Page 58 of Enticing the Monster

“And you would, too, I’m sure,” Coleman says with a snort.

My lips twitch into a smile before it disappears seconds later.I didn’t realize my parents could be this cruel. I knew they were selfish. They slapped me around, and they guilted me into this marriage, into this situation, but with Shelby, they want to just hand her over.

“They handed you over as well,” Coleman murmurs.

I can’t believe I said what I did aloud. My cheeks heat. Instead of responding, I flick my attention to the floor, my gaze watching the blood as it slowly moves, pools, and begins to dry.

“And what did he tell you?” Henry asks.

Parker takes a step forward. I don’t expect it from her. She’s been so quiet since we walked into this room. But when she speaks, I hold my breath, unsure of what else to do.

“The note about my parents is true, isn’t it?” she asks. “You had something to do with their deaths, Henry. Are you the man who stood over me?”

A pin could drop.

ChapterTwenty-Three

COLEMAN

Fuck.

My eyes widen, and my gaze shifts over to Wells. He is looking nowhere but at Parker. She is all who exists to him in this moment, and this feels like the epitome of the shit hitting the fucking fan. Which it is. Slowly, I slide my gaze from Parker to my own woman.

Claire doesn’t appear angry or upset. I can’t place her expression. I’ve been able to read her pretty well these past few weeks, even from afar, but not in this moment. I can’t go to her right now and ask her what she’s thinking.

I have to stand beside my father. This is my duty.

My job.

The family first, always.

As I wait for my father’s response, I’m not surprised when he skirts the question completely. He doesn’t need to respond. His silence is enough admission of who he is and what he’s done. Although killing her parents is just the fucking tip of the atrocities the family has committed.

Hell, we kill our own when they betray us. If our own members are not immune, then neither are strangers. Although Dad has already said he didn’t like the way things went down with Parker’s parents, he hadn’t intended to kill the wife.

“Betrayal is not tolerated,” Dad announces. “Not in the family, not with anyone who has an association of any kind with the family. That is all I will say and it, without a doubt, applies to this moment, past moments, and future moments.”

Fuck.

Flicking my attention back to Parker, I watch as her eyes narrow and then fill with tears. They do not fall. She swallows them down, her focus still very much on Wells. He takes a step forward, breaking all protocol, and I wait for Dad to haul his ass back, either physically or verbally, but he doesn’t.

Wells picks Parker up, wrapping his arms around her entire body as he lifts her so her feet are no longer on the ground before he walks away, out of the room. Once they’re gone, Dad continues with his speech.

I wonder if I could get away with walking over to Claire, picking her up, and dragging her out of here to strip her down and fuck her until neither one of us can see straight and the night is done and over.

“What do you propose I do with you?” my father asks, his gaze focused on Aaron, who is still blubbering on his knees.

I doubt he’ll find his way out of this, crying or not. In fact, I would assume my father would have a lot more respect for him if he weren’t blubbering like a fucking idiot. But at this point, I don’t think he can control himself, another thing my father won’t have any respect for, someone who cannot control themselves.

“We’ll go back to Vegas, and you’ll never hear from us again. We’re square,” Aaron states.

He says this as if it is a viable option at this point. I want this to be over and done with. I want to take my wife home and check on my brother and Parker. I need a drink and to fuck my wife. She’s standing in front of me. I can’t stop thinking about her naked body and being inside of said naked body.

I snort. “Don’t think I missed the part where Claire said you slapped her around. There is no square,” I say.

“I’m sure you would like to do that. However, it’s not possible at this point. Not only do you know too much, but you’ve also already attempted to betray me. And that was after I did you a fucking favor.”

If there is one thing that you don’t do when it comes to my dad, after blubbering and crying like a pussy, it’s trying to renegotiate something you fucked up, especially after he helped you out in some way.

---