Page 62 of Dirty Legacy

“If I don’t do it, someone else will have to. I carry the burden, I make the hard decisions, I take on the pain and the suffering, so that I can spare everyone else.”

“Wow, and you get nothing in return? Only this massive mansion.”

“And a pretty wife.” I close my hand around hers. “Who should learn to watch her tongue.”

“Going to punish me for talking out of line?”

“I might. Would you like that?”

She wrinkles her nose. “No, I don’t think so. I’m not one of your soldiers, Connor. You don’t get to flog me if I disobey.”

“Flogging you sounds like fun.”

“Easy, boy.”

“I’m only trying to make the point that I know how you feel. You sacrificed a lot for your mother. Sleepless nights working late hours at Rite Aid, a few years at a grocery store, and even though you were accepted into NYU, you still chose not to go.”

She shifts, her brows drawing together. Her fingers slip from mine. “Wait, how do you know all that?”

“The jobs were on your resume,” I say quickly.

But she leans on an elbow. “The jobs were, but nobody knows about NYU.”

I try to think fast. “I researched you before we got married.”

“How would that even come up? Seriously, Connor, how do you know about NYU? I didn’t even tell my mom.”

I roll onto my side, turning my back on her. “Time to sleep.”

“Connor—“

“Sleep, Angelina. You’re getting paranoid.”

Her eyes bore into my back. My heart’s racing and I try to keep myself calm. Fuck, that was stupid, showing too much there. Talking to her relaxes me and I forget myself.

Her side of the bed shakes as she drops onto her back with a huff. I stay still, listening to her, waiting for her to drift off. How much more am I going to reveal?

I can’t keep it hidden forever.

When is she going to realize that I’ve been watching her for years?

18

ANGIE

Ifan my hand in front of my face as I wade through a plume of weed smoke. “Mom, seriously, can you please tone it down?”

“God, darling, I wish I could, but this stuff is so good.” She giggles manically, sprawled on the floor in front of the TV, her heels up on the coffee table and a huge blunt between her lips. “Oh my god, I think it’s the best weed I’ve ever smoked.”

“I’m so glad you’re happy.” I grit my teeth and look around her room.

It’s immaculate. Which is a shock in itself. I don’t think Dawn’s cleaned anything since I turned nine and she taught me how to use a vacuum. But now she’s got twenty-four-seven access to a cleaning service and she’s taking advantage of it.

“Your husband is amazing. I mean truly, Angie, darling, he’s my favorite man in the world.”

“You’re so easy to please.”

“TV, food, all the herb I can smoke. It’s heaven on earth in here.” She beams at me glassily. “You really should try some.”