Page 128 of Sinful Bride

Arlo knows. I can see it in his eyes.

Mama must have called him.

“Steve, if you don’t mind, I need your office for a moment.”

The dockmaster nods. “Sure thing! I gotta go hit the head, anyway.”

Arlo inclines his head when he opens the door for me. I’d rather be the one taking the office and ushering him in, not the other way around.

But weirdly, at the same time, something in me feels okay with it.

He closes the door and locks it once we’re both inside. Then he just stands there, hands in his pockets, and looks at me.

I want to demand to know what the hell he’s been doing this whole time.

I want to order him to explain why I’m just hearing about this now.

I want…

Pull yourself together, man.

I clear my throat and swallow back all emotions other than irritation and distrust. It won’t do me any good to try to find answers that won’t change the past.

Like why he never came for me. For us.

Why he never saved us from my father.

“I overheard my mother talking with Daphne.” I hate how my voice sounds like it’s crumbling at the edges. Pull yourself together, you fucking pussy. Be a man. Be Bratva.

“I know.”

“So she called you.”

Arlo nods once. “She did.”

“So you know. That I…” I shake my head. “Is it true?”

“Yes.”

I was ready to go into a tirade about double-crossing me and not fucking around, but I was also expecting him to deny it or delay his answer or, fuck, something. Something to give me the chance to vent my frustrations. My betrayal.

I’m not prepared for this.

“You.” I narrow my eyes at him. “You… Explain.”

Explain to me where the hell you’ve been.

Explain to me why you abandoned her.

Why you abandoned us.

Why you abandoned me.

Arlo blows out a heavy puff of air. He runs a hand through this thick hair that—shit—looks an awful lot like mine. “Where do I even begin?”

“How about the part where you got my mother pregnant and then just left her there?”

“Now, hold on.” He lifts a finger. “I’m going to stop you right there before you start accusing me of things you know nothing about.”

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