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 forme."
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 watchingoveryou," Butch corrects. "I have people watching overallmy 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 didgive a shit!I wanted you and her more than anything. When I found out she was pregnant, I wanted to take my boys and her and leave the fucking country."
"What stopped you then?" Konnor sneers, locking eyes with him.
"Your goddamn life! Your safety. We'd always be looking over our shoulders."