Page 23 of Oathbreaker

“You didn’t have to throw me a party.”

Eight

Colt

Everyone in the room freezes to the point that it’s almost comical. Like this is a movie and someone hit pause. But I’d been just outside the kitchen listening—to the banter, the laughter, Briar’s discomfort. Her inability to get out the words.

And I had to save her.

Because this is all my fault and it’s not fair for her to carry this burden for another minute. I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for her to keep this secret the last few days, so I did what I’ve always done—stepped up and made a joke.

Unfortunately, it fell flat.

Then someone I only know because I saw him kissing Briar the other night—and I still haven’t decided if I’m going to kill him or not—slips in the back door, a look of concern on his face because?—

The guys are staring at me like they’ve seen… well, a ghost. I’m supposed to be dead. Fuck, I feel like a real ass for that.

But it’s Dash’s expression that hits hardest.

Fury.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” he roars. He steps toward me, fists clenched, and Briar instinctively moves between us.

“Dash, no—he’s hurt.”

Then West pushes Briar behind him. Protecting her. Doing what I should be doing if I wasn’t so fucking sore.

“Mommy?” Frankie’s tiny voice, now filled with uncertainty, seems to break the daze everyone is in.

And like magic, the ladies spring into action.

“Frankie! Do you want to hear my new song?” Lily immediately holds out her hand. “If we go get your ukulele, I’ll play it for you. Come on, show me where it is.” She ushers Frankie out of the room, and I take a second to regroup.

This is my family, but I’m a stranger. A dead stranger. It’s a really weird feeling and probably the worst situation I’ve ever been in.

Banks just looks confused, like he can’t figure any of this out.

Royal seems more intrigued, like this is a puzzle for him to decode.

Atlas is mad, no doubt about that, his dark eyes nearly black as he studies me.

West looks like he wants to beat the crap out of me, which is equal parts funny and frustrating, because I don’t know him and he doesn’t know me. I’m also not sure I could take him in my current condition.

But it’s Dash’s expression that guts me.

He’s so hurt that he wants to hurt me in return. Maybe not literally, but if Briar hadn’t stepped in, he would’ve taken a swing. And I deserve that and much more.

The ladies are more reserved, trying to figure out who I am and what I’m doing here, as if I’m the stranger and not them.

That part hits me the hardest.

I’ve become a stranger in my own family. These women I don’t know beyond what I could find online—they’re part of the family now. And I’m the outsider.

The baby on the counter starts to whimper, and Aspen immediately reaches for her, lifting her into her arms and cooing softly. Banks is instantly at her side, one hand on his daughter’s back, gently caressing.

“I’m going to take her outside.” She looks at Banks and they exchange some mystical couple ESP that ends with him giving her a tiny nod. “Jade, you coming?”

“Uh, yeah.” Jade nods after a similar exchange with Royal.