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Roger steps forward while Gage prepares the test for him. “Fuck you, you dumb bitch!”
Gage reaches out, his arm hitting Roger’s chest, to stop him from advancing our way. Roger retreats from Gage and sends us a poisonous glare, mainly focused on Chloe.
He then angles his eyes toward me. “Dude,” he spits out, “do you know how stupid you look, protecting her?” He’s now screaming at the top of his lungs. “She isusingyou! Has she told you her little family secret?” His glare moves back to Chloe. “Of course not. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be at your side, you dumb bitch!”
“Kyle,” Gage draws out in warning, reading my mind to stop me from impulsively punching Roger in the face harder than I did Kent.
“Shut your goddamn mouth, Roger,” Claudia warns, rushing to his side in alarm. She throws down her new cigarette and attempts to pull him away.
Roger doesn’t allow it. “Why? The bitch has done nothing to help you.”
Gage says my name again as I loom closer to Roger. I’m gulping down my anger, but it’s growing more difficult.
Curiosity creeps through me when I peek at Chloe. Her hands are cupped around her mouth, and her face is paler than usual.
Roger uses the back of his arm to wipe his nose before pointing at me. “You sure you don’t want to walk in the house, so you can take care of your little brother?” He lets out a sinister laugh. “Ormaybe it’s time your father steps up and supports his bastard son better! Maybe you can be the one deciding who Trey goes home with, considering you’re just as much family as Chloe is!”
What the fuck?
My eyes return to Chloe in question. “What is he talking about?”
She’s staring at me, shocked and speechless.
“He’s drunk,” Claudia says, attempting to shoo Roger back to the truck. “Don’t listen to a word he says.”
“Listen to every word I say, man,” Roger replies. “I’m the only person you’ll get the truth from, not these two! They’ve been blackmailing your father for years, ever since Trey was a baby, and accepting checks from him in exchange for their silence!”
I’m not dumb. It’s clear what Roger is insinuating. I wouldn’t believe a word falling out of his mouth if Chloe didn’t look like she was close to passing out and if Claudia didn’t appear close to a panic attack.
“Come on, Roger,” I say with annoyance. “Stop hinting around the bullshit. Are you saying that Trey is my father’s son? That he’s my brother?”
They all appear shocked that I was so up-front in questioning his allegations.
“I, uh …” Roger stutters out, suddenly realizing the consequences of his fuckup.
Gage’s jaw is dropped open, and he’s repeatedly looking from me to Chloe to Roger.
“You need to leave,” Chloe croaks out loud enough for everyone to hear. “The kids are sleeping. You’ve done enough damage for one night. Call me tomorrow to pick up the children.”
Claudia and Roger turn around to leave, and Claudia slaps Roger in the back of his head. “You stupid idiot! If I’m cut off, you’d better get a job to make up for the money he gives me!” She hits his back next. “Congratulations! Your big mouth fucked up our lives!”
Gage waits until they leave, Claudia in the driver’s seat, and eyes Chloe with a scowl. “I’ll be in the car,” he informs me without granting Chloe another look.
I wait until he’s in the car before turning to start my cycle of questions. “I take it what Roger claims is true? My father is Trey’s dad?”
She scrubs her hands over her eyes. “Kyle, it’s complicated.”
“No, it’s really not,” I fire back in seconds. “It’s a quick yes or no answer.”
She nods slowly. “Yes.”
I stare at her in disbelief. So much damage to our relationship has happened in ten minutes.
How did I miss this? How didn’t I know?
“And why did you keep it from me?”
She’s silent as she racks her mind for the best answer, her face unreadable. Chloe is an expert at hiding every emotion flowing through her.
