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That was the part that pissed me off most, the part that lessened my guilt over putting Calvin through all this.
Terry stood, his gaze focused on mine, one calming hand rested on Kat’s shoulder. He turned to Jasper, seeing no hint of surprise, and nodded.
“Why would she make this up?”
“Because she fucking murdered someone?” Emmett’s brows dipped in anger, shocked his brother would come to my defense.
Vanessa put a hand on Emmett’s bicep, her words quiet and timid as she spoke. “Shh. This isn’t our fight.”
Emmett shrugged her hand away. “That doesn’t make it right.”
Vanessa shook her head at her man and sent me an understanding look. “Just because a decision is horrible doesn’t make it wrong.”
“Holy shit,” Kat exclaimed. “Seriously?”
Vanessa nodded and notched her chin in the air defiantly.
Terry nodded. “This is Sadie. Never one to lie even when lying would save hurt feelings or bad blood. Shouldn’t we all,” he glared at Calvin again, “at least fucking consider that maybe Bonnie was trying to sell the family out?”
“You’re not family!” Calvin’s voice roared in the intimacy of the dining room. “You don’t get a say.”
“I do if she was trying to get my best friend and my woman locked up—or worse. But that doesn’t fucking matter to you, does it, Calvin? Bonnie was trying to keepherfamily together. Fuck the rest of us, right?” Terry’s defense surprised me, but my focus was still on Calvin.
“There were other ways,” Cal insisted. “You knew?” His question was aimed at Jasper. “Of course, you knew. And you weren’t going to say anything if she hadn’t?”
Jasper shrugged. “I knew, but it wasn’t my story to tell.”
“Bullshit, you’re my brother. Bonnie was your sister-in-law.” Calvin’s pain was fucking heartbreaking.
I sighed. “Calvin, you can ignore the truth of what your wife was doing if you want. The truth is, I did what I always do, I took care of my family. I will always do what’s best formyfamily.”
“No, Ma. You don’t get to use that excuse. Not now. Not for this.” Kat shook her head, angry and disgusted.
“Then when the fuck should I use it, Kat? Oh, wait, let me guess. You would rather be in a jail cell or federal prison waiting for what, me or Jasper to bail you out? News flash, little girl. We’d be right there with you if Bonnie had her way. Remember when you stabbed that guy? Yeah, it was me who made that shit show go away. When Rhymer’s stash house blew up? I made that problem go away as well, so don’t give me that shit!”
Calvin shook his head as if that act could ward off the truth and the pain it caused. “I’ll never forgive you for this,” he growled, and at that moment, I believed he meant it. He turned to Maisie. “You don’t have shit to say about this?”
Maisie sighed, and her shoulders dropped as one tear slid down her cheek. “Bonnie was the sister of my heart, and I hate that it all came to this, but she was acting strange, Cal. She didn’t even want to be part of my wedding. Why?”
“She was struggling,” he insisted, but this time there was almost no heat behind it.
Maisie nodded. “We’re all struggling in some way, Cal. I was marrying into a powerful family, starting a new career, and adjusting to my new life, too, while worrying about a woman I brought into this family.” She sent me a wary gaze. “Did that matter to Bonnie? No. I still love her, but I can’t say that Sadie isn’t telling the truth.”
“Bull. Fucking. Shit. You’re all too scared to say what you really think, but the truth is Sadie was looking for a reason to get rid of Bonnie. When she couldn’t find one, she made one up.”
His words were like a whip across my back. I didn’t need an excuse. If I wanted, I could have killed Bonnie the moment I met her for the sins of her uncle Owen. Oh yes, Bonnie’s mother and Owen Doyle were siblings. Such a small world. I was sure she missed her older brother.
Now, she’ll miss her daughter. The one she tossed away like a piece of trash.
But they all knew about the rape and never said anything to me. No apologies. No second thoughts. Not one word. Fucking bitch. I hoped she rotted in hell.
But I didn’t kill Bonnie for that. The sins of her elders had nothing to do with her. And I wouldn’t put that burden on Calvin’s shoulders.
Jasper dropped a heavy fist on the table, silencing everyone. “You don’t have to forgive Sadie, Cal, not now or ever if that’s what you need to do for yourself, but we all need to protect her. And respect her.”
“Of course, I’ll fucking protect her. Respect needs to be earned.” He glared at Jasper.
“You will respect her because she is your mother,” Jasper told him and Cal turned a hateful look my way.
