Page 52 of I am Dressed in Sin (Death by Daybreak MC 2)
To begin with, I poisoned my classmates with fentanyl-laced cocaine. Also, I got a girl—Carol Briggs—murdered. On top of all that, I’m going to be number one on the mafia’s most wanted list. If I were to attend class at the school, I’d be a sitting duck. Someone—probably several someones—would have to come and watch over me, diverting resources from the compound.
It’s an impossibility.
My breath hitches as I realize exactly how far this has gone.
No longer am I Cat’s high school age daughter. I’m something else. I’m becoming something else.
“Online school,” I say, which sucks serious ass. It’s not the same; everyone knows that. “I’ll get my diploma that way.” I stab my fork into my noodles and twist them around the tines, pausing as Beast’s large hand lands on my thigh.
Heat ratchets through me, and I’m forced to grit my teeth to ignore the pulsing between my thighs. One touch shouldn’t be able to do that, spark flames inside of someone, turn them to ash, make them bargain with everything they have for just one more caress, one more kiss, one more fuck.
“You think you have time for online school?” Cat queries back at me. “You’re on your way to becoming a wife.” He twirls his spaghetti on his fork in the exact same way that I’m doing, and the move just infuriates me. We’re too alike, me and my father. “What do you think, Beast?”
There’s a long moment of silence before he answers which isn’t unusual. I take my bite of noodles and lean back, glancing over at him as I chew. He’s already watching me, sending chills through me in a completely different way than Cat did. Not touching me until our wedding night, this bastard. Does he think he’s being cute or something?
“I think I’ll deal with my old lady as I see fit,” is what he says.
Gaz slams his meaty fist down on the table, making Nellie jump. Again, pretty sure she’s afraid of him. My brother glares at me with rust-colored eyes, so much like mine and Cat’s.
“We’re all just gonna sit here and forget that this asshole,” Gaz starts and then he shakes his head as Cat turns a look on him, “this motherfucker kicked the shit out of me?” Gaz stands up, but Beast ignores him, continuing to eat his food like the polite Southern gentleman that he is. I mean, a polite Southern gentleman that kills people, but eh, we’ve all got flaws.
I ignore the rush of power that I feel.
Cat commands demons. Now, I also command demons. Neither of us is much to look at on our own, but we’re tenacious as fuck. Guess there are some positives to having been born of his wrinkly old balls.
“And now we all know the truth,” Gaz continues, but Cat curls his lip at his son. He’s getting irritated.
“Sit your ass down,” he commands, his words like a dark spell that my brother finds impossible to resist. “Beast here wanted your sister; he got her. I say we wish him luck and pity the poor bastard.” Cat lifts his beer up in salute and then takes a swig. Beast doesn’t say anything at all, but I can feel him tensing beside me. “Frankly, it all makes sense to me now. He was fucking her; you beat her ass. Seems like a fair trade that you got yours kicked, too.” Cat continues to drink his beer, coming to the exact conclusion that I intended for him all along.
I can’t hide a smirk as I take another bite of my food and stare Gaz down across the surface of the table. I most definitely don’t expect him to lunge for me.
He doesn’t make it even halfway across the table before Beast is up and grabbing him around the throat. He drags my brother across the table’s surface, sending dishes and pasta scattering across the floor. Glass breaks; Nellie curses. Cat leans back in his chair with a long-suffering sigh.
This is such a disconnect from those quiet evenings at the mafia palace, where all the violence was hidden beneath silk ties and satin gowns, shark smiles and flawless contouring.
Beast very casually slams my brother into the wall beside the entrance to the foyer. He doesn’t break a sweat. Actually, he also manages not to disturb his food, mine, Cat’s, or Nellie’s. Just Gaz’s meal is scattered. Impressive.
“If you ever lay your hands on my woman again, I’ll kill ya and bury you next to your gram.” Beast releases Gaz. The latter sinks to the floor, choking dramatically and clutching at his neck. I pick up my fork and continue to eat.
Cat looks on impassively as Nellie rushes to get him another beer from the fridge.
“You don’t touch another man’s old lady without his permission,” Cat agrees, and that’s that.
