Page 18 of Stolen Matrimony

Dominic cleared his throat. “Offending you wasn’t my objective, but you must understand where I’m coming from. My family has a lot to lose and your parents were shady bastards.” My brother flinched at the mention of my parents.

My eyes narrowed at Dominic. “You’re right, they were, but they’re no longer here or a problem, now are they?” I blinked at him blankly.

“Oh she’s feisty. I think Dad’s about to blow a gasket too,” Ezra said with a chuckle.

My parents might not have been the best people but they raised me to stand on my own. While my heart pounded wildly inside me, not knowing how Dominic would react, I refused to show any fear. He could shoot me dead right here and no one in this room but my brother would bat an eye. Yet I sat straight and stared him in the eyes.

He truly was a handsome man. His genes passed on perfectly to his sons and blended well with his wife’s. The main indicator of his aging was the gray speckling his goatee.

“A’right, that’s enough!” Nora spoke up. “Dinner is on the table and I for one refuse to eat cold food. You also know I don’t like business talk at the table. Dom, you two can discuss this after dinner. Now let’s bless the food.”

Dominic clenched his jaw but didn’t argue with his wife. We lowered our heads and Nora blessed the food before everyone dug in.

“Cashlynn, Carson, go ahead and get whatever you want,” Nora encouraged.

I looked down at my brother who was eyeing the fried chicken in front of him. “Do you want some, bud?”

He looked up at me and nodded. I gave him a small smile. “Okay,” I started preparing his plate. This was the first homecooked meal we’d had in ages. Even when we were staying at Maddox’s house, we rarely got homecooked meals, always forced to fend for ourselves.

Tension was still high but the conversation seemed like no one knew how to proceed after Dominic’s rant. All that could be heard was the forks hitting the plates as we ate.

“Cashlynn, what is it that you do?” Dominic questioned.

“Dominic,” Nora warned.

“I’m just curious, Miel.From what I heard, your parents were training you to join the family business, sí?”

Wiping my mouth, I gave Dominic my attention. He didn’t try to hide the disdain as he stared at me with cold eyes.

“I hear a lot of things about you too but that doesn’t make it all true.”

His jaw clenched. “You disrespectful little pu?—”

“Dominic!”

“Padre!”

Nora and Nazai shouted simultaneously. Dominic’s face reddened as veins bulged from his forehead. Nazai glowered in my direction. “Have some more respect!” He faced his dad. “You need to respect my choice and my fiancée.”

My nostrils flared and my brows furrowed. “Respect is earned and since I sat down he’s lacked it for me!” The man in front of me wasn’t the same Dominic I’d heard rumors about. From what I was told, he was normally calm and levelheaded. He was intelligent too. Whatever issues he had with my parents must be bad if he was this upset just by my last name.

“Oh shit.” The brother I learned to be Ezra laughed. “Big bro, looks like you got your hands full with your fiancée.”

Nazai shot his brother a look. I was learning Ezra was the brother that lacked a filter. He favored Nazai the most. His body less bulky, but it was clear he worked out. His arms were decorated with colorful ink as if it were a mural. His goatee surrounded his square jaw perfectly.

I rolled my eyes and caught Emmet’s eye. He had a wary aura around him. I didn’t know much about him. Out of all the brothers he seemed to be the one that stayed out of the public eye the most. He had been staring at me all evening, like he was watching me. His face gave nothing away. It was creepy honestly.

“Cash.” Carson tapped my arm, gaining my attention.

I glanced down at him. “What’s wrong?”

“I need to use the bathroom,” he whispered.

I nodded and looked toward Nazai and got his attention. “My brother needs to use the restroom.”

Nora spoke up. “Oh, Macy can show you. Macy!” she called out.

Before I could protest Macy had appeared.