Chapter 48
Leon and Trinity Marx do Sunday lunch like a wedding reception, something that hasn’t changed over the years since I left. My parents like to indulge. Like to splash their money around, making a day of it.
They don’t know I’m here. My brothers and cousins promised not to tell anyone, agreeing to let me return into the fold on my terms, and Devon was right when he insisted I see them first before Gracie’s party.
“How rich are we, exactly?” Jude asks before he whistles as the elevator doors open onto the twentieth floor.
As we step out into the three Michelin starred restaurant, Mariners, I study the space that takes me back to my younger years.
It’s been refurbished, but it still has the same royal feel to it.
“Any money we have is what I earned, Jude. But your grandparents are filthy rich, as you can tell.” I gesture to the diners, the space filled with elite members of Melbourne’s high society.
“May I help you?” the host asks, a wide smile lighting up his face, his back as stiff as a board.
“No need,” I dismiss him. “I know where I’m going.”
His smile falls, and I step past him, heading towards the far side of the room where the private dining room is.
“I can’t see Uncle Devon,” Ronnie mutters quietly, but I ignore him and keep walking until we are just outside the doors.
Spinning to face my sons, I take in their excited eyes and the way they no longer glare at Asher.
Things aren’t perfect between the four of us yet, but they have spent some time alone with Asher, and seem to get along fine until Asher and I make contact. Then they get uncomfortable, which I understand.
Today, the three of them are dressed just like their uncles.
The twins are wearing suit pants, shiny shoes, and black button up shirts with the sleeves rolled up.
Asher is dressed a little smarter today, wearing a black vest over his crisp white shirt, and he even has on a tie.
It’s been a struggle to keep my hands off him, especially with the way one of his new tattoos peaks out from the collar of his shirt.
He may only be twenty years old, but he looks at least twenty-six right now.
The fact he and the twins have slid straight into the look of the lifestyle of Marx men in the couple of months since arriving in Australia has me ready to leave.
But where would we go? Even with most of my images removed from media and police files, it’s still a risk, so my best bet at staying protected is with the family I ran from.
So, I’ve given in, looking the part as well, my knee length, lacy, green dress making my copper hair and blue eyes pop. The silver teardrop earrings with diamonds falling from my ears match the shoes I’m wearing, completing the look.
When I wear my black latex suits to kill, I feel exotic and sexy, but I rarely wear clothes that make me feel beautiful, until today.
“Remember what I said,” I say quietly so nearby diners can’t hear. “Aside from Devon and Warrick, my parents and sisters don’t know I’m back. I don’t know how they’ll react, and it may not be good.”
Jude’s expression softens when he looks at me.
“We remember, Mum. Don’t worry, we’ll behave, but if any of them are rude to you, I’ll fuck them up.”
Ronnie and Asher snicker, and I roll my eyes.
“Try to refrain, please. I can look after myself and I can handle my family.” I reach out and pinch Jude’s cheek. “But thank you.”
He shoots me a wink, and I wish I could say it was one of those reassuring winks that is meant to put me at ease. But there’s nothing but mischief in his wink.
Maybe I should have left the twins back at the hotel with Barrett.
Knowing I’m stalling, I blow out a breath, stand tall, and glance up at Asher.
“You ready?” I ask him, and he nods, reaching out to weave his fingers with mine.
“Never been more ready to meet someone’s parents in my life.”
The twins chuckle at Asher’s unsure tone, and I shake my head, even as I smile and reach for the double sliding doors.
Easing them open, we are met with chatter and laughter and China clinking on plates, and as I step inside, slowly, each person freezes, all except for my brothers who keep eating.
“Come on in, Lil,” Devon grins. “Entrees have just been served.”
I hear the doors slide closed behind us, and figure one of the twins must have done it, but I can’t take my eyes off the table, off my mother who has aged so much. She’d have to be in her early sixties by now.
Shit… and my dad, looking more like his brother Ewan than I remember, with his greying hair and deep smile lines.
“Lily?” Jenaveve’s voice draws my attention to the other end of the table.
My little sister, only two years younger and still so stunning with her long, silky red hair. It’s lighter than mine, but just as long.
“Hey, Jen.” I offer her a small smile, and the moment I do, she stands abruptly, her chair falling back as she charges for me, tears already streaming from her eyes.
She throws herself at me, and Asher releases my hand so I can hug my sister back, trying really hard to hold back my own tears.
Everything goes crazy after that.
My other little sister, Elise, pulls Jen off me before taking me in for her own hug, a thousand words flying from their lips as they deal with their shock of seeing me.
Devon simply grins, lounging back in his chair like it’s his throne, eating and sipping on his whisky. A timid blonde is sitting next to him, and I have to guess that’s his fiancé, Jaxcen.
“Lilian.”
My name falls from my mother’s lips, and I glance to the side to see her moving towards me, her hands held out as she reaches for me, and behind her, my father.
“Hey Mum. Hey Dad.” I offer them a smile, which they return, and a second later I’m pulled into a group hug with the two of them, their grips tight like they don’t want to let me go.
“You’re gonna suffocate her before she can introduce you to your grandsons,” Warrick grumbles from across the room, and both my parents pull back, their eyes going wide as they look between Asher, Jude and Ronan.
“You… have three sons?” my mother asks, her confused gaze darting across the room to Devon, who simply chuckles knowingly.
Fucker.
The twins scoff at my mum’s words, Jude stepping forward and holding his hand out, ready to shake.
“I’m Jude, the best son.”
My dad shakes his hand, chuckling, before Ronan shoulders his brother out of the way.
“The best son is actually me. I’m Ronan.” He takes my dad’s hand in a shake too, and then my parents glance at Asher.
“And you?” my mum asks hopefully.
“Yeah, him,” Jude scoffs. “Go on, tell my grandma who you are.”
Okay, so even though the three of them have mended bridges, they still like to roast Asher about our relationship.
Shooting Jude a glare, Asher straightens, tugging at the bottom of his vest, before stepping forward and offering his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you Mr and Mrs Marx. I’m Asher Scott.”
“Oh, your accents are divine.” My mother clutches her invisible pearls, addressing Asher and the twins. “Please call me Trinity.”
She puts her hand in his, and he gives it a gentle shake before offering it to my father, whose eyes have narrowed.
Ugh, I wish he didn’t look so much like my uncle Ewan. They all look like Robert De Niro clones, just with bigger builds and each of them in different stages of greying hair, if the online images I looked up yesterday are correct and up to date.
“Asher is your name,” my father points out, his tone gruff. “But who are you?”
Dropping his hand back to his side, Asher glances at the twins, who are looking smug as hell, and I’m about to jump in and save him when he speaks again.
“I grew up with your grandsons. They are my very best mates. More like brothers.” Asher darts his gaze back to the twins briefly before focusing on my father. “But they aren’t too happy with me right now.”
“And why is that?” my dad almost sneers, and I take a step forward, ready to defend Asher, but his hand whips out, taking my hand and stopping me.
I don’t miss the way my dad tracks the movement.
“Well, Mr Marx, it’s because I’m in love with their mum. Your daughter.”
I can’t hold back my smirk as my dad’s brows shoot up into his hairline, and I link my arm with Asher’s, resting my other hand on his chest.
“Dad, Asher is the man I love. Be nice.”
Leon Marx is hardly ever lost for words, yet standing before us he seems to be struggling.
“Everyone sit down,” Warrick mutters, shifting more chairs to the table. “Let’s have lunch.”
With my father’s nod, we all take seats at the table, and for the first time in twenty years, I break bread with my family.
My sisters don’t stop asking questions, and the twins settle into conversation so easily it’s almost like they’ve known my family for years.
Asher answers any questions thrown his way, but stays quiet for the most part, his hand resting on my leg under the table as he eats, like he can’t bear to not be touching me.
The feeling is mutual.
When everyone is full and quiet from eating so much, I break the comfortable silence.
“Please don’t tell Uncle Ewan or my cousins that I’m here. I want it to be a surprise for Gracie’s twenty-first birthday.”
My father’s eyes narrow suspiciously.
“It’s certainly going to be a surprise.”
“He can’t stop Lily from coming home,” Jen snaps, slapping her hand onto the white linen tablecloth. “It’s been over twenty years. And she’s family. Your daughter. He can’t send her away again.”
My brows shoot up.
I didn’t know my sisters knew I’d been basically cast out.
“Jen is right.” My mother takes my father’s hand in both of hers, looking at him hopefully. “It’s all in the past. Lily has returned. The twins are grown men now. They can join the family business.”
“Absolutely not.” I stand abruptly, and my father raises a single brow.
“You can’t have it both ways, Lilian.” My father reminds me, and the cold edge in his tone sounds so much like Ewan’s voice I have to stop myself from looking over my shoulder to see if he’s right behind me.
But I know he’s not. The head of the family doesn’t come to these lunches. They are just for my immediate family.
I know I have to play into this charade in order to get closer to the man worse than the devil. Unfortunately, that means involving my sons, too.
“Fine, but give us some time to settle into it. The boys have only recently learned about this family. They weren’t raised around made men.”
The single nod my father gives is all the approval I need, and I finally start to relax.
“It’s settled then.” Devon chimes in, his lazy smile warming my heart since he rarely gives it. “Lily’s return will be kept secret from everyone outside this room until Gracie’s party.”
Guilt gnaws at me knowing I’m lying to him too. No one knows why I’m really here, aside from Asher and AJ. Not that I know what AJ has planned exactly, but all he needs me to do is shock Ewan by showing up. Throw him off his game.
So that’s exactly what I plan to do.