driving most of the mourners away quickly after they paid their respects. Fifteen minutes ago Bye had been wondering why Jack and the woman he’d introduced earlier as his mother had stuck around after the others left.
Now he knew. And he seriously wanted to kill somebody. But whom?
His father, hypocritical son of a bitch that he was? As much as he hated Four for what he’d done, Bye could almost sympathize with the old man. He’d just been put on the proverbial hot seat in front of his children, legitimate and not. For a minute Bye focused on the blood vessel pulsating rhythmically in his father’s sun-bronzed temple, panicking at the sudden fear that a stroke might take him now. That wouldn’t do, not before some other human could exact retribution for the many misdeeds Bye figured would eventually send the old man straight to hell.
Unable to dwell on that possibility, Bye looked across the room and stared at the petite brunette who had just revealed she was his father’s longtime mistress. She’d pulled her dark hair into a tight twist that showcased the white streaks above her ears, as if she was determined to greet old age with disdain rather than fear. The woman flaunted her vibrant coloring and still hot body in a snug bright-blue dress that clung to her big boobs and rounded ass. Her mocking smile reminded Bye of the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland .
He wanted badly to strangle Marianne Duval, but at least she’d waited to drop her bombshell until the fallout from it couldn’t hurt his mother. Maybe, for that if nothing else, he ought to let her live.
Next his gaze settled on Jack, seated beside his mother on a loveseat upholstered in pale-blue silk, across from Four. From Jack’s taciturn expression, Bye knew without anybody telling him that the bastard had known who his father was, not just for the past few minutes but longer. He’d probably known for years, maybe since before Bye was even born. To think Jack had encouraged Deidre’s flirting when he’d known his half sister was off limits made Bye see red.
If Jack couldn’t have made himself tell Deidre his mother’s dirty little secret, at least he could have told her in a way she couldn’t possibly misunderstand that he wasn’t interested. When Bye thought back over the time since Deidre had set her cap for Duval, he realized Jack had never actually taken her out on a date. He’d even called her an innocent and said she wouldn’t make it sharing his hardcore BDSM lifestyle. Still the bastard had played along when Deidre tried to hit on him, and he’d danced with her more than once down at The Corral…
“Jack, how long have you known?” The question came out sounding gravelly, as if Bye’s voice box hated as much as he did, giving his—his half brother—the benefit of doubt.
“Almost two months. Ever since my mother apparently decided it was time to let me know.” Jack’s gaze was steady, his tone quietly persuasive. He paused, then looked directly at Bye and lowered his voice. “She told me a week or so after the night we played together at the Neon Lasso.”
When Bye looked at Jack, he sensed the man was telling the truth. Though it galled him to do it, Bye accepted that at least Jack hadn’t knowingly participated in a threesome with his own blood relative. “I believe you. That doesn’t mean I like it. Or that I appreciate you not having shared your knowledge with me and Deidre right away.”
“I would have, if I’d had a clue that Mother didn’t intend it to remain a secret between her and me. Believe me, I’m no more comfortable right now than I’m sure you must be.” Jack glanced at his mother, his expression pained. Then he turned away and rubbed at his temples as if this whole scene was giving him a headache.
He’s known for a couple months. Since right after the doctors told us there was no hope, that Mom was going to die. Bye’s mind churned. Had Four told Jack’s mother? It seemed likely that he
Now he knew. And he seriously wanted to kill somebody. But whom?
His father, hypocritical son of a bitch that he was? As much as he hated Four for what he’d done, Bye could almost sympathize with the old man. He’d just been put on the proverbial hot seat in front of his children, legitimate and not. For a minute Bye focused on the blood vessel pulsating rhythmically in his father’s sun-bronzed temple, panicking at the sudden fear that a stroke might take him now. That wouldn’t do, not before some other human could exact retribution for the many misdeeds Bye figured would eventually send the old man straight to hell.
Unable to dwell on that possibility, Bye looked across the room and stared at the petite brunette who had just revealed she was his father’s longtime mistress. She’d pulled her dark hair into a tight twist that showcased the white streaks above her ears, as if she was determined to greet old age with disdain rather than fear. The woman flaunted her vibrant coloring and still hot body in a snug bright-blue dress that clung to her big boobs and rounded ass. Her mocking smile reminded Bye of the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland .
He wanted badly to strangle Marianne Duval, but at least she’d waited to drop her bombshell until the fallout from it couldn’t hurt his mother. Maybe, for that if nothing else, he ought to let her live.
Next his gaze settled on Jack, seated beside his mother on a loveseat upholstered in pale-blue silk, across from Four. From Jack’s taciturn expression, Bye knew without anybody telling him that the bastard had known who his father was, not just for the past few minutes but longer. He’d probably known for years, maybe since before Bye was even born. To think Jack had encouraged Deidre’s flirting when he’d known his half sister was off limits made Bye see red.
If Jack couldn’t have made himself tell Deidre his mother’s dirty little secret, at least he could have told her in a way she couldn’t possibly misunderstand that he wasn’t interested. When Bye thought back over the time since Deidre had set her cap for Duval, he realized Jack had never actually taken her out on a date. He’d even called her an innocent and said she wouldn’t make it sharing his hardcore BDSM lifestyle. Still the bastard had played along when Deidre tried to hit on him, and he’d danced with her more than once down at The Corral…
“Jack, how long have you known?” The question came out sounding gravelly, as if Bye’s voice box hated as much as he did, giving his—his half brother—the benefit of doubt.
“Almost two months. Ever since my mother apparently decided it was time to let me know.” Jack’s gaze was steady, his tone quietly persuasive. He paused, then looked directly at Bye and lowered his voice. “She told me a week or so after the night we played together at the Neon Lasso.”
When Bye looked at Jack, he sensed the man was telling the truth. Though it galled him to do it, Bye accepted that at least Jack hadn’t knowingly participated in a threesome with his own blood relative. “I believe you. That doesn’t mean I like it. Or that I appreciate you not having shared your knowledge with me and Deidre right away.”
“I would have, if I’d had a clue that Mother didn’t intend it to remain a secret between her and me. Believe me, I’m no more comfortable right now than I’m sure you must be.” Jack glanced at his mother, his expression pained. Then he turned away and rubbed at his temples as if this whole scene was giving him a headache.
He’s known for a couple months. Since right after the doctors told us there was no hope, that Mom was going to die. Bye’s mind churned. Had Four told Jack’s mother? It seemed likely that he
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