The Nature of Cruelty Read Online Free PDF

has to deal with a controversy with one of his clients.
    “Not all gossip journalists are black-hearted, hateful human beings, you know,” Sasha argues. “Some of us do write positive stories, too.”
    Robert snorts. “Yeah, positive stories about Hollywood actresses who lose weight after having a baby. Those are the kinds of pieces that really make a difference.”
    Sasha throws her hands down on the table. “That’s enough, Rob. Do you want me to throw you out of here before you’ve even made it through one night?”
    “Fine, fine, I’m shutting up now.” He makes a show of zipping closed his perfectly sculpted lips.
    They’ve always been like this, fighting and squabbling. I guess it’s a sibling thing, though I’ve never been so argumentative with my own sister. Perhaps that’s because of the six-year age gap between us. I once read that siblings who are closer in age fight more. I suppose that means twins are the most likely to fight, since they’re exactly the same age.
    All through dinner Robert watches me like I’m a bloody wound amid shark-infested waters – him being the shark. I notice he took a shower and changed into one of Sasha’s old T-shirts and a pair of her jeans, since he doesn’t have any of his own things here. Sasha’s a good deal thinner than Robert, who has more muscle, so the jeans are a bit tight. But since her stuff is so boyish, you wouldn’t really be able to tell that the clothes belonged to a girl.
    I help with the cleanup when we’re finished eating. Robert makes his best effort to ensure that our bodies brush against one another while we put the clean dishes away as Sasha washes up. Needless to say, his actions confuse me. I’m relieved once it’s all done and I can retreat to my room to call my mum. When I pull my phone out of my bag, I find several missed calls from her. She must have tried ringing while I was taking a nap. When I’m tired I sleep like the dead; there could be a fog horn going off, and I wouldn’t stir an inch.
    I hit the “call” button, and she answers almost immediately.
    “Lana! We’ve been waiting to hear from you. How was your flight?”
    By the echo through the phone, I can tell she has me on loudspeaker and is probably sitting having tea with my gran and sister in the living room while they listen in.
    “Hi, Mum. It was fine. Sasha collected me from the airport and brought me back to the house. It’s a gorgeous place, must have cost a mint.”
    “That’s Alan all over, flashy bastard,” I hear Liz muttering in the background. She spends almost every evening at our house now that Sasha and Robert are no longer living at home.
    “Hi, Liz,” I say, laughing at the cutting tone of voice she always uses when referring to her ex-husband.
    “Hiya, honey. I hope my daughter is treating you well.”
    “She is, as always.” I trail off before saying, “And Robert’s here, too.”
    “What’s he doing there?” my mum butts in, her voice rigid. She knows Robert and I have had our problems, though she doesn’t know the true extent of my mixed feelings for him. She thinks I just can’t stand him; she doesn’t know that I also pity him in my own strange way. She also considers him to be a true brat. Of course, she’d never admit as much to Liz.
    “He and his girlfriend had a fight, and she kicked him out of their apartment. Sasha’s letting him stay here for a couple of days.”
    “I never liked that Kara girl,” says Liz. “They can barely go a week without breaking up.”
    “He’s not giving you any trouble, is he?” asks Mum, worried.
    “We’re not teenagers anymore, Mum,” I say, not wanting her to fret over me. “And he’ll only be here a few days.”
    “All the same,” says Liz. “I know what my boy is like, and he’s always enjoyed showing you his bad side, Lana. If he starts back at his old tricks you call me and I’ll put him straight, you hear me?”
    “I hear you,” I say. “Listen, I’ll call again on