Page 22 of Cruel Possession

Chapter Seven

AIDEN

“What the hellis Zoe doing in one of the cells downstairs?” Gia stands in front of me with her arms crossed over her chest, her baby bump nearly filling the space between us.

Ellie stops dishing out the food onto the line of plates on the counter, her head shooting up, and she fixes me with a glare. “What is she talking about?”

I shrug. “I have no idea.”

Royce comes into the room with Bianca running around behind him. She runs into the corner of the wall before spinning and taking off the other way.

Toddlers.

Gia snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Hey, I’m talking to you. You don’t just get to check out like you do to everyone else and pretend that nothing is happening. That’s my sister you have in that fucking cell!”

I snatch her hand out of the air, closing my fist around hers and squeezing until she winces. “Learn some damn manners.”

Royce grabs me by the collar, tearing me away from her and shoving me into the wall. “You’re going to want to keep your hands off her.”

Joshua looks to Skyla as they walk into the room. “Oh, good. Looks like your family is behaving, like always.”

Skyla snorts and touches Royce’s shoulder. “Whatever pain in the ass thing he did, it isn’t worth it.”

Royce spins and glares down at her, his fist still curled in my shirt. “He put hands on Gia, and apparently, her sister is locked down in the basement.”

Skyla looks at me, arching that damn judgmental eyebrow before shrugging and stepping back. “Have at him, then. But don’t get upset when he kicks your ass later. It’s not going to be my problem to solve.”

I grab Royce’s wrist, shoving him off me. “You’re going to want to teach Gia some manners. I don’t give a fuck if I locked up a damn queen, she’s not in charge here, and she damn fuck is not going to disrespect me in my own house.”

Jade jogs down the stairs with Summer close behind her. “It smells amazing in here.”

Skyla scoffs and shakes her head, going to help Ellie with the food. The two of them bend their heads together, whispering and working together while their husbands retreat to the liquor cabinet, helping themselves to my collection.

Jade and Summer take seats at the dining table, pulling out their phones and doing whatever it is they do.

Royce grits his teeth, taking a step back. “Why the hell is Zoe locked up downstairs?”

My attention turns to Gia. “Better question is what the hell areyoudoing, snooping around?”

She couldn’t have gone down to the basement, could she? Or did she go into my office and go through my computer? Neither is an acceptable option.

Ellie and Skyla walk by with the plates.

Ellie nudges me with her elbow. “Come on, let’s talk about this over dinner like civilized people, instead of trying to start a fight in the kitchen.”

“Too many knives,” Skyla says under her breath.

I look at Royce and nod.

He sighs and takes off into the dining room with the others.

Gia glares at me, her lips parting like she’s ready to argue more.

I’m not in the mood to deal with it, though.

This is my family, it is my responsibility to keep everyone safe, and for that, I need answers. How I get them is up to me, not her business, so I turn away from her.

She wrangles Bianca, and I trail into the room behind her, Sean and Joshua bringing up the rear.