Page 89 of Secrets and Ruin

“Secret about men, we’re always hungry,” he said, chuckling as I rolled my eyes. After a second, he realized the problem, looking at the tables, then at our two werewolves. “Let’s set them up some plates.”

I looked back and pointed for them to sit at the table closest to the door we had entered through, claiming that area of the room as our own. It left us with the twins and their family closest to us and far from the silent fury building across the room.

Niko and I piled food onto three plates. I desperately needed to eat as well. The last time I had been able to eat anything had been whatever we could scrounge up at his cabin and safehouse. I sat down with my werewolves in silence as Niko slid them their own plates.

“Makalo, let them eat,” Jabari grumbled from their table. I looked over and saw Makalo was already halfway out of his chair.

Niko asked something in German, and Dirk’s reply was fast, putting his fork down with a piece of ham still on it. He and Landon had started eating immediately, while I hadn’t even picked up a piece of silverware. While my stomach told me it was well past time to eat, and I would pay for waiting until later, the room was too thick with tension.

Dirk stood up, saying something else in German, and Niko laughed, a real one, breaking something in the room, even relaxing me.

“Come,” Niko said, wiping an eye.

I finally figured out what was happening as Makalo moved away from the table. Nearly a man, he stood like one now, holding his hand out as Niko and Dirk drew closer.

“It’s nice to finally meet my eldest cousin,” Makalo said with a smile. “Makalo, son of Aisha.”

I didn’t know the significance that Makalo picked Aisha over Jabari, but I knew he was close with his mother. Jabari didn’t seem insulted, so I didn’t think about it.

Dirk reached out, going in for the handshake Makalo offered.

“Dirk Brandt, Niko’s son and member—”

“Do not touch my grandson.”

Hassan’s voice rumbled through the room.

The silence left behind was all-consuming. Niko’s face relayed all the shock any father would have to hear his child rejected so publicly. Jabari didn’t look surprised, but he was pissed. Zuri didn’t hide her own anger nearly as well. Aisha was horrified.

But the really important ones were the young men left with that between them. Makalo kept his hand out, but his smile was gone, clearly working through the turn of events that just ended what should have been him getting to meet one of his most reclusive family members.

And Dirk.

His face blank as he let his hand drop and took a step back, collecting himself. He shut down, reminding me of the young man I had met, sent to me by Niko, unwilling to reach out and touch the world, not wanting to be close to anyone or anything.

Seeing that made me stand up. Landon was up at the same time. I looked at Hasan, seeing his gold eyes across the room pinned on Makalo and Dirk.

“I was never good enough for you, was I?” Dirk asked before anyone else knew what to say. A few gasps told me no one had expected him to say that.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Hasan said, his voice no longer holding the power it had, the flip switch to mild.

“Yes, you do. I can smell the lie from here,” Dirk snapped.

“Dirk, don’t. Let me handle this,” Niko said, finally jumping into action, putting his hands on Dirk’s shoulders as his son turned squarely toward the family patriarch.

“There’s nothing to handle, Niko.”

“There is.” Niko shook Dirk and turned toward Hasan, keeping Dirk behind him. “He’s my son, Hasan. He’s not nothing to you. He’s my son, and he’s family.”

Hasan didn’t even take his hands out of his pocket, staring down Niko.

“No werewolf willeverbe a part of my family,” he said, laying down the law.

“I was never a part of your family,” Dirk said, stepping away from Niko, even going so far as to throw a dismissive wave in Hasan’s direction. “You made that clear years ago. I think the only reason I’m surprised right now is you’re finally willing to say it in front of Niko. Took you long enough.”

“Watch your mouth with me, wolf,” Hasan growled.

I didn’t know what to do or say. I looked at Niko, and something shifted in his expression, a thought coming to him as he looked at me.

---