"You mean Dustin," Cassidy whispers, articulating his name as if it were poison. And to her, it is. To me too. He's not getting within a mile of her ever again. Carter will make damn sure of it. He'll do whatever he needs to do to keep them apart while- While I can't.
"No, sweetheart," Ben says reluctantly as guilt flashes across his face. "I mean his biological father."
My wife's eyes gloss over, the betrayal crouching within them boils my blood. It makes me want to beat the lies out of Ben Slater's mouth for her.
Konnor grips his water glass with white knuckles. "You told us you didn't know who my father was."
"I know I did." Ben shakes his head. "Christ, I hate that I did. I lied to you, son. After everything you endured, we just wanted peace for you. I thought this was the way."
Konnor sets his water down on the edge of the billiard table, seemingly wanting to hurl it into the wall. I get that. "We?"
Ben nods. "Yes. Luca and I."
What the fuck?
Butch drains the last dregs of his whiskey, stands up, and strides over to the bar again. I frown at him. Butch has never wasted his time on the likes of the Slaters before. Konnor isn't his fucking problem.
"I thought you'd be safer out of my world," Butch states gruffly. "I owed that to your mother. You have her eyes. Well, I suppose you have heard that many times from Ben." He turns to face Konnor and nods. "But when I look at you, it's like she's staring back at me. I would have died for that woman."
I'm on my feet now, pacing over to catch Cassidy as her cheeks lose colour. She jumps when my arms go around her, which only makes me tighten them. She takes a big breath in and leans back. I got you, little one.
"So the rumours are true," Konnor states, his voice a tremoring mess. "I'm not Dustin's biological son. You?" He stares at Butch and Butch stares at Konnor.
What the fuck?
I cringe when I realise what they are fucking implying - confessing.
"You had an affair with my mother? I'm your. . . You're my. . ." Konnor trails off, clutching the side of the table to stop from toppling over.
Butch takes a mouthful of his newly poured drink. "You're a Butcher."
My teeth lock. "Fuck."
Cassidy
Konnor is a Butcher Boy.
I cover my mouth with my palms, smothering the gasp that tries to escape. Oh my God. I think everyone in the room just stopped breathing. Max's arms tighten around me, enveloping me, grounding me.
Konnor immediately turns ashen, appearing to be flooded by nausea. "Fuck."
Moving over to his spot on the lounge, Butch sits down slowly and leans forward, his arms resting on his knees. "Dustin must never find out. He'll want revenge and he'll come for my family. Made-men don't lie to made-men. It is a law. He'll come for Cassidy. He'll come for your brothers."
"My brothers. . ." Konnor grips his forehead, and when his knees buckle, he slides down to the floor. Leaning against the leg of the table, he stares straight ahead. "Brothers."
"Fuck," Max says louder this time.
Oh my God. I feel dizzy.
"There will be casualties on both sides if this gets back to him," Butch states empathically. "That is what we have been trying to avoid for over a decade."
"At my expense," Konnor mutters, outwardly trying to comprehend all this information.
"No." Butch stands and walks over to him, squatting down at his side. "At mine."
Fingers peel my hand away from my mouth, allowing sweet air to rush into my lungs. I didn't even realise that I was holding my breath. I can't see Max's face, but I can feel his heart's hammering rhythm against my back.
Konnor is his brother.
Butch fixes Konnor with his serious stern blue eyes. "Konnor, Ben gave you a far more peaceful life than I ever could. And that is what Madeline wanted. She begged me not to drag you into this world. I gave her my word that I would stay away. For her, I did. . . I'm actually surprised you stopped looking for me."
Konnor glares at him. "What do you mean?"
"A few months back," Butch says with a raise of his salt and pepper brows, "you were asking questions. I thought you'd find out. I'd even hoped you wou-"
"You told him!" Konnor barks at our dad. "You just ran right over here and-"
"I did no such thing, Konnor," Dad states defensively.
"You've got a temper on you." Butch chuckles easily. "You get that from your grandfather."
Konnor looks queasy again, his head doing a slight roll against the table leg. "How did you know that I was looking for answers?"
"One of my men told me," Butch states simply.
Anger flares in Konnor's eyes. "You have people watching me!"
"I have people watching over you," Butch corrects. "I have people watching over all my boys."
"Who?" Konnor demands. "Is it someone I know? A spy?"
Butch nods. "Your doorman - Adolf."
Konnor blinks over and over again. "What?"
"He was Madeline's captain of security." Butch straightens and takes a step backwards. "He was very fond of you as a boy. He is now too."
"This is too much." Konnor stares straight ahead at the wall, seemingly wanting to disappear into it. "I moved on. I gave up caring about you. You, you fucking didn't give a shit about-"
"Rispettu! Respect, son!" Butch barks, and I flinch. "In this household we respect the head. I did give a shit! I wanted you and her more than anything. When I found out she was
