Ignoring me, Butch stands and rubs his palms down his black pants. I glare over my shoulder to watch him stride towards Konnor.
"You play rugby too?" Butch asks, sizing Cassidy's brother up.
Konnor pushes his chest out and lifts his chin - a defensive stance for sure. And a commonly taken one when sharing space with Luca Butcher. A man so far removed from his own dad that I'm surprised they speak the same fucking language.
"Yeah," Konnor confirms, his narrowed green eyes flaring with distrust.
"You any good?" Butch asks, stopping just before him.
Konnor adjusts his footing, a tight line forming between his brows. "Yeah. I'm pretty good."
Butch tilts his head. "Ever boxed?"
"No," Konnor says, standing strong in the face of . . . whatever the fuck Butch is doing. "I don’t enjoy fighting. Unlike some people." He takes a dig at me and I just grin, taking this opportunity to lick my lips and think about his sister's pussy.
"You're competitive," Butch notes. "And boxing eases tension. My boys all box recreationally."
Chuckling, I say, "You know what else eases tension?"
Konnor runs a hand through his hair, ignoring me, and that pisses me right off. "What makes you say I'm competitive?"
My face tightens as I glare back and forth between them.
What the fuck is going on here?
"You're a man. That's all. We're all competitive. . .You should sit with us." Butch motions to the spot beside me. "What do you drink?"
"I don't," Konnor states curtly.
"Water then?" Butch presses.
"Here they are," Cassidy calls out, entering the billiard room with her dad trailing behind her. As her pink-blonde hair sways around her shoulders, I'm reminded how I should be inside her, wrapping that pretty hair around my fist. I find myself grinning when she raises her palms in the air and sings, "Bride in the house," but that feeling is short lived. As soon as she catches sight of her brother, she lowers her hands and glances around the room with uncertainty. "Sorry, are we interrupting something?"
Something is definitely going on right now and while I don't pretend to know what it is, I do know it better not disturb her day.
"Ben, what are you drinking?" Butch calls to Ben Slater, who looks like he has just walked in on his wife talking to his male lover. Butch walks over to the bar, and I watch as he pulls out two glasses, preparing multiple beverages.
"Nothing, Luca, thank you," Ben states, pacing over to his son and saying, "They're missing you out there, Konnor."
I watch my wife gauge the room before she steps cautiously towards her brother. "Yeah, now no one actually follows the rules," she says with a nervous giggle. I can read her like a fucking rugby field. She is wary of whatever it is she's just walked in on, immediately taking the defence to protect her precious Konnor - like Butch might break him.
Konnor turns to look at her. "I'll be back out in a minute."
"Let the boy stay," Butch states calmly, handing out drinks like a fucking butler. He moves back to his spot opposite me and throws back his whiskey. My eyes dart to my wife again, not liking the space between us.
Leaning back in my chair, I study these restless men as they share glances of significance. I'm reminded of the last time I saw them together. The day I found out about Cassidy's condition. These two share a fucking secret. It better not have anything to do with my wife. My brows tighten to an uncomfortable level. The Slaters are my business now, so whatever this is about-
"We planned on telling them tomorrow anyway, Ben," Butch says, his words stopping my thoughts. "And I won't lie to the boy. I can't exactly just stay away anymore. Your daughter has married my son."
Ben takes a step towards Butch. "Not like this. This is supposed to be a happy day."
"Happy?" Butch scoffs and I stare straight at my wife's face, catching the sadness washing over it. Heat hits my ears. "Don't be blind, Ben," Butch says. "Cassidy is about to lose Max for years, and he is about to lose far more than that. Let's not play at this bullshit."
I growl loud enough for them all to hear. It is one fucking thing to see the bullshit; it is another thing entirely to point it out to my wife.
She blinks a few times before muttering, "Just tell us what this is all about so I can get back to my silly celebration." Her voice is strained, and my bicep twitches with the urge to knock Butch's teeth in. I glare at his profile, but he's too busy scrutinising Cassidy's brother to notice. I ball my hands into fists.
Butch uses his drink to motion towards Konnor. "You deserve to know."
Konnor frowns defensively. "Know what?"
Ben turns towards his son, looking panicked. "You can leave if you want."
"Ben," Butch drawls. "Tell him. Tell your boy the truth.
Ben motions politely to the seats beside me. "Does everyone want to sit down first? Maybe have-"
"Dad, what the fuck is this guy on about?" Konnor bites out. My sweet wife is beside him in a second, placing her hand on his forearm. She peers at me for the first time since she entered, her eyes pleading for help. If I get up, I'll be dragging her out.
Ben all but collapses beside Butch. Yep, he's never the impartial man in the room. His son does a far better job. At least he appears pissed off in lieu of weak. Ben looks down at the ground, his forehead indented with taut lines. He shakes his head slowly, and Cassidy's expressive blonde brows slump. My knuckles ache as I squeeze my fists tighter. She cares too much about everyone around her. I should lock her away, protect her from their drama.
"Konnor," Ben says, looking at his son.
