Page 32 of Ashton

The hairs on my neck slowly stand when Roan walks in last. The dickhole from the meeting. Why didn’t Dad mention that he was entertaining a legacy asshole? Roan’s mouth jerks into a grin as he walks past me, never looking at me.

“Find a seat around the table; don’t be scared who you sit by,” Serena continues to talk.

The table quickly fills, and I watch everyone sit, leaving one seat open. Atticus grips the back of the empty chair, waiting for me. It’s not him I’m worried about. Taking mytime, I move toward the table and pull the chair out. My shoulder brushes his when I sit, and my body stiffens.

“What’s the matter, Odette? Still pissed about yesterday?”

I tilt my head and meet his eyes. “No, Roan. Because in the end I won. You can throw around all the power in the world, but it doesn’t mean dickshit in the end.”

Atticus leans in, keeping his voice low, “What’s this about?”

“Cameron.”

Ashton and Maddox both glare at me from across the table. I almost feel guilty for not telling them about the meeting. Then again, they didn’t ask for details. Before they can bitch me out, Dad saves me.

“Turkey is ready. Make room.” He set down the platter, and my stomach rumbled.

“Hungry, Odette?” Roan nudges me.

If he touches me again, my fork will go through his hand. How the hell does he and Serena know each other? I risk a glance at Serena, and she leans back in her seat, tilts her head, and shoots me a smirk on her overly lined lips.

“Ashton, hunny, why don’t you carve the turkey?” she says without looking away from me.

Ashton groans but stands. “Yeah, I guess. Prescott, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. My old hands could use a break, son.” Dad passed him the knife, and Serena’s mouth carries a vile smile.

I’ve never trusted her, but ever since I told her she’s a poor bitch I can’t trust her at all. She’s planning something, but what is the question? And I have no way of proving anything, especially being at school all the time. I have no one here who can check on Dad all the time. I definitely can’t ask Roan; he’s conspiring something with the bitch, too—I know it.

I scan the rest of the guests, and none seem familiar, but I can’t trust them if they are friends of Serena’s. Too many snakes are at this table, and my dad is the poor rat about to be eaten.

“I have a question,” Atticus speaks up.

“Of course, my dear.” Serena smiles at him.

Atticus chuckles. “Who the fuck are all these people crashing our family dinner?”

Ashton snickers under his breath as he finishes carving. “Yeah. Mom. I was hoping for a peaceful dinner of Jinx, bitching you out again.”

I bite my lip, holding back a laugh.

“You watch your mouth. This is still my house, and I won’t tolerate disrespect in front of my guests,” she hissed darkly.

“My dad’s house, actually.” I remind her. I caught her fingers twitching over her knife. “Remember,you get nothing if he dies. You become the poor broke bitch you were before.”

Her fingers wrap around the handle.

Chapter fifteen

Maddox

This entire supper is heading down the drain. Serena is losing it minute by minute, and I’m trying not to add fuel to the fire. But Jinx, oh boy. She isn’t holding back. It would’ve been fine if Serena knew how to keep her mouth shut, but she always finds a way of getting her little digs in.

“You watch your mouth, and it’s still my house until the end, you little bitch.” Serena stands, tipping her chair over and grabbing for the butter knife from the table.

“Serena, sit down,” Prescott breathed exhaustedly.

No one speaks, and whoever is sitting next to me grabs the dish of vegetables like this doesn’t faze him. For all Iknow, this could be normal for him. But Serena is done for. I watch Prescott gently place his fork on the edge of his plate and push his chair out. I glance at Atticus, but he’s watching Prescott; as much as Ace hates his mother, he won’t think twice about stopping Prescott from hurting her.

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