Page 51 of Sinful Mates

Bring it fucking on.

CHAPTER18

Aaliyah

Danny just couldn’t leaveme the hell alone. Fucker returned to taunt my precious family dinner.“The cops will pick apart the Jackals until there’s nothing left.”

Wrong again, asshole.I tried my best to ignore him.

Gravity returned with the weight of a ceramic bowl heavy in my hands. Beans, peas, and Mia’s favorite, broccoli. Four mates present. The six of us squished at Slade’s long table, my massive men taking up most of the room, reminding me of Goldilocks and her bears. Slade at the head of the table, Mia next to Zethan, Castor at the foot, and Alaric beside me.

Danny evaporated with a sinister laugh. I held in my whimper, trying to keep it together despite the bond betraying my fear. Four sets of eyes flashed at me, detecting my discomfort.

Mia rattled in the background about something, and Mom-mode snapped back into place.

“Eat these.” I heaped beans and peas on my and Mia’s plates, then passed the bowl to Zethan. “No complaints.”

Little puffs of protest came from my daughter.

Slade’s severe glare cut off the rest of her objections and she dug into her meal. My merciless mate switched between serious and fun daddy in an instant, and I showed my thanks with little bursts of gratification along our link.

Satisfied, he spooned mashed potatoes to his plate, sliding the bowl to Castor, steering the conversation with light topics in front of Mia. “Hey, Bossy Boots. Next week is Race Week. In town, they’ll have jumping castles, huge slides, and other fun things.” He poked Mia’s side. “Like candy floss.”

Alaric palmed my thigh beneath the table before loading my and Mia’s plates with roast lamb.

I picked up my glass of beer. One only. Stricter rations these days. Shame, when I needed harder liquor to subdue my demon.

“I’m fast. Can I race?” Mia’s boisterous voice broke the rest of the hold Danny had over me.

Kid was getting way ahead of herself, Slade’s cockiness rubbing off on her, fooling her into thinking she was indestructible. Thank the goddess she was with me. Caring for her distracted me from the evil lurking at the edges of my mind, hungry to break me as it did Alaric.

“When you’re older.” Slade grinned at me, that devilish spirit still in full force, riling me up. A ploy to take my mind off my darkness.

It worked, and I fell back to myself, throwing a pea at him. “Don’t put ideas in her head.”

“I think you’d make an awesome driver.” Slade rubbed Mia’s head. “The first female Bathurst 1000 racer, your proud old dad watching.”

Her face dropped to her bowl. “Dad?”

“Yeah.” Slade messed up her hair. “I’m your dad, aren’t I?”

The two of them were getting ahead of themselves. That was Slade for you. Jumping in with lightning speed. Life in the fast lane.

The intention had the opposite effect and Mia pushed her dinner around her plate. “I miss my dad.”

Sorrow ached in my heart. I should be honest and tell her what happened to her parents. Let her grieve and say goodbye. Then she could move on from longing for them and hoping they’d return to take her home.

My men all stared at me. Now was my chance. Isis’ healing powers told me this wasn’t the right time, but sometimes the time was forced upon you.

“They’re not coming back, are they?” she whispered.

Words rocked on the edge of my tongue.

Mia’s gaze came up to mine.

My men stayed silent, letting me take care of this. Alaric’s comforting hand found my thigh again. Zethan’s strength boosted me. Castor’s mentorship prepared me for the biggest magical test of my life.

Slade’s honesty edged the words from my throat. “No, honey, they’re not coming back.”

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