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I gave the guy one last look, noticing the way he carried himself, like former military. Or more likely, wannabe military.
“Just one more thing,” he said, his voice deep and angry, which definitely caught my attention.
“What?” I turned around, ready to tell this asshole I wasn’t interested in whatever he was selling, just in time to see a big fist covered in tattoos flying at my fucking face.
After that, it was fucking lights out for me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Virgil
“Where in the hell is Katherine?” Ma stood with an Irish whiskey in one hand and a joint in the other, dressed in purple Chanel like it was some special day instead of just another Sunday dinner with the family.
“I specifically said that I wanted all of my children here tonight. All of them.”
I didn’t know who the glare in her eyes was reserved for, one of us boys or my lone, absent sister.
“You say that every Sunday, Ma.”
Cal flashed a boyish smile and wrapped his arms around Sadie, who smiled prettily, so happy to be surrounded by family.
“And I meant it too. Every Sunday.”
She smacked a kiss to Cal’s cheek and then proceeded to wipe the lipstick smudge away with her thumb. “Anyone heard from Kat?”
“Kat is right here,” my crazy-ass sister said in a sing-song voice as she breezed into the sitting room where we’d all gathered for drinks. Even Ma’s valet, Thomas, was there.
“Sorry I’m late even though it looks like dinner hasn’t started yet, but I had a few fires to put out at the hotel.”
Jasper’s brows immediately pulled into a frown. “Anything I need to know about?”
Kat headed straight for the bar, pouring an oversized glass of red wine and killing half of it in one big gulp. After the second sip her shoulders lowered and by the third, they were set in something close to relaxation.
“Not today but according to the booking schedule, some of Mueller’s blocked rooms won’t be empty by midweek.”
“For fuck’s sake!” Ma slammed back the rest of her whiskey and held the glass out to Thomas, who accepted it and refilled it without a word. “Do I need to deal with this prick myself?”
“Isn’t that your thing, Sadie?” Jasper’s words sent a hush through the room but luckily before she could unleash her wrath on him, Thomas spoke.
“Dinner is ready.”
Calvin was the first one out of the room, rubbing his hands together with a little hum as the rest of us followed him to the dining room. “Smells great.”
He wasn’t wrong about the smells that filled the dining room, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten all day after following Brendan around town.
“We haven’t had meatloaf in forever.”
Kat groaned and took her seat. “I swear you guys remember every meal you’ve ever eaten.”
“We’re growing boys,” I insisted, leaning in to the feast spread out on the table with a smile.
“Boys?” she scoffed with a laugh. “You haven’t been boys in a long time,” she shot back and stole a roasted potato from my plate.
Calvin’s phone rang and Sadie groaned. “No phones at dinner unless someone is bleeding,” she reminded him, the threat evident in her tone.
My brother held up a finger to stop Ma’s words, and we all sucked in a collective gasp at what she would perceive as disrespect.
“Yeah, this is Calvin.”
“Do not make me repeat myself, son.”
He said it again, and Ma stood, ready to snatch the phone from his hands if he didn’t end the call.
“Shit. Hang on Bonnie. Slow down and tell me what happened.”
“Bonnie! Who the hell is Bonnie?” Ma looked around the table, confusion turning her face an unruly shade of red. “Don’t tell me he’s taking a call from one of his girls during dinner.”
“Ma. Stop. Please,” I added to soften the blow. The mention of Maisie’s friend and the concern in my brother’s voice had all of my attention. “Cal, what the fuck?”
He flashed me a look that put me on edge. I pulled the phone away from his ear and put her on speaker.
Cal said, “Did he say his name, Bonnie?”
The dining room filled with the sound of Bonnie’s voice.
“No,” she sniffled. “She called him a baldheaded effer and then she said this, 587 dash P something. Oh, and she said it was some kind of red SUV.”
More sniffles and more crying. “It sounded like…like he hit her, Calvin. Then she was gone.”
I was on my feet in an instant. “Do you know where she was Bonnie?”
“No,” she said, finally taking a breath. “I called her because I was upset about Father Eric, and she was on her way to the church. She came with me sometimes because she liked Father Eric’s mass.”
“Wait, back up,” I said. “Why were you upset about Father Eric?”
“Haven’t you heard? He’s dead. Oh my God, it was so awful. So much blood.”
