Page 61 of Owen (Storm Enterprises)

She holds her hand up, and he clamps his mouth shut. The action would be comical if I wasn’t so infuriated. “I don’t want to hear it.” She turns to face me, putting her back to Tate, and plasters on a smile that makes my lip quirk. “Maybe take Laya into the family room?”

I nod and head out of the foyer, ignoring the jibes of contempt as we leave, knowing this will be a lot tougher than I first thought. Putting a ring on Laya’s finger and adopting Romeo was supposed to help prove my commitment to them both, but it’s only added fuel to Tate’s wrath.

THIRTY

OWEN

“How long has this been going on, huh? How long have you been fucking my little sister, you backstabbing prick?”

My teeth ache from clenching them so hard.

Mark and Steph took me, Tate, Shaw, Reed, and Mase into the dining room. I know the guys are here in case Tate loses it again. From his death glare to his taught body seething with hate, his fury radiates toward me, and I get it. That’s why I take it.

“How old was she when you fucked her?” he spits out.

“Jesus.” Mase pinches the bridge of his nose and looks up toward the ceiling.

I cast my eyes around the room, uncomfortable at this question. Her parents are here too, and I have too much respect for them and her to discuss our private life.

Reed is swiping on his phone with not a care in the world. Lot of good he is. Mase looks two seconds away from leaving theroom, as he starts pacing again, and Shaw’s face is etched with concern, his focus switching between Tate and me.

“She was legal,” I reply, hoping it dissipates any concerns that had no place arising.

Tate scoffs. “Legal? Like how fucking legal, Owen?”

I glare back at him. He’s some nerve to talk when he fucked Ava at eighteen too.

“Enough.” Steph slaps her palm down on the table.

“Owen won’t be answering any more questions about his and Laya’s private life. Show some respect. We’ve brought you up better than that, Tate.”

His mouth falls open, and he scoffs.

Mark slides a drink into my hand, then squeezes my shoulder. Tate doesn’t miss the action and looks seconds away from exploding.

“You’re okay with this?” He waves his hand toward me with a sneer on his lips.

Steph raises her chin, and I couldn’t be more grateful. “We are, and you should be too. Your sister is happy and safe and, more importantly, she’s loved. Her and our grandson are loved. What more could I possibly want for them? What more would you want for them?” Tate’s eyes don’t leave mine, and I graze a hand over my head, uncomfortable with his scrutiny. “That man that took my daughter away, secluded her, whether she was aware of that or not, I don’t know. But he had a control over her that broke my heart to witness, from a distance of course.” Steph’s voice wobbles, and Mark pulls her against him. Hurt stirs in my veins at the time Steph and Mark have missed out on with Laya and Romeo, but not anymore, not now that they’re mine. “He clearly abused her, Tate.” She holds Tate’s gaze, and he swallows as his eyes fill with tears, and my heart thumps heavily at their pain.

“He lied to me,” Tate whispers as his eyes meet mine again. The hurt evident in his tone and his eyes, and I suck in a sharp breath at the impact that has on me.

I hurt him.

My mouth becomes dry, and I lick my lips before responding. “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt any of you, especially Laya.”

“But you did anyway,” Tate bites back, his anger returning, something I hope I can diminish with my next words.

“I love her, Tate. Her and that little boy. I love them so fucking much it hurts in here.” I clasp my fist over my chest. “Every day she was with him, creating the life I wanted with her but never had the chance of experiencing. Waking up in the morning, wondering if she was thinking of me like I was thinking about her. Tormenting myself that he was touching her when it should have been me.” Jealousy courses through me as I relay my life for the past few years without her. “I stopped myself so many times from stepping in. Too scared to hurt you.” I nod toward him and then Steph and Mark, but ignore the tears on my mother-in-law’s face as I continue on. “I didn’t want to lose the only family I had at the risk of her having a crush.” My eyes hold Steph’s, and her lip wobbles.

“It was more than a crush, we all knew that,” Shaw adds.

“You didn’t even try; you were a fucking coward. I asked you if anything was happening and you said no.” I wince at the hate in Tate’s tone.

Steph clears her throat. “I asked him not to act on his feelings.”

All attention is turned toward Steph. “I asked him to give her the opportunity to have a life outside of this one.”

I bite the inside of my mouth, unable to stop the anger and hurt bubbling inside me as she recalls the moment she crushed me, making me feel inadequate for her daughter no matter howmuch I know she didn’t mean it that way. Hell, if I was her, I’d have done the same thing.

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