Free The Wells Brothers: Luke by Angela Verdenius Page B

influence
on you, cuz.”
    “ I’m not into pain.”
    “I meant your sense of humour.” 
Hearing voices, Luke swivelled towards the door leading into the kitchen. 
“Sounds like them now.”
    “Accompanying them into the big
smoke, huh?”
    “Town.”
    “Talking about a sense of humour,
where’s yours this morning?”
    “Squashed like my nuts.”
    “You’re getting a fixation about
your balls.  I’m worried about you.”
    It was Luke’s turn to snort. 
“Yeah, right.”
    “Did you put them in a sling?”
    “Up yours.”
    “You’d need two slings, one for
each nut.”  Jason chuckled.
    “You say one word of this to Aaron
or Blue, and you’re dead.”
    “I’m sure they’d be sympathetic.”
    “About as much as you.”
    “Besides, Blue is off somewhere in
Iran or Afghanistan or somewhere like that.  How’m I going to tell him?”
    Luke was about to mention Skype
and thought twice.  His twisted cousin would do it, too.  Even though he wasn’t
there, Luke did not want his little brother knowing, the bastard would hold it
over him for years.
    “Back to the story,” Jason said. 
“You surely must have suspected they were up to ghost hunting.”
    “At first I didn’t.  I heard a
noise, distant voices, checked the girls and their beds were empty.  I went on
a search.”
    “In the dark?”
    “I had a torch, dickhead.  So I
followed the sounds of voices and tracked that pair into one of the bedrooms. 
I realised what they were up to then, any idiot knowing that pair would guess. 
I decided to give them the thrill they were chasing, killed the torch, crept up
behind Mikki and surprised her.”
    “And got kicked in the ball bag. 
Good plan.”
     Luke winced at the memory.  “That
female can knee with force.  I damned near had my tonsils rung.”
    “Less visual words, please.  I’m
trying to eat a plum here.”
    “Good luck to you.”
    “Where was your faithful hound all
this time?”
    “I shut him in the bedroom so he
wouldn’t give me away, which is where he is now while we go into town.  God
knows why, but Dog’s got an embarrassing crush on Mikki.”  The door of the
kitchen opened.  “Here come the pair of dangerous hunters now.  I’m off.”
    “Running scared?”
    “Ha ha.  I’ll catch you later.”  Turning
the mobile off, Luke watched Elspeth lock the kitchen door while Mikki strolled
across to where he leaned against the car.
    Elspeth was the picture of a
dainty, well-dressed, rich widow.  Light summer dress in pale blue, sweet
little short-sleeved cardigan in white, high-heeled pale blue pumps, and a
white handbag hanging daintily off one wrist.  He bet the whole ensemble
probably cost more than his ute.  Her hair, dyed a rich brown, was elegantly
rolled at the back of her head in some sort of farty-arsed bun.
    Mikki, in contrast, had on her
usual bright pink sneakers, a pair of brown slacks, and a button-up bright
yellow blouse with the hem flipping cheekily over her pert backside.  The
sleeves were rolled to just below her dimpled elbows.  Today her glossy red
curls were confined in a braid that hung halfway down her back.  Dark green eyes
surveyed him in amusement.  “I thought you’d be in the car by now.”
    “Waiting for you to unlock it.”
    “Poor baby.”  Holding up the keys,
she gave them a rattle.  “Couldn’t the big man find the keys to jump in the
drivers’ seat first?”
    “I have no objection to you
driving.”
    She pressed the button, unlocking
the car.  “Not threatened by women drivers?”
    “Not at all.” He got into the back
seat.
    “Glad to hear it.”  She tossed the
keys to Elspeth.  “Let’s go, Aunty.”
    “Wait.  What?”  Luke stared at
Mikki as she got into the passenger seat.  “You’re not driving?”
    Turning in the seat, she smiled
widely at him.  “Buckle up, Lukey-boy.”
    Jesus .  He could practically
feel the sweat popping out on his brow.  “Maybe I should drive after all.”
    Right