Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
KILLIAN
He arches an eyebrow, the tension between the three of us, so thick you could cut it with a knife. Knowing what’s coming doesn’t make it any easier.
“Who is your father?”
I exchange a glance with my brothers as he keeps asking the same question. Carter swallows hard. I can nearly see the bitterness on his tongue as he opens his mouth to speak.
“Our mother was Madeline Bonetti.”
Bones crosses his arms over his chest, narrowing his gaze at my brother.
“And your father?”
Knox answers for Carter, knowing that even speaking his name bothers him. None of us has spoken his name out loud since it happened. Watching Carter unravel with one word was enough for us not to say it out loud.
“Francesco Bonetti.”
The two that look like twins, Reaper and Raven, wear identical expressions that look like they’ve been punched in the gut.
“Did you know him?” I ask, both of my brothers wearing identical confused expressions. How is it possible for this family to have known our father?
Bones scratches his head, looking equally annoyed and perplexed.
“Take a seat. I have questions.”
That makes both of us. This entire situation is a mind fuck. Who the hell are these people and why do they care who our parents are? Our father specifically.
Five sets of matching eyes watch us cautiously as if we are the enemy prepared to strike, and it's confusing at best.
Bones fishes his phone out of his pocket and swipes as if he’s looking for something and hands it to Carter.
“Is this your father?”
“Jesus Christ,” I snarl as I snatch the phone from his hand.
Glancing down at the image, I nod my answer.
“Yeah, that’s the piece of shit we once called Papa.”
“Oh, no,” Bianca says, her gaze changing from happy to have us here to one of sheer panic.
Reaper rises to his feet and yells for us to leave. His eyes dark as coal, pure unadulterated anger bristling from him. He doesn’t hide his emotions. This man is moments away from snapping. It’s clear. There’s no safety, only danger.
“Get out!” His voice rumbles and our girl simply raises an eyebrow. Annoyance mars her face, but she’s otherwise unaffected.
Jumping to her feet, she places her hands firmly on her hips as she lectures every man in the room.
“Hold on. Raven, I came for your help, and I was told you’d listen.
Instead, after we have driven several days to get here, you’re throwing us out?
Because of who their father was? He was a monster, and these men did not get away from him unscathed.
I don’t know how you knew their father, but this is unfair.
Do you want to be judged because of who your family is?
I certainly wouldn’t want to be judged because of mine. ”
Raven and Reaper exchange a glance, reminding me of the way I am with my brothers. Reaper nods, and Raven opens his mouth to speak and Bianca holds his hand, squeezing it tight.
“Frank was our uncle. Reaper's wife, Bella, killed him because of what he did to Reaper when he was young. I didn’t fare any better. We were tortured, abused, and raped. Repeatedly.”
He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly before continuing. The pain on his face is visceral, and all I can think is how grateful I am that Carter wasn’t sexually violated.
I lean forward and look at my brother with his arms crossed over his stomach, physically holding himself together. It’s like watching someone lie on train tracks. There’s nothing you can do to stop it, but you also can’t look away.
“Did he rape you?” Raven asks, and the question alone nearly knocks the wind out of my lungs. Carter stands up and shakes his head, his fingers trembling visibly while he runs his hand into his hair, pulling at the strands.
“I’m sorry. I can’t-“
He turns on his heel and walks to the front door with Heather in tow.
Knox clears his throat before speaking and tries to explain.
“Our mother was with Frank when she got pregnant with us.
She left while he was working because she was afraid for us.
He was a monster even then. We moved more times than I can count, but eventually he found us in Virginia.
Very long story short, he kidnapped Carter when we were three.
He was never sexually abused, but he was beaten and tortured for three long fucking years.
His bloody body was left on our porch for our mother to find.
Knox takes in a shaky breath, obviously struggling with the memories of Carter in so much pain.
“He barely survived. The trauma continues today. I-”
“Luca? Is everything okay?” A brunette comes in and heads straight for Bones and sits on his lap.
“Yes, Butterfly.”
His eyes lighten as he stares at her, profound love in his gaze, and it instantly reminds me of the way we look at Heather. Like she hung the goddamn moon. He motions to Knox and I.
“Butterfly, this is Knox and Killian. Their brother Carter is outside with, I guess it’s ‘their’ girl.”
Knox nods politely.
“Nice to meet you, Butterfly.”
I sit laughing as Bones levels him with just a look—a vicious glare as Bones corrects him.
“Butterfly to me. To you it’s Athena or Mrs. Bonetti.”
She smiles warmly even though she has never laid eyes on us before.
“Apparently, these are Frank's sons.”
Her smile fades as she begins to look at us differently once she knows who’s responsible for the blood running through our veins. I want to say fuck it and leave, and I would if it weren’t for Heather.