Page 113 of Dirty Deadly & Mine
Asher’s face morphs from distaste to surprise at my comment, and he follows the twins, taking a seat at the table.
When Alex goes to sit at the head of the table wheremylunch is sitting, I shove him out of the way and take the seat.
“You’re no longer the head of this household. Sit down at the other end while we eat,” I snap, any hint of maturity vanishing at the mere presence of this arsehole.
“What? No food for me?” he whines, and I shake my head.
“Nope. I only cook for invited guests.”
He grumbles like a poor mummy’s boy as he takes a seat at the end of the table, eyeing our lunch, which has now lost its appeal to me.
Still, I start eating, not willing to let it go to waste because of this wanker, and eye the sharp knife on the table next to me.
It would look great protruding from his eye.
“So, go ahead, Lily,” Alex speaks again. “Tell the boys the news.”
I still, the fork nearly to my mouth as I shoot Alex a glare down the table.
“Well, sinceyou’rehere, and it’syourfucking story to tell,youmay as well tell them.”
“Honestly, Lily. Your mouth has turned into street trash since you haven’t had a man around to keep you in line.”
Asher’s fist slams down on the table, rattling the plates, and all eyes turn to him.
“Sinceyouare a visitor in Lily’s house, you’d better speak to her with the respect she deserves, or I’ll happily show you the fucking door.”
For a long moment, the entire house is silent, like the world forgot to breathe, and then, my son speaks, bringing it to life again.
“Huh.” Ronan smirks around a mouthful of food, pointing his fork towards Asher. “What he said.”
My heart is racing with fear that Asher’s outburst will somehow out what we’ve been doing together, but as I glance from Ronnie to Jude, who is nodding in agreement, I figure they must just see their mate standing up for their mum, and not their mum’s lover.
Alex huffs, returning his glare to me. “You’re the one who is meant to be telling them.”
Jesus… this again.
“Actually,youshould be. She’syourdaughter, and if she’s dying,youshould be the one to tell them,” I state before shovelling more pie into my mouth.
“What?” Alexander’s brows shoot high. “Dying? What on earth are you talking about?”
“Hang on.” Jude raises his hand, his brows furrowing. “Dad has a daughter?”
“Wait…” Ronan holds his fork up. “If Dad has a daughter, doesn’t that mean we have a sister?”
Asher’s eyes go wide as they lock onto mine, and my cheeks heat as my guilt over keeping this secret nearly makes me flee from the table.
“Are you fucking serious? We have a sister?” Jude snaps, his glare pointed towards his dad.
“Wait… what? How? I’m confused.” Ronnie drops his fork with a clatter to the table, and I can’t help but glance at Asher, whose brows shoot up in question at me.
I try to ignore the boys and focus on what Alexander said to me.
“Alex, what do you mean? Tamara told me Melanie was sick. Dying. That’s why there was an urgency for the boys to learn about her.”
Alexander’s face turns red in anger. “She’s not sick. Melanie is a perfectly healthy and happy eight-year-old.”
“We have a sister, and she’s eight?” Jude asks, still trying to get a straight answer from his dad.
