Page 103 of Cruel Revenge

Joshua snaps like I’ve never seen him lose his temper before.

He lunges for Royce without a second thought, taking him to the ground and straddling him.

There’s nothing Royce can do to throw him off as Joshua punches him.

He’s like a man possessed.

“Enough!” Gia shouts, taking me by the shoulders and guiding me into the corner of a room. “Can’t you all see what this is doing?”

Royce spits out a mouthful of blood. “She’s the one acting like a whore and sleeping with some guy because she claims it’s for the good of the family.”

Joshua grabs him by the jaw. “That’s going to be the last time you ever fucking speak to my wife like that.”

The punch he delivers to the side of Royce’s head isn’t enough to knock him out, but if I didn’t know better, I would say that Royce is seeing stars right now.

I glance at Sean, who stands beside Aiden looking as calm as possible. “You have to break them up before they kill each other.”

Aiden shrugs, glancing at me. “Might solve more of my problems.”

Kill them all.

I push the voice to the back of my head, hands curling into fists and nails biting into my skin.

I’m stronger than the voice, and I always have been, even if my family doesn’t like to think so.

“Enough!” I shout, going over to Aiden and Sean, shoving them into action. “Get the two of them apart right now.”

They haul Royce and Joshua apart, both men panting and dripping blood, looking like they’re seconds away from trying to kill each other again.

I knew doing this tonight was a bad idea. I should’ve canceled the dinner and stayed in. It would’ve been better. I would’ve had a night where I didn’t have to listen to my family shit all over me for the millionth time.

While I know they’re going to feel however they feel about me, it still hurts to hear it over and over again. Especially after everything I’ve done for all of them.

Not that I need any recognition for any of that, but it would be nice to be treated like I’m part of the family.

Gia stands by my side, taking my hand and holding it tight.

I shake a little in her grip, but I hold my head high, even as the judgmental sets of eyes dart between me and Joshua.

“What he was saying before Royce attacked him is that we aren’t married, though none of you can tell anyone that. Grady Granville needs to think that we’re together. The other thing he was going to tell you is that we are together.”

Ellie’s mouth presses into a thin line as she sits back down at the table. “I don’t know what kind of mess you’re creating foryourself, Skyla, but it sounds like a horrible idea, and you should get out of it while you still can.”

I tense, trying to breathe and not blow up. “I’m an adult, Ellie. I know what I’m doing, and I know the decisions I’ve made, and this is one of them.”

She studies me for a moment before nodding, a slow smile curving the corner of her mouth. “Well, anyone is better than Logan. He was a real piece of work.”

Snorting, Joshua sits down beside her. “Tell me about it. He’s been nothing but a problem since the day he was born. My mother used to say that I tried to give him up for adoption more than once.”

“Can’t say I blame you for that.” Gia sits across from him and snags a piece of bread from the bowl in the center of the table.

Ellie grins, looking at me with something close to understanding in her eyes. “If this is what makes you happy, then who am I to argue with it?”

Jade gapes at her. “Don’t you hear what she’s saying right now?”

Ellie shrugs, also taking a piece of bread and breaking it into small pieces. “I do, but I also know that Skyla wouldn’t do anything without thinking it through.”

Jade crosses her arms over her chest, shaking her head. “I don’t think that’s true.”

---