Page 79 of Dirty Deadly & Mine
Pulling my hands free, I spin away from him, feeling the threat of tears burn my eyes.
“Things in the family have… changed. There’s been a shift over the last few years,” Barrett admits, and I spin back to him.
“But Ewan is still in charge, right?” When he nods, I continue. “Did you know what he demanded after saying I have to abort the pregnancy and return home?”
Frowning, Barrett shakes his head. “I don’t really know any of it, Lily.”
“Oh, my bad… I forgot. You aren’t part of the original line,” I snap, and pain flickers across his expression before he can stop it. “Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have?—”
“It’s fine,” he sighs, moving to sit on my bed. “It’s fucking true. Only Audrey’s children get insider privileges.”
I cringe, hating that I’ve poked that sore spot.
Ewan and his first wife, Audrey, had four children together. She died when their youngest was only one-year-old, which is when Ewan turned from man to monster.
Or so the story goes.
His second wife, Barrett’s mum, had a brief marriage with Ewan, giving him three more children, but his heart never stopped loving Audrey, and after one too many rumoured beatings, Caroline left him and her children, the youngest only two years old.
Selena though? She’s been the wife to stay the longest. She stepped in to take care of baby Cassandra when she was three, already knocked up with Ewan’s children.
Twins.
From there, she’s bred Marx children for Ewan, like she’s adding to his army of soldiers, making him smile whenever a girl is born, but elated when another Marx son graces the Earth. She birthed ten children to Ewan by the time I left, with one on the way, plus a stray they adopted.
Gracie.
Barrett is child number five in the sibling line. He doesn’t get the insider information. He just gets ordered around.
“So, are you going to tell me what he demanded?" Barrett asks, and I contemplate refusing, but then I remember how much Barrett has helped me over the years with the twins. With supporting me after my marriage to Alex ended.
And I can never forget how he helped me with protection for Asher in prison.
“Ewan demanded the pregnancy be terminated, and to make sure I wouldn’t get knocked up again with, and I quote, ‘cross bred mutts,’ that I should also have a hysterectomy to remove my uterus.”
“The fuck!” Barrett launches up off the bed, his frown deep and his face flaring red. “I’ll fucking kill him!”
“Calm down, you know and I know you can’t do that.”
“I fucking loath him,” he snarls, and I step closer, gripping his arms.
“I know you do. But do you see now why I couldn’t return? I mean, it could have been just a threat, but Ewan isn’t known for not following through. I was sure if I returned, I’d wake up strapped to a table with my uterus gone.”
Hanging his head, Barrett takes a few moments to compose himself, and I step back, giving him the space.
“Let’s focus on the hit and your stalkers first. Then, we can talk more about my fucking family,” he grunts. “Maybe you should cut back on extracurricular jobs for a while.”
“No way.” I frown, hating the idea of that restraint.
Sometimes, I really just need to kill someone. To carve them up and hear their screams. And yes, I know that sounds all kinds of fucked up, but it is what it is.
“What are the chances that it’s linked to the Crimson Angel?” Barrett asks. “You’ve been getting those photos for a while.Someone obviously knows that the Crimson Angel is Lily Bennett, so what if they also know you’re Lily Marx too?”
“Oh!” I lurch off the bed. “I received another envelope this morning. I haven’t had a chance to look at it.” I dart out the door, rushing across the hall to the coat stand and rummage through my bag. When my fingers find the envelope, I drag it free and dart back into my bedroom.
Barrett is pacing now, and I tear the top open and pull out the pictures.
“Shit,” I mutter as my eyes take in the scene. “It’s the Omar Bertini kill.”
