrowed in confusion.
“Yes, I am. How did you know my name?” I asked.

“It wouldn't be nice for me not to know my new step sister's name.” He said with a chuckle.

“Oh,” was the only thing I could say.

I couldn't think of anything to say to him. Maybe letting Mr Rude and Grumpy hurl me to the party would have been a better alternative. Running away from him had just landed me in a more awkward position.

A part of me felt bad because I was the one who didn't want to meet the family my mum was marrying into. They knew about me but I didn't know a single thing about them. Not even the number of people in the family.

“I'm Leon, by the way.” he stretched his hand out for a handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Leon. Sorry for barging in like that.”

“It's alright.” He gave me a small smile.

If I thought he was hot before, I wasn't ready for the sight of him with a smile. He looked like he just stepped out of a Vogue magazine.

Christ! Astrid, he's going to be your stepbrother. Get a fucking grip.

“Why were you running anyway? Did you come across a ghost? Cuz’ they lurk in the dark corners of this house.” he chuckled.

“No, not a ghost. I was being chased by a psycho.” I scoffed.

“You'll have to be a bit more specific, sweetheart. Everyone here are psychos. Not being right in the head is kind of a trend around here.” He said, earning a chuckle from me.

He wasn't just hot, there was an aura surrounding him that just automatically put you at ease. I found myself already warming up to him. I was glad I could at least get along with my step brother in this place.

“Tall, heavily built, his face has like a permanent scowl on it like he doesn't know the meaning of ‘smile’.”

I refrained from adding that he was hot as fuck because I hated the man. It doesn't matter how he good he looked. And thank God he wasn't the only hot person in this place.

Leon chuckled at my words.
“You must have met Carter already then. He isn't very cheerful. What did he do to you?”

“More like what I did to him.” I snorted. Leon's eyes narrowed on me in a silent question and I sighed.

“I kind of punched his dick.”

Leon's mouth hung open and he stared at him with surprise. Then he tipped his head back and broke into a laugh. The sound was so contagious that I found myself smiling too.

“Oh, I like you already.” He said when he finally managed to control himself. “But you need to go before he comes here and find you. Go back to the party and be sure not to stay alone. He can't do anything to you when you're in the middle of a crowd.”

“That sounds like a solid plan. Except I don't know the way. I got lost running from him.” I said.

“I'll take you there. Let's go.” He said and made to open the door.

“Wait,” I called. I'd forgotten all about my barefoot until now. “I wasn't able to get my shoes because I had to run. Do you have a pair of flats I can borrow?”

“Sure.” Leon said and headed to a door that I assumed was the walk-in closet. No shit. They actually have closet like that.

“But I should warn you, they might be a little too big.” He added.

“I'll manage.” There was no way I was going back to my room to find my shoes. That psycho might be waiting for me in there.

Leon reappeared with a pair of flats and I quickly wore them, muttering my thanks. We headed out the door to the party.

Leon was actually pretty fun to be around. He cracked jokes all the way and I found myself laughing harder than I ever had. I started to think maybe a new family isn't so bad after all.

“Oh look, there's my mum. “ I pointed out as we walked into the venue.

As if summoned by me, she tore her gaze away from the man she was talking to and turned to me. She motioned for me to come forward.

“I think she wants you to come over too.” I whispered to Leon while he simply nodded.

We strolled to where my mum was. The person she was talking to had his back on us so I couldn't see him. I didn't care anyway.

“Astrid, you're late.” Mum said when I got to her. Her eyebrows slightly arched, demanding an explanation.

“Sorry mum, I got lost on my way. Leon found me and brought me here.” I said.

“Oh really? How unfortunate is that.” The man, who was talking to mum, said and i froze at the sound of the voice.

No, no, no, please don't be!

But as I turned to look at the person, it was the man I'd just dick punched in the hallway. And the look he was giving me promised death.

“Oh yeah, I should have introduced you sooner. My bad.” Mum chuckled nervously, but I didn't look at her. My gaze was fixed on the murderous person in front of me.

“Astrid, this is Carter Grey, your new stepbrother.”