“Hey, it’s Saturday. Come watch cartoons and eat fruit loops with me.”
Yawning, Cassie sat up in bed, glancing at the clock. Didn’t that boy ever sleep?
“It’s 7. I don’t want to get up yet. We didn’t get to bed until way after 4!”she whined, covering her face with a pillow. He pulled it away and started to tickle her, making her squeal and fall out of bed.
“Come on. No one’s here to tell us to turn it down.”Glenn grinned like an eager child.
Sighing, Cassie nodded, following him barefoot down the stairs to the family room. She dozed sporadically despite Glenn’s whooping laughter at the cartoon antics.
The phone rang at 9. It was Rob.
“Hey, dude! How’s the trip?”Glenn asked, holding his finger up to his lips as he muted the TV.
“What happened last night?”Rob demanded, not wasting time with idle chatter.
“I, uh, what are you talking about?”Glenn asked innocently.
“Cut to the chase, Glenn. Cassandra called me crying about being arrested and having to go to court. She also told me she conned you. Is it true? Did you not know about her great escape?”
“I went to the library for some diagrams and...”
“And you didn’t think of bringing her with you? You know how she is. Why can’t you be responsible? I’m so pissed at you. You need to fuckin’grow up!”Rob shouted irately.
“Hey, chill. We took care of everything. The cops aren’t going to press charges if she testifies against…”
“Don’t you get it, Glenn? She was your responsibility and you fucked it up. What if she was raped? Or killed? Who would you be blaming then?”
“Gee, Rob, you don’t…”
“Not another word out of you!”Rob snapped. Glenn stared at the phone. He wasn’t used to his brother taking this uncharacteristic tone with him. It was unsettling.
“Sorry, Rob,”Glenn said quietly.
“Save your sorries for when Pop gets home. Believe me, he’s going to know about how damn irresponsible you are! Let me talk to my girl,”he ordered roughly.
His girl? Where did that come from?
Glenn handed the phone to Cassie, who frowned.
“It’s Rob. He’s pissed beyond reason. Good luck,”Glenn whispered, covering the receiver before handing it to her.
“Hello?”Cassie said nervously.
“How are you feeling today, baby?”Rob asked gently, immediately calming at the sound of her voice. Cassie frowned at Glenn; Rob didn’t sound‘pissed beyond reason’. Glenn made a face and shrugged.
Cassie tucked her feet under her. “I’m okay,”she answered softly.
“I’m just so grateful that you weren’t hurt. Did you get some sleep?”
“A little. I did a lot of thinking.”
“You’ll have plenty more of that to do when I get home and put you over my lap. In the meantime, I want you to write an essay for me regarding the importance of trust,”he informed her without any reservation.
“What? I already have tons of homework…”
“Yet you’re wasting time watching cartoons with that moron brother of mine. I know Glenn, he probably dragged your pretty little ass out of bed, bribing you with fruit loops.”
Pretty ass? Cassie felt a delighted, but unexpected, chill run through her. “Um, well...”
“I’m not asking you, I’m telling you. One thousand words, on my desk, for when I get home. I will read every word of it, too, and if I’m not satisfied, you will write it again until I am. You are to include what trust means to you, how to obtain it and how to keep it. Am I understood?”
“But…”
“Should I make it twothousand words? I could also have you write lines...”
“Yes, Rob. I’ll do it,”Cassie acquiesced, grinding her toes into the sofa under her.
“I also want you to clean your room before I return,”he added firmly.
“Okay.”Cassie knew better than to argue. She could hear the threatening undertone in his deep voice, daring her to challenge him. She was just too tired right now, she convinced herself.
“One more thing. If I even catch a dribbleof you sneaking out again, I promise you won’t be sitting for a month. I’m not bullshitting, either. I will spank you until you are raw, and you know damn well I can do it. You are to stay put in that house until I tell you otherwise. I’m warning you; do not test me on this. Not now. I’m already peeved enough with you.”
“I won’t go anywhere. I promise,”Cassie gulped fearfully.
“Now turn off the TV and get to work. You tell that fool boy that he and I are going to have a seriously long talk when I see his ugly face again.”His voice softened. “I’ll call you tonight to check in, okay?”