Page 47 of Filthiest Of Them All

“The killing only stopped when he was framed for the murders of three women. We all knew he was innocent but we couldn’t prove it. We thought we had lost Alex, he wouldn’t let any of us visit him while he was inside. He told us to forget about him and live our lives. How the fuck could we have done that when he was the one who gave us our freedom?” I nod, understanding their reasoning. “Our hope was lost until Vivian Tempest showed up and changed everything.”

“She got him out.”

“Yeah. It goes to show what a fair trial someone can have if the judge isn’t being paid off by a scumbag,” he sneers.

“I had no idea Thomas did that, Omen. I swear.”

He nods. “It’s because we believe you that you’re still breathing, Tate.” I turn rigid. “If for a single second we thought you had anything to do with taking our brother from us, we would have killed you and sent you back to your father in pieces.”

“Noted,” I rasp out.

“When Alex got out, his vengeance was at an all-time high. We made sure that everyone inside that prison knew exactly who Alexander Denver was, his reputation as the Butcher is what kept him from getting into trouble while he was in there. Not having an outlet for his aggression caused him to come out hungrier than I’ve ever seen him. He’s been fixated on Thomas and Nexus for months, we thought the old Alex was dead to us.”

“What do you mean?”

“None of us have seen a hint of the old Alex since Ellie died, but that all changed about four months ago.”

“I’m not following.”

“You may be their blood but he forgot about that after a couple of months watching you, his focus shifted from them to you. He could have flown to Panama and paid off the guards so he could kill Thomas, but he refused to be away from you.” My eyes bug out of my head.

“I didn’t even know who he was!”

He shrugs. “Since you came into his life, he’s starting to change and he doesn’t know how to deal with that.”

“Why?”

“For three years he has harbored this hate inside him and the need to destroy anyone who has wronged him. He hates that you're making him feel again, because the last person who made him feel a shred of anything was torn away from him way too soon and he won’t survive losing another person he loves.”

Alexander

I barely slept last night. I checked in with Halo at least a dozen fucking times to see if Omen was back from looking for Tate. The last message I received from that dipshit was a picture of her and Omen asleep against a tree in the south pasture. I nearly crushed my phone at the sight of her head resting in his lap. I have no right to feel the way I do. My head needs to be clear and all she is doing is distracting me from what’s important and I can’t afford that shit right now, not when we are on the brink of an all-out war against Desire and the psycho twins.

I drag my tired ass out of my house and head toward the main one. Just as I’m rounding the bend I spot Tatum and Omen walking toward the house. I remain where I am, out of their sight and listen to their conversation.

“I promise,” she says.

Omen nods and shoots her a look that brokers on respect. “He has some explaining to do this morning, maybe that might fill in the gaps of my story,” he mumbles.

She purses her lips then stops walking and grabs his arm, the sight of her hands on another male has fire searing my veins. It’s an irrational reaction but nothing about my situation with her is rational.

“If he shuts me out or pulls any of the shit he did last night, you swear to keep your word?”

Omen hesitates for a second then nods. “You have my word, if he fucks up I’ll be here.” I’ve heard enough. I round the bend and Tatum instantly spots me, whatever she sees on my face has her dropping Omen’s arm and clutching the blanket tighter against her chest. It’s only now I notice she is wearinghishoodie not mine.

“Well, don’t you look cozy, Bambi,” I sneer. Omen glares at me.

“Cut your shit, dumbass. It’s not what it looks like,” he defends.

“Don’t explain yourself to that asshole, he can assume what he likes,” she snaps.

“Oh, so I kick your vulgar ass out and you have my woman-hating brother falling at your feet for a taste of your pussy?” Tate gasps. Omen launches at me and clocks me across the jaw. I stumble back a step and grip my jaw, then meet his angry stare.

“You want to come at me, then do it… but don’t be a bitch about it and use her, you fucking idiot,” Omen snarls, then shoves me once more before storming toward the main house. When he slams the door behind himself, I turn to Tatum. She storms toward me and without warning the little shit strikes out and slaps me!

I slowly turn back to face her with murder in my eyes. She doesn’t cower or take a step back when I snarl at her. “That was fucking low! After everything he went through, you go and throw that shit in his face? Shame on you, asshole.”

My face slackens. “He told you?” My words are laced with surprise.

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