Chapter 8

Simon shut the book he had just finished reading, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. What a fucking dumb-ass book that had been. He just didn't get it. Sure, the book probably had a deeper meaning. But to him, it was about people and their small-minded asses. That was what the book was about. How people couldn't accept someone who wasn't exactly the same as them, someone who wasn't 'normal'.

But it still sucked. People need to have at least common sense. If you have this 'simpleminded man' who doesn't know his own strength, why the fuck would you give the man a puppy? Did they hate the puppy? Was the puppy mean to them? Fucking morons. Then the guy kills the girl. Why the fuck wasn't someone watching the man? If they knew he was 'simpleminded', didn't they think it might have been a good idea to make sure some dumb-ass woman didn't go see him?

"Fuckin' morons," Simon swore, throwing the book onto the table next to him. He had read the book to occupy his time while Sark talked to his father. That had been an hour ago. He was ready to go find out what was happening. He stood, getting ready to leave when he heard a gunshot go off.

"Shit," he cursed, grabbing a gun that was taped to the underside of the table. He ran out, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. He saw Sark running down the hall, he ran, catching up to him. "Who the fuck shot that?"

"I have an idea," Sark said, making his way to the bedrooms. "Nikolai is here."

"Are you fuckin' kidding me?" Simon asked, surprised. He hadn't seen Nikolai in years. Sark stopped outside a door, where they heard voices talking. Sark kicked open the door and they both ran into the room. The both froze. Sydney was sitting on the bed, a gun in one hand, and her left shoulder bleeding. Nikolai was sitting on a chair, a bullet hole next to his head.

"What the bloody fucking hell is going on in here?" Simon finally asked, walking over to Sydney. He took the gun from her. She let him, too tired for anything else.

"Simon," Nikolai said, standing up from the chair, "long time no see."

"Niki," Simon said with a nod. He sat down next to Sydney, looking at her shoulder. He glanced up at her face, noting her lip was bleeding. "Is one of you going to answer me?"

"I was about to take a shower when I find this girl," he gestured to Sydney, "in my room." Sydney glared at him.

"I was looking for Simon you dip-shit," she said, grimacing as Simon prodded her shoulder. "You left your door open."

"I'm going to take a wild guess that you two were fighting," Simon said, standing up. "You opened your stitches, they need to be redone, and you should put some ice on your lip."

"I opened the stitches earlier," Sydney said, standing up as well.

"Doing what?" Simon asked, "You were supposed to be resting." Her face turned a light shade of red.

"I was taking a shower." Simon snorted, opening his mouth to make a possibly, and most likely, crude remark, but she interrupted him. "Who is that?" She nodded toward Nikolai. Simon glanced at Sark.

"That's Nikolai," Sark finally said, "my…brother."

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"Your brother?" Sydney repeated. When had Sark gotten a brother? Oh god, she was going insane. That's what had happened. What else could it be? Wait a minute…Sark had a brother? Why didn't he tell her he had a brother who was coming? Didn't she deserve to know what was going on? Hell yes.

"Half-brother," Sark corrected her. They both glanced at said person. Nikolai flashed them a smile and gave them a little wave. Sydney rolled her eyes and turned back to Sark with a glare.

"Were you ever going to mention this?"

"I didn't see a reason to bring it up," he said simply. God, she hated when he did that. She hated it. He acted as if everything he did was right. As-fucking-if.

"You didn't see a reason?" She shook her head. "Right, well, I don't see a reason to stay here." She walked over to the door, ignoring Sark's gaze. She knew she was being childish, but, what the hell, she was on a roll already. She turned back to Simon. "Are you going to come help me?" Simon nodded and glanced at Sark once before following Sydney out.

Nikolai whistled. "Damn, you couldn't cut the tension in here with a chain saw." Sark bit the inside of his mouth. Fuck. This was turning into a mess. He had to talk with Sydney. He walked over to Nikolai, coming to stand face to face with him.

"Stay away from Sydney," he said coldly, "she's of no concern to you."

"Touchy, touchy, little brother," Nikolai said with a grin, "You haven't stuck a claim yet, have you?"

"That was your only warning," Sark said, ignoring what he had said. "I won't tell you again." Nikolai quieted. They stared at each other, blue on green. Nikolai finally spoke.

"I could kill you if I wanted."

Sark smirked. "As could I,"

"But I won't."

"Nor will I."

"Only because I was told not too."

"And that's where we're different," Sark said, turning to walk out of the room. "because I could never be a follower, Nikolai." He left the room, the door wide open behind him.

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"How is she?" Sark was standing outside on the balcony, the cool, crisp air blowing around softly. The view was amazing, but he couldn't have cared less. His mind was too occupied with other things, mainly Sydney. How could everything be going this bad? His father had become involved, his brother was here, and Sydney was obviously angry with him. What a joy his life was.

"She's fine, 'stitched her up good." Simon spoke, taking a pack of cigarettes out from his pocket. He pulled one out, sticking it in his mouth. "Want to tell me what exactly happened between you two?" He spoke around the cigarette, bringing a match up to light it. He threw the match onto the ground, taking a drag from the cigarette.

"I thought you were quitting." Sark said, staring at the cigarette with obvious disdain.

"Eh…" Simon shook his head, blowing the smoke out in a straight line. "Old habits die hard. But don't get off topic, Jul." Sark sighed, looking out into the fields.

"Nothing happened."

"Right," Simon took another drag, savoring the taste of the tobacco. "Nothing happened, that can leave a lot to the imagination, mate."

"Nothing…" Sark shook his head, glancing over his shoulder at Simon. "What do you think about Nikolai?"

"Big brother, Niki?" Simon laughed, "Ah…I dunno mate, he's a puppy dog to your father. You know your Da; he does something only if there's something in it for him." Sark nodded, he agreed. Simon took another drag, exhaling the smoke out. "But we don't have much of a choice. He could easily tell what he knows to certain people. I think we just need to play along with him. See what happens."

"I have a feeling as well, but as you said, we don't have much of a choice." Sark pushed away from the balcony, walking towards the door. He turned back, "there's nothing going on between Sydney and I, you're wrong about that, Simon."

"Yeah," Simon gave him a knowing look, "and I'm a fucking nun." Sark ignored him and walked inside. Simon turned back around, looking out into the distance. He brought the cigarette up in front of his face, regarding the burning stick. "Bloody little fucker," he threw it onto the ground, smashing it with his boot. He really needed to quit.

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Sydney froze when she heard a small creaking sound echo through the room. Someone was there. She slowly started to reach for the gun hidden under her pillow when a voice stopped her.

"It's me," Sark. Her features turned hard and she sat up. She gasped when she felt a pair of arms slide around her waist, coming to rest gently on her stomach. She felt his body as it slid in behind her, his breath warm on her neck. Her breathing became shallow as she felt his lips touch her neck softly.

"Sydney…" he whispered softly against her neck. She closed her eyes, letting the sensations wash over her. "Sydney…wake up." Her eyes shot open. Wake up? Wasn't she already up—

Sydney shot up in bed, gasping when she came in contact with a body. She let out a breath when she realized it was just Simon. Wait…Simon? What was Simon doing—

"We've got things to do, you up for it?" He cut off her train of thought. She nodded, lifting her legs off the bed. God, she had been having a wet dream involving Sark?

She was so screwed.