Page 38 of At The End Of The Day

Clucking his teeth and rolling his eyes, he spun around and moved a little closer to the entrance. Less than six feet away, I could almost smell his shampoo, and it struck a chord of yearning I’d never felt before. My focus shifted to Edwina, my princess, my first born, the one that bound Violetta to me forever. She wasn’t having as good a time as her little brother, hovering near the entrance with an exaggerated pout.

“What’s wrong, niña?” she asked, tracing her fingertips through her dark brown hair.

She shrugged and kicked at a rock while Eddie crouched and moved about slowly. In his own little world, no one was paying him any attention as he talked to himself, pretending to be an explorer looking for treasure.

Gazing up at her mother, she asked, “Is Ty-Ty in trouble?”

An invisible, steel fist slammed into my gut, nearly making me grunt. She called him Ty-Ty, too? How fucking revolting. Fury sweeping through my system, I was panting through my nose, my teeth gritted hard.

“No, he’s not.”

“But the news—”

“Hey.” She squatted again, taking one of her hands and swinging it side to side. “Listen. I promise, everything is okay. It was all a misunderstanding.” Squinting, she jutted her chin, her tone changing to mischief. “You almost sound like you like Tyler now.”

Some of the rage eased. My little princess was loyal. She knew to not like that bastard. Good girl.

“He’s all right.”

She tugged her closer and cupped a cheek. “He likes you.”

Batting her lashes, she stared at Violetta through them, fidgeting with the hem of her tee shirt. “Uncle Vinny says he’s gonna be our daddy one day.”

She blanched and I damn near snapped with insanity. Clenching my fists so hard, my nails were cutting into my skin, blood was oozing between my fingers. Seething, the knife in my back twisted, pushing me over the edge into sheer abhorrence. My best friend said what? Was there no goddamn loyalty in that fucking family? Like brother like sister, neither of them could be trusted.

“When did he say that?” she shrieked, her voice quaking and husky.

“Yesterday. Is that why we can’t see Daddy anymore? Because we got a new one?”

A tiny whimper escaped her throat, a tear sliding down her cheek. “Listen to me. Eddie, come here,” she snapped, beckoning him from the cave. Huddling them together, her focus darted back and forth, the tip of her nose turning red. “Tyler is not trying to replace anyone, okay? He does not expect you two to consider him your father. He just wants to be your friend.”

“But, you’re going to marry him and that’s gonna make him our daddy. Mommies and Daddies are married.”

She released a small sob and coughed, turning her profile to them to gaze toward the house in the distance.

“Where is Daddy?” Eddie asked, suddenly no longer exuberant.

“I’m not really sure, honey,” she rasped, bowing her chin.

“When can we see him again?”

Tipping her face, her cheeks were stained with tears, her eyes swelling. “You miss him, don’t you?”

He nodded and tugged at his bottom lip.

Clucking her teeth, she petted his back and pulled them both closer to hug them together. “Yeah, I know. I know you miss him.”

She rocked them a bit, petting their backs or hair. Leaning away, she grinned and sniffled. “I know we just got here, but let’s head back to the house. Dash bought some popcorn yesterday. Let’s make some and chill out and watch some movies. Okay?”

“Can we put caramel on the popcorn?”

Giggling, she nodded, a finger tucking under our daughter’s chin. “Of course. Let’s go.” She stood, took their hands, and led them away. Just before they were out of earshot, I heard my daughter ask if Tyler could watch with them.

Betrayed to the fullest, I edged my way to the entrance, seething, hyperventilating, seeing everything coated in blood red. It was one thing for my own wife to deceive me, but now my own brothers. Dash brought them out here to hide from me, and Vincent was already trying to replace me with Tyler motherfucking Warren.

I should have killed him when I had the chance. Maiming him wasn’t good enough, he should have died. Slowly. Painfully. My act of kindness had come back to bite me in the ass. Well, never again. They would all pay, they would all suffer. My wife, her lover, and my brothers. Even the kids would have to be punished.

Anguish ripping through my core at all the disloyalties from everyone I trusted most, I growled from the pit of my stomach, spun around, and slammed my already bloodied fist into the wall of the cave. Bones shattered, but I felt nothing, for there was no pain deeper than having my entire family turn their backs on me for an outsider. Goddamn Tyler Warren.