Page 17 of Silks

My twin released him instantly, our uncle slumping against the chair.

“Anybody else have a motherfucking opinion about vegetarian food they want to share?” he asked coldly as he dropped into the chair beside my uncle.

Just the way Teddy kicked the chair out, lazily enough, with one boat-sized wingtip shoe, but with his usual restrained power, was enough to keep the room in an uneasy, unsettled silence as Uncle Don wheezed for breath.

Maurice came bustling out with the plate of vegetarian bacon, his little French moustaches bristling with happiness.

My brother took a slice of the bacon, his jaw moving as he chomped it down.

“That’s good,” he said.

I looked over to see his eyes on me. I felt a little frisson of fear at his expression.

What would have happened if I hadn’t told Teddy to stop?

He stopped when I said his name, but what if I hadn’t been there?

Would he have just kept going?

Goddamn. My brother had always been protective but this was on another goddamn level.

My mom breezed into the room, dressed in a shiny golden pantsuit like a villain in an 80s soap opera, and looking like an absolute superstar. This was slightly depressing, because I remembered I’d have to borrow some clothes from her for all these events and she was several sizes smaller.

“What are you doing today?” Mom asked Teddy.

He glanced over at me for the briefest moment, then he said, “Meetings this morning. Then the Steamboat Race this evening.”

“What about you?” I asked my father.

“Golf,” he said.

“Can I go with you, Daddy?” I asked, before my brother could say anything.

There was no better time to figure out what Dad’s plans were for the Derby. I was pretty sure Harvey was right and he was planning something. Dad did not like to lose, and from everything I heard no one was ranking Mintmaker as likely to place. I just had to find out how he planned to cheat.

Chapter 6 (Teddy)