Page 56 of Darkness

“Why have you never taken a girlfriend over?” Autumn asks, picking up the bag and flowers, and I open the door to her apartment, hoping she will get out now.

“No. Come on, if Uncle David calls me I’m giving you the cell. You can explain why we are late.” I take the bag from her and walk to the car.

“Don’t blame me, please don’t blame me.” She links her arm with mine. “And I can’t lie and say it was you. I’ll laugh then-”

“Calm down, I’ll take the blame.” Opening the car door for her, I place the bag in the back and get ready for a family dinner I still don’t want. My head hasn’t gotten better, and it’s taking everything in me to make sure I don’t snap at anyone. Even Autumn was pushing it today with how long she was taking to get ready. Before getting in the car, I take a deep breath in to prepare for the evening.

Not knocking on the door, I walk into the house, which Autumn is not happy about, but I tell her I do it all the time.

“Fuck off.” I hear Mason and Miles arguing in the kitchen.

“Mom said it was mine,” Miles shouts at him, and I shake my head. I can already see they’re fighting over Aunt Jane’s cupcakes.

“You think mom gives you everything,” Mason snaps at him, but then goes silent when I walk into the kitchen. “So, this is the beautiful English Rose,” Mason walks over to her, and puts out his hand for her, which she gives him, and he kisses the top of her hand. If only she knew what he was really like. “I honestly thought my brothers were lying to me. There was no way Cain was going to get someone like you.” Mason turns to me when I tell him to fuck off, laughing he turns back to Autumn. “You let that mouth kiss you. Dirty things come out of it.”

“Go away.” I push him away from her, and she laughs.

“Everyone warned me about you. You live up to your reputation.” Autumn looks around for everyone else.

“This is Mason, you already know Miles and Hayden-”

“I’m still pissed they got to meet her before me,” Mason argues with me.

“I should have been the first one to meet her.” I look over at the door when Aunt Jane walks through it.

“This is Aunt Jane, Uncle David, Declan and Lileah, and you’ve already met mom.” I point to each one of them, and Aunt Jane is the first one to come hug Autumn.

“I got you this. Thank you for inviting us to dinner.” Autumn hands her the bag and flowers, and I look over at Miles and Mason, both laughing.

“It wasn’t an invitation. It was more of a demand. There was no way he was going to bring you here otherwise,” Miles tells her, and she looks at me, but I keep my expression straight, and I know she hates it when she can’t read me.

“You two shut up,” Uncle David tells them, I join Hayden by the bar stool and leave Autumn with them, because they will ask her questions all night long. “You are beautiful, it’s so nice to meet you.” He leans in and kisses her cheek, then my mom hugs her.

“I can’t believe I never knew,” I hear my mom.

“I didn’t want anyone to know. Don’t blame her, blame me.” I quickly reply, mom will not make her feel guilty about not telling her when Autumn was training with Poppy.

Mom looks over at me and shakes her head. “I wouldn’t blame her. I knew it was you.”

Not saying anything to her, I look at Declan and smile. “You look tired. How is training going?” I ask him.

“You know I told them about it, and the three of them said I’m getting it worse. Why?” Declan snaps, and I have to laugh with the other three. “The baby of the family should never be picked on.”

“Good job you’re not the baby. Lileah is two minutes younger than you.” Mason reminds him.

“It will make you better at your job, than these three.” I get up and walk over to Uncle David when he pours me a whiskey. God, do I need this.

“How’s the head?”

“Does it matter? You made me come here.” I slam down the drink, and put the glass back on the table for him to pour again.

“She looks like a nice girl, not sure what she’s doing with you,” he says with a laugh, and I turn around watching her talking to mom, aunt Jane and Lileah.

“I have no idea myself.”

“Cain, why did you let her bring all this?” Aunt Jane shouts at me, “we only wanted her to come so we could meet her.” She puts the things from the bag on the counter, and the four of themlook over to see what she’s brought. I don’t even know half the stuff in there.

“I told her-” I stop talking when my cell rings, and I walk out to the garden already knowing it’s Lincoln. “Hello.”

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