Page 36 of Hell of a Mess
“He’s here,” Bane said, glancing in the direction of the front of the house.
“Yep,” I said, then took another drink.
“What if Blaise doesn’t let her stay? Has Thaddeus take her?” Bane asked.
“Won’t happen,” Fender replied. “Not if she’s the biological daughter of one of us. Her blood is family.”
I hoped he was right. Garrett would see it that way, but Blaise did shit I wasn’t expecting more often than not.
Fourteen
Lace
“She’s not said anything,” Jayda whispered to whoever had walked into the room. “Maybe Doc should come check on her.”
No one responded, but I heard the faint click of Jayda’s boots fading farther away before the door closed.
Was I alone now? Could I cry? Did I want to? The numbness was wearing off, and I did feel—I just didn’t know what it was that I felt.
Heavy steps moved closer to me, answering my question. I wasn’t alone. Tensing, I waited, not turning to see who it was. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Especially a man.
“I got a shitload of questions, sugar, but I’ll give you until tomorrow before I require answers.” Luther’s voice was a mix of relief and dread.
“I have some too,” I replied, my voice raspy, as if I’d been crying, although I hadn’t been.
“Well, let me clear them up for you,” he said. “Seems your momma had an affair with Mal while engaged to the bastard who raised you. She was Locke’s biological mother’s cousin. Visiting for a few weeks when Mal met her. Mal never married Locke’s biological mother. He married Gathe’s—Locke’s younger brother—and she’s been a momma to both boys. My guess is, Alpheus has known all along that you aren’t his. Which leads to where we are today. Why a grown woman is being controlled and abused by the man who was supposed to be her father.”
I closed my eyes. I couldn’t even defend my momma. I’d already known she had affairs. Long before my father spat it in my face. She’d been with another man the day she died. We both had. She always took me with her, leaving behind my sister. Back then, I thought it was because she always wanted me close, but I realized now…she’d been worried about my safety. She’d been protecting me from my father—no, he wasn’t my father. He was the man who used that title, knowing it was a lie.
“The discussion of where you’re gonna stay has come up. You’ve got a father and two brothers now. You can stay at either of their houses, or”—he paused—“you can stay here until you feel more comfortable.”
Where would I stay? I hadn’t even thought of that.
What about Arun, the engagement? The lie I had lived for twenty, no twenty-one years? He didn’t know all that.
My refusing to play the role of my sister would cause…Alpheus billions, and he wouldn’t take that lightly. If I ran off, lived alone, then it would be only me he sought his vengeance on.
I turned and used my good hand to push myself up into a seated position then used it to pull my legs to my chest.
“I…I can’t stay here,” I told him, not looking in his direction, but focusing on my knees instead. “I’m engaged.” I didn’t want to tell him the entire sordid mess.
“Arun Al-Bahrani.”
At the sound of his name, my head snapped up, and I gaped at Luther. How had he known that? Had my father told Thaddeus?
“Yes,” I replied.
He scowled. “Then he was the son of a bitch who beat you.”
I could lie, but at this point, why? I’d done so much lying, and I was tired.
“Yes.”
His jaw clenched tightly, and he leaned forward slightly. “You’re not engaged anymore,” he replied through clenched teeth.
His saying so didn’t make that true.
“Do you know who that is?” I asked hesitantly.
