Page 96 of Dirty Deadly & Mine
“Yep.” I clear my throat and offer them a fake smile, brushing my hair back behind my ear.
“What the fuck?!” Jude snaps, and I glare at him.
“Language!”
“What happened?” Ronan asks, and I glance at him, confused.
“What?”
Jude pushes from the barstool and storms around the counter, his eyes on the side of my head. Near my temple.
Oh.
Shit.
I completely forgot about the cut on my head. It must have been covered by my hair.
“What happened, Mum?” Raising his hand towards my ear, Jude brushes back more hair to reveal the small cut.
“Funny story.” I step away, brushing my hair back over it. “I got mugged last night.”
“What?!” the twins yell in unison.
“It’s fine. I’m fine. The police got the man. There’s no need to worry.”
“No need to worry?!” Jude snaps. “Of course we are gonna worry!”
The sound of the front door closing draws our attention, and a moment later, Asher strides into the room.
“What are we worrying about?” Asher asks, and the twins balk.
“The fuck?! Were you there when Mum got mugged?” Ronan leaps off his chair, charging towards Asher.
“What?” Asher shakes his head. “No. Why?”
“What the fuck happened to you then?” Jude asks this time, spotting Asher’s bruises as a result from his cage fight, and I sigh.
This isn’t good. Both Asher and I look like we’ve been in a scuffle. It would make sense that the boys think we were together given our battered appearances.
“Oh.” Asher’s whisky gaze darts to me briefly but returns to Jude’s in the next breath. “I’ve, uh, been fighting. At The Rough House.”
“Really?” Ronan asks, surprised, as he studies Asher’s bruised cheek.
“Why?” Jude asks, and Asher shrugs.
“Why else? Money.”
Jude frowns at that. “I don’t think you should be going to that place. It’s bad news.”
Jude is right. The Rough Houseisbad news, but how doesheknow that?
“It’s all good, man. I’ve got it under control.” Asher smirks, moving to the fridge and taking the orange juice out. “Weren’t you two coming later this morning?”
“I would’ve happily stayed in bed another couple of hours,” Ronan nods. “But Jude couldn’t wait to get home to see hismummy.”
I stiffen at the word I’ve been called for years, because now… all I hear is Asher’s voice saying it in that sultry tone.
“Sod off,” Jude snaps at his brother, while I try to keep my expression blank.
