She pushed dark hair out of her face. “I wanted to make sure you don’t feel alone.”
“Did Jake —”
Cassie quickly shook her head. “He still hasn’t told me anything. Just that the rest of the family would be angry and he didn’t want you alone.”
Tears welled in the corners of my eyes and throat burned a little. “Thank you. But how do you know you won’t be mad as well.”
“I don’t know that. But I know I will still love you. And that’s why I’m here. To remind you that you are loved, no matter what you've done.”
She took my hand and together we walked through the front door of my parents’ home.
The first thing I noticed was that both my nephews, Cooper and Matteo, were in high chairs. That was something I would need to get as well. I hoped Dom had added it to the shopping list he was meant to send me.
Ollie and Nick were at the long dining table filled with leftover food from the wedding the day before.
Nick narrowed his eyes at me. “I didn’t expect to see you today. And definitely not looking so glum. Do I need to kick Logan’s ass?”
Oh god. “No.” I lifted both hands in a stop motion. “In fact, if we can resolve that there will be no kicking of Logan’s ass, this will all go a lot easier.”
Ollie lifted a brow. “As long as he didn’t do anything to hurt you.”
The irony of that statement was not lost on me. “No. He never hurt me.”
Both my brothers put their plates on the table and turned around. Almost simultaneously they crossed their arms.
My mother leaned forward. “The floor is yours, sweetheart. What’s on your mind?”
“I need to get all of this out before you guys interrupt me. Even if you’re mad.” I hugged my middle. “Let me finish before you yell or stomp off, okay.”
“Sweetheart, what is it?” My mother never answered my request,
My voice cracked as I responded. “Mom, please. Just let me finish.”
She nodded and gestured for me to continue. Cassie stood beside me and I took a moment to absorb her support. One more deep breath and I began. “In the summer between junior and senior year, I fell pregnant and…”
I told them how Logan had stood by me the entire time. How Mason and Debbie were there for both of us. I wasn’t surethe exact details behind Jake knowing but he’d vowed to keep it a secret. Debbie had taken the secret to her grave. The more I spoke, the more each face fell in front of me. Anna and Lilly, my other sisters-in-law already knew the story since they did the investigation to make sure Dom was safe during the DeMarchis debacle. If only we knew then that his life would be turned upside down.
My mother had tears streaming down her face but the look in those liquid eyes was one of pure disappointment. Both Oliver and Nick’s jaws were set in stone. My dad was the only one I couldn’t get a read on. Considering I was a Daddy’s girl and only ever knew love and affection from him, I took that as a bad sign. Tears were streaming down my face as well but I didn’t allow myself to give in to the emotions.
By the time I started winding down, I had told them everything up to how my son ended up at Logan’s front door. I mentioned the danger he was in and that he had two little siblings in tow. Before I could ask for the help I needed, my mom pushed herself off the couch and stomped out of the living room. Several seconds later I heard the front door slam.
Ollie glared at me as he passed. “I’ll go and check on her.”
I bent over and grabbed my knees as the first sob escaped my lips. I knew they would be mad. My mother’s reaction was nothing short of what I expected. Still, it hurt and I wasn’t done. I needed their help.
Cassie pulled me onto the couch and knelt down in front of me. My dad pulled me into his arms and my sobbing only increased. He rubbed my back. “I’m mad as hell, Rebecca. But I’m here.”
Cassie stood and pulled her phone from her lap. “Do you want me to call Logan? He should be here for this.”
Quickly I shook my head. “Logan is exactly where he needs to be. Those kids have been through enough. I don’t want them to be here until things calm down.”
Nick frowned and scooted closer along the floor. “Aren’t they supposed to be in protective custody or something? How much trouble is he in, Bex?”
“Nicky, I know you’re mad. But you can yell at me later. I need to keep him and his siblings safe.”
Nick nodded and rolled his hand. “Tell me what’s happening.”
I told him how something about the stepdad seemed off to Dom. He seemed to be arguing with someone a few hours before he was murdered. I told him about Dom’s role in all of it and how their safe house was compromised and that he’d heard they wanted to separate him from his siblings.
