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 mysillycelebration." 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. "Fourteen years ago, you came into my care. But it wasn't a coincidence. It wasn't just because your mother was my first love and I felt the need to protect you. . . Your father asked me to take you in as my own. To keep you far away from the people who hurt you. Give you a good life. He entrusted me with his son."
"You meanDustin," 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, Ihatethat 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