Page 37 of The Vicious Defender

"Perfectly," she seethes.

"Good. Then let's get this over with."

"Wait," Mathilda pipes up, standing up. She glares at her mother and points a finger in her direction. "I'd like to know, too."

I laugh out loud. "She's too young for this shit. How old are you now, Mathilda? Twelve?"

"I have to agree," Rain nods. "Mathilda. Your room."

"But I-"

"Go," Heath barks, and Mathilda's mouth snaps shut. The young girl glances at me once again before running off, leaving us alone in the large dining room.

"She doesn't need to hear this," Rain repeats.

"Agreed," Heath says.

"Well, then. After you." I motion to the doors, and Rain and Heath exchange a glance before walking through the doors and heading to his office.

"In here," Heath motions for a door. We all pile inside, and I walk over to the window, looking outside. It's a nice view, and I can see the window of Tallulah's childhood room where I tucked her in last night from here. I hope she'll be able to forgive me for what's about to happen.

"Are you going to tell us, or are we supposed to read your mind?" Rain hisses, crossing her arms.

"You're so annoying," I mutter.

"So are you. Hurry the fuck up. Or should I remind you of how badly Xander wants to hurt you, and my daughter?"

"Our daughter," Heath corrects her. "And that won't be necessary, Rain."

"It's no secret Xander wants to hurt me. He's said as much on more than one occasion," I remind them.

"He said he was going to make you pay," Heath replies. "And my daughter is in danger because of him, isn't she?"

My mouth remains clamped shut, and my nephew bangs his fist on the desk.

"All those death threats," Rain says softly. "He's never going to stop, is he?"

"No. He won't."

"And this is why, isn't it?" she continues. "Because Xavier was the first to betray his brother. Right, Xavier?"

"Rain," Heath warns. "You're not helping."

"It's fine," I shrug. "She's right. That's exactly why."

"You're his brother," Rain continues, shaking her head. "How could you betray him?"

"I'm a scorpion, just like the rest of them. And just like the rest of them, I'm a bastard."

"Then explain," Heath urges me. "I've never been interested in your past, but now it seems crucial. How did you do it? And when?"

"You know the story, don't you, Rain? Did you hear it from Xander himself?"

"No," she admits. "I got it from his wife, Ivette. You remember her, right?"

"Barely," I lie. "How do you know Ivette?"

"She and I met once," Rain admits.

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