Page 52 of Midnight Revelations

“That has nothing to do with you, Aaron. You’re my brother, not my relationship counsellor.”

“It’s just if you’re not interested…” his voice trailed off.

“Do what you want, Aaron. I don’t care anymore.”

“Are you okay, Ash?”

“Not even remotely. Goodnight, Aaron.” I hung up and swallowed the last of my drink, resisting the temptation to throw the glass at the wall. I fucking hated my life.

Every eye in the room watched me when I stalked back in and slammed my glass on the counter. “’Night everyone,” I said before walking back out through the door.

There was plenty of alcohol down in my room that I could get wasted on and I didn’t have to make polite conversation there. Fuck them all, I needed to go back to the man I was before Lucrezia ruined me. The cold-blooded killer who took what he wanted and destroyed everything in his path. The only way to survive was to cut Lucrezia Black from my life and walk away with what remained of my pride.

***

Chapter Eighteen

Lucrezia

“What the hell was that about?” Papa demanded as soon as Ash left the room.

There had been something broken in his eyes that made me want to go to him. Something had happened and he was hurting deep inside. His pain throbbed inside me since we were like twin flames experiencing what the other did.

“Did you not see his knuckles?” Xavier asked, his expression troubled. “Ash had already dealt with your Michael problem before he got here tonight. I doubt you need to worry about Lucy’s safety.”

My eyes widened. I had noticed the bruising to his hand, but it never occurred to me that he had paid his brother a visit on my behalf.

Papa’s brow furrowed. “He should have kept him on a tighter leash before this.”

“Ash was right,” Jordan replied calmly. “He isn’t his father or his brother. Ash fights his demons on a daily basis to pay for his family’s sins.”

“I’m new to this family, but Ash is a good man,” Cassandra said in a low tone. “I think you’re being unfair to him.”

Xavier’s fiancée had ovaries of steel speaking to Papa like that.

“He is a Blackwood,” Papa replied. “They are all the same. That family is poison.”

Cassandra stood and wandered to Xavier’s side. His arms opened automatically to tug her against him. “And Xavier is a Bartholomew, and no offence but his father seems to have plenty of sins.”

Papa threw his head back and laughed. “I like her. She has strength.”

“She needs it joining our family,” Xavier replied.

“I think after tonight, I need to go and lie down,” I said. “Maybe everything will look better in the morning.”

“Tomorrow, we need to reorganise Xavier’s wedding to Cassandra,” Papa corrected me and I saw Xavier stiffen in the corner of my eye. “My nephew cannot be married in a hotel, when there is a family estate with a church on it.”

“Uncle Lucas, everything is organised,” Xavier protested.

“And I have enough money to reorganise it. Your mum was baptised there, her soul will watch over your wedding there.”

“It sounds beautiful,” Cassandra replied. “A special place for our special day.”

The way Xavier looked down at her made my heart clench. Ash used to look at me like that.

Feigning exhaustion, I stood up, waving Papa to stay. “There’s enough security in this building to keep me safe. Goodnight, everyone.”

Every muscle in my body was weary, every step I took felt like a trip to the execution block. Why had Ash gone to see his brother Michael when he left with the gorgeous Poppy, and where was she now?

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