Page 23 of Pucking Snowed In with the Enemy

“And if that is not enough, then maybe you should think about all those that you love in your life. It would be unfortunate for them to have an accident.” I may have believed Nathan when he said he didn’t kill Alex, but that didn’t exclude family. “Have nothing to say?”

“No,” I said.

He let go and walked away. I’d been ready to leave town and never come back, but now…now, I was more determined than ever to find out what really happened.

CHAPTER

EIGHT

NATHANIEL

“Why the fuck is she still breathing,” Father ranted as I stepped onto the truck dock to join him and my brothers. Arm raised, I spun around to knock my father to the floor and fuck whatever consequences came my way. No one threatened Savannah like that. I decided if she was going to die, not him. Ronan grabbed my arm before I could strike my blow.

“Easy, Bro, it’s a valid question.”

I yanked my arm away from my oldest brother and glared at him. “No, what is a valid question is why Father decided to disrespect our mother and our entire family by bringing a child to my club.” I stepped away from my father, so I wasn’t more tempted than I already was to spill his blood.

“She is seventeen, far from a child. I had your mother pregnant at seventeen,” Father said and waved his hand in annoyance.

“Father, you’re not helping,” Ronan barked out, and my father rolled his eyes like we were both idiots.

“I am still the head of this family, which makes everything you do mine, Nathaniel. And what I do in my personal time for pleasure is not for you to judge or govern.”

Clenching my fists, I stepped around Ronan, but he grabbed me before I could get any closer. “Do it again and find out what happens. I’m not playing this game with you.”

“What game is that, Nathaniel?” It was a good thing I couldn’t get to my gun. I hadn’t realized how deep the anger and hatred had burrowed itself into my soul until he came back to town. Six months away had given me space and time to forget. My mother had been happy, singing and baking and working in the garden, but now she hid in her room and was always sad. Seeing the fucker’s face every day and the tears in my mother’s eyes was tearing me up inside.

Don’t get married if you don’t plan on being faithful.

Fuck around all you want until then, but my word was ironclad, and I would never take a woman’s hand unless I planned on making her my life.

“You don’t want Mom anymore, fine. Cut her loose so she can find someone who treats her the way she deserves. You constantly breaking her heart is slowly killing her, and I’m done watching it.”

He smiled and gave me a once over before he punched me across the face, the rings cutting my cheek open, but I didn’t budge from the hard blow. Two years ago, that strike would’ve landed me on my ass, not anymore. I touched the blood and glared at my father as I licked the red off my finger.

“You better watch your back, old man. You’ve been gone a long time, and there is a new order of things around here.”

“Sledi za svaim rtom,” Father growled. “Da shto ty a sebe vazamnil?”

“I don’t need to watch my mouth, Father. I speak the truth,” I said, leaning into his face despite Ronan’s grip.

“You would be wise to remember who still controls the reins of this family. I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

“Dastatachna!” Titus stepped in between us. Daisy growled at my father while Bella stood in front of me. “We are still family!” This man wasn’t my family. He was hardly around, and when he was, he caused havoc and heartache. That wasn’t family, that was the enemy.

“Father, what happens between you and Mother and how you choose to live your lives is not our business, but Nathan is right. It’s disrespectful to the whole family to waltz a mistress out in public like that, especially one so young. Other families, especially those looking for a weakness, will talk, and we don’t need that attention.” Titus looked at me. “Nathan, tell Father what he wants to know about the agent.”

Fucking Titus was always acting as the referee. “Fuck you, and fuck the meeting. You three can take care of this. I’m out of here.” I pulled away from Ronan again and marched out. “And if you can’t figure out why killing an FBI agent isn’t a smart idea, then you don’t deserve to be head of the family anymore,” I said, looking over my shoulder at my father. “I’ll be in my office.”

Fuming, I marched along the maze of hallways and rooms until I reached my office. Olivia was standing outside and smiled when she saw me.

“I thought you might have left without me,” she pouted as I opened the door and walked inside. She perched herself on my desk as I sat down like she was a hood ornament on a car. I hated it. I didn’t give her permission to come in let alone touch my things with such ownership.

“I had business to take care of,” I said. “Was there something you wanted?”

Biting her lip, she slid across the desk until she was directly in front of me and spread her legs. Sliding my hand up her legs, I found that she wasn’t wearing any underwear, which would typically please me, but tonight, it didn’t do a thing.