Page 11 of Reign of Psychos

“No.” He scowled and ground his teeth.

“Having a son who drops out of college like a waste of space makes me look bad.”

“More so than having a son who starred in a sex tape?” I raised one eyebrow before gulping down a hefty mouthful of whiskey.

“You can’t afford to get trapped by some grasping little whore, Cassian. Camilla was a good match. Well-bred, accustomed to our life.” From the angry vein pulsing in his temple, he hadn’t forgiven me for ruining his plans. Oh dear.

Anxious to move on from talk of Thea, I butted in. “Was there a reason why you came after me, father?”

He blessed me with a reptilian smile. “Your mother is doing well. Dr. Lassitor is most pleased with her progress.”

It was a sharp reminder of the hold he still had over me. A reminder that as much as I wanted to run away, I couldn’t abandon my mother. Or Thea.

“You can’t keep her locked away forever.”

“Can’t I?” He smirked before picking up his glass. We both paused as Moira passed with a tray of clean glasses. His eyes swiveled in her direction. I inwardly groaned as she caught his interest and smiled brightly. The poor girl probably had no clue who he was. Or how much danger she was in.

“I’m running out of patience, Cassian,” he snarled once Moira had moved out of earshot. A burning log shifted in the hearth tomy left, sending sparks flying up the chimney. Outside, the wind picked up as rain lashed the windows. What a glorious start to the new year. “You associating with the Kellys makes me look weak, and I will not tolerate it!”

I didn’t much care what he thought about Declan Kelly. Dad and the Kellys had mutual business interests, according to him, so his outrage felt like a deflection.

“Tell me, father, why would Francesco di Luca try to discredit me, and by extension you?” It had been bothering me ever since we discovered who was behind the sex tape. Dad hadn’t mentioned it, so I wasn’t sure if he’d figured it out yet.

His gaze sharpened. “Di Luca? How do you know he’s responsible?”

“A little bird told me.”

I could almost hear the gears turning in his head as he processed my revelation.

“The girl. Di Luca’s slut of a daughter.” He went silent for a moment before breaking into a deep chuckle. “Lucia’s daughter.” His head tilted to one side as he looked over my shoulder, staring at nothing in particular. “That woman was…quite somethingback in the day. No wonder the girl reminded me of her.” His grin widened. “Like mother, like daughter, eh?” Shaking his head regretfully, he sniffed and picked up his drink. “Both whores,” he said, swallowing the last remaining dregs.

My fist clenched as I pictured it slamming into his face hard enough to shatter his perfect nose. His men were close, but not that close. The shock of a broken nose would be enough to distract him for a few seconds. Enough time for me to grab the poker resting in the hearth and split his skull like an egg.

The mental image of my father lying in a pool of congealed blood brought a smile to my face before it faded.

“You knew Thea’s mother?”

“Yes. We were…acquainted… at Cambridge. Before she married di Luca.”

Dad’s words sank in, and alarm bells blared, obliterating his next ramblings. Fuck, if Dad had screwed Thea’s mother, how likely was it she was his daughter? Cold beads of sweat trickled down my neck as my brain whirred so fast, I felt dizzy.

“Is it possible Thea is your child?” I demanded.

Dad stared at me for a moment before his lips twisted up in a faint smirk. Then he picked up his drink.

“It’s possible, although I hope not given you fucked the little slut. Our good name might not survive accusations of incest.”

“Yourgood name?” Was he for real? Reputation management was the least of my concerns right now.

I leaned forward with clenched fists, which soon wiped the smile off his face.

“Careful, Cassian. You’re already skating a thin line.” He settled back in his club chair and tapped his fingers on his knee, looking thoughtful. “She may have been pregnant when I was done with her. Can’t say I cared enough to ask.” He shrugged and chuckled to himself. “No wonder di Luca is trying to rattle my cage. He probably expected a sweet little virgin on their wedding night, not a well-used whore.”

My lip curled in disgust when he smiled, apparently enjoying his little trip down memory lane. “The woman was quite something in bed. All that Italian temper and fire made thingsinteresting.”

His grin widened while I pictured him lying dead with his skull caved in. It helped curb my homicidal urges.

Since Moira was hovering nearby, I raised my hand to draw her over. I needed another fucking drink.

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