Page 15 of Hateful Union

He gets up off the bed and stands, “If you’re not down in half an hour, I’m coming back up here.”

I give him a smile, one that I know doesn’t reach my eyes. “I’ll be down, Dad.”

He returns the smile, his too, not as bright as it used to be. “Okay, baby.”

I watch as he leaves the room, the rest of my family standing in the doorway, watching me like hawks, relief shining in their eyes as I get to my feet. “I’ll be down soon,” I tell them, hoping that they’ll leave me be.

Mum nods. “Okay, darling, yell if you need me.” Her voice gentle and soothing. She brings her fingers to her lips and blows me a kiss. Once I give her a smile, she turns and pushes my brother’s away from the door. Bentley lingering long enough to give me yet another once over, as he leaves he closes the door behind him.

Each and every one of us are in pain. We’re all feeling the effects of losing Mayer. He was a son, a brother, a friend to us. A part of our lives, had been since he was born. He’d be at our house almost every day, always with a joke, or telling a tale of what mischief he had gotten up to. I can’t bring myself to go downstairs and not find him at the dinner table.

“You okay?” Gabby rasps, her voice hoarse from the tears.

“I’m about as good as you are,” I tell her as I take in her puffy, bloodshot eyes, and her pale complexion. “What are we going to do?” I whisper, unable to see how we can go forwards without him.

She shrugs, her throat moving as she swallows, “I don’t know. Everywhere I go, I expect him to be there.”

I nod, “I know, I hate this. It’s all my fault.”

She gasps as she crawls off the bed. “No,” she says vehemently. “God, no, Ray, this is not your fault. If it’s anyone’s it’s that motherfucking Gallagher’s.”

We never told anyone about why the men never harmed us that night. I’m not sure why I asked Gabby not to tell them about Malcolm and his friend. But something about what was said that night has stuck with me. I need answers. What did they mean when they said about selling women.

I ball my fists up as I remember, pleading and fighting with that arsehole to let me free. But he just held me and wouldn’t let me go. I could have helped. I could have stopped it. I would have handed myself over to those monsters, given myself over to save his life.

“He’ll pay for what he’s done,” I assure her. One way or another, I’m going to make him pay for Mayer dying alone.

“Whatever you need,” she responds with a nod.

I glance at the door and see that it’s closed. “Do you know much about my dad’s organization?”

She frowns, stepping closer to me. “What do you mean?”

Gabby’s father lives in the States, she sees him every four or five months. He and her mum were never meant to be. She was someone he had an affair with and ended up pregnant by. She’s his secret, her father is in the Mafia. I’ve never met him, only heard about him. He’s supposed to be the biggest monster on the West Coast.

I lick my lips, needing to get this out, need someone else to hear it, to tell me that it’s a mistake. “Yesterday, Malcolm asked me if I was like my dad, asked if my dad sold me too. Then those animals said they’d sell me just as my father did to their sister.”

Her eyes widen, her lips part with shock. “Ray,” she whispers. “God, I…” She shakes her head. “I knew they did bad shit, the drugs and stuff, but nothing like this.”

I close my eyes, she never said that it wasn’t possible. She never said, they wouldn’t do that. Fuck.

“They’re right?”

“I don’t know, I really don’t.” Her voice low and unsure.

“But, you wouldn’t put it past them.”

She nods, “Yeah, I’m sorry, Ray. It’s shit knowing that your family are bastards.”

Ain’t that the truth. Now, I’m wondering how deep the ugliness runs. Do my brother’s know?

“Shower, Ray, let us deal with today and then afterwards we’ll make sure that everyone who was involved in this pays.”

Gabby’s hand clasps mine,the two of us clinging to one another. She’s not left my side since I came out of my room. A constant presence. I feel bad that I’m not strong enough to be her strength right now.

“That arsehole is here,” she hisses in my ear.

I don’t need her to clarify who she means, I already know. The humming from my body, the urge to turn and look at him is almost impossible to ignore. I felt someone’s gaze on me. It was focused, unwavering, the heat beating against my back. I had to glance back, it was as though it was a compulsion. My heart stuttered when I saw him standing there, his eyes firmly on mine. His gaze intense and determined.

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