Page 6 of Fragile Union

I finish getting ready and can't help but wonder what the fuck is going on? Why am I so protective of Holly? I barely know her. Whatever happens, I'll not go down like Dante. He's lost his damn mind where Makenna's concerned.

Two

HOLLY

"Da, please, keep her away from me," I plead with him. Ma's already started her shit today and I don't want to listen to it anymore.

"She'll be on her best behavior, I promise, baby girl." He pulls me into his arms and I go willingly. I'm such a daddy's girl. My da loves me and he's not afraid to show it; he's the best da in the world. When Ma was off doing God knows what, or God knows who, Da was the one who would read me stories, he'd be the one who never missed a recital, or a meeting with the school.

He gives a fuck about us kids and that's why he's the best man I know.

"Why is she even here?" Malcom asks, his teeth clenched and his eyes filled with pain.

Something's happened with him, I'm not sure what, but I do know that he's changed in the past few months, ever since we found out Melissa was pregnant. I adore my sister-in-law, she gives my Aunt Makenna a run for her money in the badarse stakes. I'm worried about Mal, he's always been the quieter of us, always watching rather than engaging, but lately he's withdrawn and I hate it.

"She's your ma, you know what she's like," Da says and I roll my eyes. "I've warned her, she's wearing on my last nerve."

"You should have put her down a long time ago," Mal growls as he watches her saunter into the room. "She's got some fucking nerve."

"Malcolm." She smiles at him as she walks over to us. When she reaches my brother she goes to kiss his cheek but he snarls at her and walks off. "Well, that wasn't polite."

"What did you do to him?" I ask. "He's always been the only one of us who gave a fuck about you ma, so what did you do?"

She glances away unable to meet my gaze and that's when you know she's done something wrong. "One day, couldn't you just be a human for one bloody day?" I cry.

She narrows her eyes at me. "Don't you dare talk to me like that, are you fucking forgetting who raised you?"

I scoff, "Ma, you gave birth to me, you didn't raise me. You haven't raised any of your children. And you certainly aren't going to raise Gareth, I mean he’s only a week old and you’ve already left him," I bite out, having had enough of her.

"Holly, remember your respect," she hisses. She glances down at me, I'm in my robe, my hair and makeup are done, and I'm waiting to put my dress on. "God, you could have lost some weight before you got married."

"Out," Da snarls, his hand clamping around her wrist. "You're done. I fucking warned you, bitch." I watch with watery eyes as Da practically drags her out of the room.

"Don't cry, Hols," Malcolm whispers as he comes back into my room. "She's not worth your tears, princess."

I shrug. "I should be used to this by now, she hates me, she always has." It shouldn't hurt anymore, but it does. It stings deep and I'm angry at myself for letting her affect me.

"She's deflecting her shite onto everyone else, Hols. She's jealous and you're not fat, far fucking from it. When you marry Romero, get him to feed you, yeah?"

I giggle at his words, he's always had this thing about feeding me. He used to cook me pancakes every Sunday while Da had a meeting with all his men. Malcolm would ensure I was fed before he left to join them.

"Mal, talk to me, what's happened?" I whisper, afraid he'll walk away and not answer but at the same time, scared he will answer and whatever it is will break my heart.

"You know how Mary, Chloe, and Gareth aren't Da's?"

I nod. We all know, and we've tried to keep it under wraps, not wanting the men to find out Ma's an adulterer.

"Well, they're not the only ones."

I suck in a sharp breath. "No." The tears once again springing to my eyes.

His eyes are wide and he swallows hard. "Yeah, princess, Ma's a fucking bitch and Da ain't my Da."

I shake my head. "He is your Da, Mal, he'll always be your Da. Don't you ever say that to him, he'll be heartbroken."

"I know," he whispers as he pulls me into his arms. "I don't know if she ever told him, or not."

"It doesn't matter, you're his son," I insist, knowing Da, if he finds out he's going to kill Ma. I'm in shock, I can't believe it. "How did you find out?"

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