Aiden shakes his head. “As your son, whose housewarming it is, I think it’s best if you leave. This is bound to end in tears.”
“It should end in tears. Your slut’s tears. She’s the reason Callie left me. If it weren’t for that over there, Callie would never have been angry with me at your birthday party, and she wouldn’t have left me. It’s all that thing’s fault. And it’s her fault that you’re being taken from me, too. You would never have left the company if it wasn’t for that. Can’t you see that insignificant little whore is tearing our family apart?”
Aiden’s top lip curls up. “Fuck off! Jeni isn’t tearing our family apart, you fucking-well are!”
Niall glances across at his family, who are all staring at him. He throws his hands in the air in frustration. “Well, fuck you all, especially you, Mike. I trusted you. And all this time you’ve been fucking my wife. What kind of man are you? Don’t answer that, I’ll tell you… you’re a backstabbing pain in my ass who’s so worthless he tries to latch onto my wife because she has money. Well, guess what, that’s my money, and neither of you are getting any of it. In fact, none of you will be getting my money. You can all kiss your inheritance goodbye.”
Mike stands and storms over to Niall. His nostrils flare and his fists clench. “Niall, I’m no longer your employee, so I don’t have to be polite. I love Callie. I have for years, and you know it. But unlike you, I’ll treat her right, and I definitely won’t disrespect her as some sort of convenience. Callie’s a beautiful, strong, independent woman. She brought up your children, and in the process, had to put up with your shit. Well, she doesn’t have to suffer in silence anymore. You’ve lost the respect of everyone who ever loved you. You did that on your own, without any help from Callie or Jeni. So, if you want to blame someone for your pathetic existence, then blame yourself.” Mike’s seething.
Everyone’s watching Niall intently. The tension in the air is so thick as it waves around us, circling the air in hostility.
Niall’s lip curls upward as the anger rolls off him in waves. Suddenly, Niall pushes Mike in the chest, making him step a few steps backward.
Killian and Daniel get up quickly and rush over as Mike shoves Niall back just as hard.
Holy hell, here we go!
I don’t want Mike to get hurt.
Aiden stands in between them, pulling Niall out of the way, but Niall lunges at Mike, growling as he goes. Aiden jumps between them again, and Niall’s clenched fist lands firmly in Aiden’s stomach.
I gasp, my heart lurching into my throat as I rush over to Aiden while he haunches over to catch his breath. I rub his back trying to soothe his pain as he breathes heavily. Mike instantly throws a punch at Niall, connecting right with his already bruised jaw. Niall lunges forward, pulling Mike to the floor.
Callie screams, “Niall, get off Mike right now,” while we watch them wrestle on our kitchen floor.
“Dad, let Mike go!” Brielle yells as I begin to inwardly panic. I’m so angry at Niall right now, I could punch him myself.
These grown-ass men are making fools of themselves.
This is ridiculous!
Making sure Aiden’s okay, I walk over to Niall and Mike, attempting to get between them. “That’s enough,” I yell, pulling at both of their shirts, but as I do, Niall focuses his aggression on me.
There’s a glimmer in his eyes, the same I saw in Jason’s before he attacked me, and I freeze. His eyes turn sinister, the darkest of onyx shades I’ve ever seen. A vein pops out of his forehead, and he lunges, grabbing me around the throat. His fingers interlock tightly, digging in as my eyes bulge out of my face. He’s cutting off my airway as I cough and gasp, trying frantically for breaths that simply aren’t coming. Niall’s eyes bore into mine as my heart races so fast I can’t think straight. I choke out some sort of sound while clawing at his hands trying to stop him. But it’s his eyes, they’re not him, he’s not there as he chokes me so hard,
I know he won’t stop until I’m dead.
“You did this to my family!” he yells.
Aiden rushes forward, clawing at Niall’s hands to free me, but he’s unsuccessful. “Take your hands off of her now,” he screams.
“You did this. You’re nothing but a worthless pig,” Niall yells in my face, spittle hitting my cheeks while he’s shaking me and lifting me. I’m lightheaded as my throat closes over, and I begin internally panicking as my feet struggle to reach the floor.
Aiden and Mike both try to free me from Niall’s tight grip while I watch Aiden’s terrified eyes with my equally petrified ones.
“Niall! Let her go. Let her go, right now,” Callie yells out.
I watch my mom try to get to me, but Daniel’s holding her back.
Lack of oxygen is becoming an issue.
“For fuck’s sake, you’re acting just like Grandpa Patty right now, and I know you don’t want to be reminded of how much like him you’ve become. Now let my fiancée go, or so help me God, I’ll grab a knife and cut your fucking arm off,” Aiden warns.
I’m so scared that tears stream down my cheeks.
For some reason, Niall finally lets me go, and I fall to the floor on my knees, struggling to catch my breath. Bree and Mom run to my side as I grip onto my neck feeling it swell instantly.
“Fuck this shit,” Aiden says, and I watch him punch Niall in the face. Blood splatters across the floor as Niall’s knocked unconscious, collapsing in a bloodied heap.