Page 65 of Blood

Without turning, Sam discreetly throws me the middle finger.

Laughing, I turn back around in my seat.

Michael watches me with a raised brow.

“What?” I snap.

“You tell me,” he challenges.

His smirk pisses me off the longer I look at it.

“How are you feeling?” Mom asks from her armchair, the glass of wine emptying quickly.

“Good.” I nod.

“You look better. Relaxed. Happy,” Dad adds, sitting on the arm of mom’s chair.

I am happy.I just need to find a way to stay like that when shit hits the fan.

“Thank you for letting me have the cabin,” I say.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Kaleb

I watch my girl fidget with the cushion in her lap. If she pulls that loose thread any harder, she’s going to unravel the stitching.

Speaking of things unravelling, her eyes widen when a cell phone chimes somewhere in the kitchen.

Why is she so jumpy?Maybe it’s time to go.

The sofa shifts below me, Charlie settles with the help of her husband’s hand on her elbow.

“Kaleb.” His gruff voice rumbles.

I look in the direction that he nods and frown. Michael is standing in the kitchen, stiff as a board, hands buried deep in his pants pocket.

Do they know?I eye the back door again.Only one way to find out.

Looking around the room, I try to think of an excuse to leave.

Charlie leans forward, distracting everyone by pointing out Rupert’s birthmark. Whatever is happening, my sister-in-law is in on it.

Taking my cue, I slip out unnoticed.

Michael looks back toward the house when Daniel and I walk into Dad’s workshop at the back of the yard.

“No one even knows we left. Too focused on that cute son of yours.” I smile at Daniel. “Something he gets from his uncle, obviously.”

“Obviously,” Daniel agrees.

His words stop me dead. Something’s wrong.

I glance between my brothers.

“I need you to remember where you are.”

I don’t respond to Michael’s words. At my silence, the two men share a look. Michael nods, and Daniel sidesteps, putting his large body in front of the door.