Page 115 of The Billionaire Who Saved My Cat From The Mafia

We march right into Dad’s kitchen, knowing everyone is already assembled at Mom’s old round table.It’s far too small for our ever-growing family these days, but somehow everyone has squeezed into place, either sitting or standing.There’s one empty chair, and I know that’s where my ass is expected to go.

I sit and gulp down the giant glass of homemade lemonade Phyllis hands me.I notice with relief that Jasmine isn’t here and check the clock.Shouldn’t she be home from school?

“She’s playing at Ashley’s house before supper,” Emma says softly, noticing my concern.

“Good.She doesn’t need to hear this.”

“You don’t owe anyone an explanation,” Cal says from his spot behind me.His hands are on the chair back at either side of my neck.Even when I don’t deserve it, Cal has my back.

I look around the table, knowing I owe every person here the truth.

It will crush Dad.Phyllis will be in tears.Summer will shake her head in scorn.And poor Emma—she’s already staring at me like I frighten her.It’s entirely possible that she’ll never forgive me or trust me again.Oh, shit… maybe I won’t even be allowed to play with Jasmine.

I can’t worry about the fallout.All I can do is focus on the facts.

So I do.I tell them the entire story, skipping sensitive details about missions and locations.I tell them how I stumbled onto a rape in progress, about the beatdown I delivered while blind with rage, and how the rapist hung on for dear life in Bethesda Naval Hospital while I waited in the Jacksonville brig to learn my fate.

Whether my attempted murder charge would get bumped up to murder.

I relay the story with no trace of emotion in my voice, beginning, middle, and end.Until I’m done.

It’s too quiet—freakishly quiet until Declan shuffles his feet on the tile floor.“So what?”he says.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”Cal barks.

“It meansso what?”Declan answers.“I’d have done the same damn thing, bro.”

“Me, too,” Finn says.

“Same,” Evander says.

“Well, damn son,” Dad says, letting go with a deep sigh.I think it’s a sigh of relief.

Emma reaches over to softly pat my bandaged hand.Phoebe rests a palm on my shoulder.Victoria gives me a sad smile.

Summer kicks my shin under the table, which is her version of a bear hug.

“You should have told us,” Phyllis says, shaking her head and wiping tears from her eyes.“We’re your family, Kevin.We’re here even during the worst of times.We love you, and the people who love you stick by you.”

I let go with a bitter laugh.“Until you fuck up and they just get the hell out of Dodge.”

“I don’t think that’s what happened with Frankie,” Phyllis says.

“It’s exactly what happened Frankie, and with Harper, too.I scared them off.I spent all those years blaming Harper for dumping me when I was in the brig, but I see now that she did the right thing.She was protecting herself, the way Frankie did today.They both saw me for who I am—a violent monster.”

“Bull-hockey!”Dad pounds his fist on the tabletop.“That woman loves you.”

“I agree,” Aunt Phyllis says.“You two are a love match.”

“Until I fucked it up,” I say.

“I don’t believe it,” Victoria says.“You did what you had to do.If she left it wasn’t because of the fight.”

Emma clears her throat, and we all look at her.

“What is it?”Finn asks.

She shakes her head.“Nothing.”