Page 30 of Grimm
I walked over to the cabinet where she stored the dishes only used for Sunday dinners. Apparently, it was the only thing she had left of my grandmother’s.
I removed the Highland stoneware from the cupboard. Then I grabbed the silverware from the drawer in the island. When I was younger, we’d all had to learn to polish the same silverware, every week, before we were allowed to use it again the following Sunday. I walked to the dining room attached to the kitchen and began setting the table as ordered.
Sundays were the only time we sat down to eat as a family, even when Angus had been on the outside. Sometimes, he wouldn’t come home for days on end—either he’d be on a run for the club or at the clubhouse with some whore. But, on Sunday morning, he always planted his ass at the head of the table, passing around food like we were the fucking Brady Bunch. It was sickening and one of the reasons I never attended when I got older.
After placing the last plate and piece of silverware, my sister followed my mother, carrying platters of food. Colin carried our glasses. I arched my brow at him when he sneered at me. I loved my brother. I did. But, lately, I had to constantly remind myself that regardless of my love for him, he needed to show me respect, or the bruises covering his face were going to get a lot worse.
“Sit.”
My mother’s one-word command had all of us sitting in the same spots we had since we were kids.
“Tav, say grace.”
“Ma, I don’t believe in any of—”
She cut my protest off with one look.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said.
After everything was blessed, we passed the food around until our plates were full. Although this was my favorite meal, I didn’t have much of an appetite. I was ready to get this over with and get back to uncovering what the Bianchis were up to.
“So, we gonna just sit here and eat like nothing’s going on? Like this motherfucker isn’t fucking the enemy?” Colin sneered.
I raised my head from my meal and glared at my brother. “Watch your fucking mouth, Colin!”
“Or what, Tav?” He sat his silverware down. “You gonna beat my ass again over that bitch?”
I jumped to my feet, knocking over my chair. He could talk shit about me, but Gina was off-limits.
He leaned back in his chair and smirked, like he’d done something. All he did was piss me off more. If we’d been anywhere but in my mother’s house, I would have beat him to within an inch of his life.
“Sit down, Tavish.” My mother’s voice broke through my fog of rage. “Now. And you,” she looked at Colin, “stop provoking him. He’s not only your brother but your prez. Show him the respect he deserves.”
“He stopped being my brother when he decided to fuck the bitch who putmyfather in prison,” Colin said, rising to his feet. “And if it’s up to me, he won’t be my prez much longer, either.”
He stormed out of the dining room.
I picked up my chair and sat. Did his words hurt me? Fuck, no. Colin could bitch all he wanted. I would always be his brother and his prez. Fuck him.
“Now, will you tell me what’s going on?” my mother asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I looked at her and then at Amelia. I didn’t owe any explanation to my sister, but I did my mother. This would be the last time I explained my relationship with Gina to either of them.
“Yes, what Colin said is true. I’m seeing the woman who put Angus in prison.”
“What the hell!” Amelia shouted. “How could you betray Dad? Us?”
“If you would shut the fuck up for one minute and let me talk. For the record, I don’t owe you shit, Amelia, but I do owe Ma an explanation. After I tell her what’s up, I don’t want to hear another word about my relationship.”
She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back in the chair.
“Regina came to me for help.”
“And you just couldn’t say no because you wanted to get your dick wet?” Amelia asked.
“Fuck you, Amelia.” I planted my elbows on the table and glared at my sister. “You have no room to talk about anything I’m doing, especially since you’re the reason Angus is where he is today, not Gina.”
Her eyes widened. Yes, it was about time the little princess learned the lengths me and her father had gone through to save her ass. If she had just listened and gotten rid of the prick, I could have given Angus an alibi. But since I couldn’t, he’d die in prison unless Gina could get him out.
