Page 60 of Vengeful Lies

My mother waves it off, saying, “What? I just had to confirm my suspicions, and I wanted to see what type of woman she is.”

I look at my phone. Still no update from her.

Where the fuck is she?

“I’m starving,” Hawke complains.

“We’ll wait for her. The table is already set, so you can be patient,” Mother tells him.

“Besides, you’re always hungry.” Billie checks her pockets and fishes out a lollipop.

“You’re a fucking angel.” Hawke grins as he steals the sucker from her hand.

Dutton looks up from the book he’s reading and pins Hawke with a glare. Then sends one Ford’s way when she hands him one. Ford isn’t as big of an eater as his gym junkie brother, but I’ve never seen him turn down a sweet.

“No, we can start dinner now. Her shift must be going over. I’ll try to call her one more time,” I say.

“Oh, a shift worker?” I hear Honey ask curiously. No one knows she’s technically a hitwoman, and I have every intent to keep it that way.

I call, but there’s no answer. This time, though, she does text back. I grin at the updated contact name I gave her since Stalker didn’t seem to fit anymore.

Wifey: I’m running late. Eat without me.

I frown at the short text and lack of apology. But it’s likely she’s had to stay at work later than she expected. I don’t even know why she keeps that job. I understand having a cover, but as my wife, she won’t have to hide behind something so trivial. If she were my real wife, that is.

When I enter the dining room, I see it’s beautifully set up. My mother stands behind my father at the head of the tablewith a smile, proud of the outcome. She then looks up at me expectantly.

“She’ll be a bit longer yet. But she said to start without her.”

I sit beside my mother, leaving the other side free for when Jewel arrives. A private chef brings out entrées, setting a plate in front of each of us. My mother uses this time to ask Dutton about Jewel, and he tells her she will most likely challenge me in every way and that she’s flawlessly stubborn. I don’t think that’s what my mother wants to hear.

By the time we’ve finished the main course and she hasn’t replied or shown up, I can see my father getting irritated. He doesn’t have much in the way of patience; I guess that’s where I get it from.

“It will be nice to have another woman my age in the family,” Billie says after I briefly describe Jewel to them. Billie’s only a year younger than Dutton, but he treats her as if she’s still a sweet little girl.

“Wait till you meet her,” Dutton mumbles under his breath. Thankfully, at the same time, Honey and Dawson are in conversation with my parents.

I glare at him across the table, and his sister shifts uncomfortably. “Don’t be bitter because you can’t find anyone who won’t put up with your shit,” she says to her brother.

He raises his eyebrow. “I’ll have you know; I don’t intend to have a relationship. This family keeps me busy enough as it is.”

Hawke snorts. “More like no one wants you because of how fucking intense you are.”

Billie then defends her brother. “Hey, like you’re one to talk, Mr. Manwhore. You can’t even remember the girls’ names you sleep with.”

“I’ll have you know that I do remember them, but if there’s more than one in one night, it becomes tricky,” he says defensively, then scarfs down a forkful of food.

“You’re such a pig,” she snaps back. “The only one who actually has any decency here is Ford. At least he knows how to treat a woman.”

Ford looks up from his phone this time.

“Please, Ford hasn’t been with a woman since…” Hawke stops to ponder that for a moment. “I don’t know when.”

An exchange seems to happen between Ford and Billie, and she’s quick to say, “It doesn’t matter. He still knows how to be at least reasonable. The rest of you are all too macho. Gah! I so want another woman in this family.”

I excuse myself from the table as Hawke and Billie squabble amongst themselves about the treatment of women. I swear, Hawke intentionally riles her up just to get a reaction. He’s been doing it since the day they first met.

I step out into the living room and call Jewel. She lets it ring outagain, which makes me angry.

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