Page 42 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

R en

Thanksgiving had been a daunting prospect. I hadn’t been looking forward to sitting through an entire meal with Vicky glaring at me as I tried to avoid talking.

It was also a reminder of dinner at Lawrence’s last year. I’d been harsh on my dad…stepdad…stand-in…pretend-dad…dad. I had no idea what Neal Davies was to me anymore.

But now…I could say with confidence that this was an incredible distraction and exactly what I needed.

“Yes, of course, the more the merrier,” Eddie said and signaled for another chair to be added.

The other side of the table shifted to make room. I didn’t know much about the motorcycle club other than what I’d overheard Nash mention. He had some sort of deal with them, and they were at the hospital for added protection.

“Thanks. Everyone, this is Drew,” Nora said, and it was the first time I’d seen her look nervous.

“Great, now we are allowing the local thugs to come to dinner,” Vicky whispered under her breath. “This Thanksgiving is getting better and better.”

“Please tell me you are just trying to get under my skin,” Emmett said as Nora and Drew sat down.

“No, Father. I really don’t care what you think. I’m here because Mom asked me to be, and if you can’t show a little respect, then we will leave,” Nora bit back.

I picked up a roll and tore off a piece as I watched the drama unfold. God, it felt good not to be directly in the middle of it this time.

“Then leave,” Emmett said.

“No, she will not,” Bridget growled. “Nora is our daughter, and she is free to live her life and love who she chooses. You are more than welcome to stay, sweetie, and it’s nice to meet you, Drew,” Bridget said, holding out her hand.

“He’s really hot,” Sienna said.

Emmett gave his youngest daughter a harsh side-eye and looked around the room until his gaze fell on Dean Henry at the end of the table. I hadn’t expected him to be here, but it was good to see him.

“If you’re looking to switch with someone, I happily will,” Nash said, putting his hand in the air. All I could picture was a kid waving their arm in class, begging to be picked.

“Sure, swap seats with me,” Emmett said.

“Fine, be a stubborn old goat,” Bridget said, crossing her arms. “You’re on the couch tonight.”

“Fine…I like it better,” Emmett said, and Bridget gasped.

“Fine, then maybe we should make it permanent,” she snapped back. With the glare she gave Emmett, I half expected her to pick up her fork and stab him.

“Fine,” Emmett said, grabbing his plate even though it was empty.

“Fine.”

Bridget lifted her nose in the air and looked away from her husband.

Nash smirked and stood. He picked up his little placement card and plate, then walked around the table. The two men traded places as Eddie swore under his breath in Italian.

Once everyone was seated again, Eddie stood and grabbed his glass of wine. “Before dinner is served, I would like to make a toast. I want to thank all of you for being here today. It has always been a dream of mine to have large gatherings like this with family and friends.”

“You could’ve invited Mama,” Vicky said, cutting him off as she glared up at him. “She’s family. Or I guess she’s technically not family. She’s pretend family. Sorry, continue.”

Eddie smiled at Vicky, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I could almost see her trust fund dwindling.

“Keep it up. Maybe he’ll write you out of the will completely. But then how would you buy your designer shoes,” Liam asked.

“Shut up,” Vicky growled. “Who asked you?”

“Enough, Victoria. You had the choice to stay here or visit your mother in Spain. You chose to stay.”

Vicky sighed and crossed her arms like a petulant child, but she didn’t say anything else.

“As I was saying. What are the holidays without a little family drama?” Everyone chuckled at that.

“I’m thankful for many things. Friends I’ve known for years, new friends and alliances, and of course, my two beautiful daughters.

This is the first holiday I’ve shared with my Lilya…

I mean, Ren, since she was four years old.

To have both my daughters under one roof is incredibly special for me. ”

Liam touched my leg as I got choked up. His thumb was warm and comforting as it rubbed back and forth over my thigh.

“And…”

Vicky burst to her feet and raised her glass of sparkling cider into the air.

Eddie stopped talking and watched her closely. I was certain he was telling her to shut-up with his eyes. Obviously, he hadn’t been front row for a Vicky tongue-lashing.

I took another bite of my roll and enjoyed this awkward moment. It was bad of me…but damn, it was nice not to be the center of all the drama for a change.

“Sorry to interrupt what I’m sure was going to be a warm, loving, and boring end to your toast. But I really want to say…

yes, God bless family. Those you’re related to and those you find out are no relation at all.

Heck, while we are at it, let’s give thanks for all the men who have lied, cheated on their wives, and married for nothing more than increasing their pocketbooks.

The good Lord knows we need patriarchist sperm being spread far and wide like a disease and fucking everything up for the sake of money. Amen to you all.”

Vicky smiled, and my jaw dropped. Even I didn’t think she had that in her. Eddie groaned and closed his eyes.

“Cheers to the sperm donors,” she concluded, gulping down her drink. No one moved. She looked around at the stunned faces. “What, no one wants to join me in a toast? Whatever.”

“Victoria, maybe you would like to step away from the table for a moment,” Eddie said.

She glared at him. “No, I’m good. Nothing like sharing with all our loved ones how you’re not actually my father.

But lucky Ren has found her long-lost daddy at last. It’s really such a heart-warming tale.

I’m sure they all want to know about it,” she said, dropping unceremoniously back into her seat.

Emmett looked horrified as he stared at Vicky and was probably very thankful that his biggest issue was Nora dating a biker.

“Well…looks like we are starting the evening by airing dirty laundry. Would anyone else like to join in the festivities,” Eddie asked.

He probably thought he would just get another laugh, but I never could’ve predicted what unraveled next.

Ella stood up and began furiously signing as tears ran down her face. She was moving so quickly that I had a hard time keeping up. I’d never seen her so upset.

Ethan touched Ella’s arm and to get her attention and signed, Sweetheart this may not be the right time . She glared at him and kept going.

“Whoa…wait…Lip is our brother,” Blake asked, his mouth hanging open.

The water I had just sipped went everywhere when I spit it out.

Ella tossed her napkin down and stormed from the room while we all turned to look at Ethan.

“What just happened,” Ivy asked. Chantry and Morrison shrugged.

“Dad, is this true,” Blake asked.

Ethan slowly stood. “Well…I guess this is as good a time as any to let you all know that I was one of those cheating, patriarchist assholes. And it was with Myles’s mother.” The gasp around the room was in perfect sync. “Lip is indeed my son. If you will excuse me, I’ll be right back.”

Ethan followed Ella out of the room. Blake and Theo looked at one another and then at Myles and Lip.

“Wait…does this mean I have more brothers, a mother, and a father,” Lip asked, breaking the sudden silence and tension.

“Aye, bud,” Myles said softly, never taking his eyes off Blake and Theo.

“Sweet, I always wanted more family. No offense,” he said, smiling and completely oblivious to the weight of this bomb.

“You knew…that’s what the two of you were talking about. Isn’t it,” Blake asked, glaring at Myles.

“Aye.”

“For how long?”

Myles didn’t say anything.

“How long have you known?” Blake growled.

“Oh, for god’s sake, just tell him,” Nash said. “The cat is already out of the bag.”

Myles pointed. “Unless you plan on being the next to share, you can shut up.” I had no idea what that meant, but Nash stayed quiet.

Lip grabbed Myles by the arm. “Why is there a cat in a bag? It could suffocate.”

“Nah, there is no cat in a bag,” Myles said.

“But Nash said…”

Myles pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s a figure of speech. A saying. There is no cat and no bag.”

“Oh…okay,” Lip said, but he didn’t look convinced and kept giving Nash a look like he expected him to leap up and proclaim Myles a liar.

“Myles, answer the question,” Theo said.

“Since we tried to take out Owen at the townie bar,” Myles said, and glanced around the table.

“Wow…some best friend you are,” Blake said and stormed out.

“Blake…come on, man. Shite,” Myles swore.

Eddie sat back down. “Well…I’m almost afraid to ask. Anyone else want to share? Get something off your chest?”

“Fuck it,” Nash said, and stood.

“Oh shit,” Liam said, and shook his head. But Nash didn’t seem to be picking up on what Liam was saying, or didn’t care.

“Nash, maybe this isn’t the time,” Eddie said.

“No, you were right. I’m learning from others’ mistakes and getting this off my chest.” Nash swiped Nora’s glass of wine, chugged it down and then locked eyes with me. “So…guess I should man up and tell you we’re married.”

There was another collective gasp, including the one from me. Ivy and Chantry covered their mouths as they glanced between Nash and me.

Vicky jumped to her feet with a shriek. “What!”

My heart was pounding out of my chest, and my mind was blank. Everything stopped, and it was only the two of us. We were married. Since when? He had to be joking.

“What did you…just…say,” I asked, slowly rising to my feet. All I felt was a numbness and disbelief washing over me.

“We’re married. Have been since last summer, and yes, I fucked you knowing that it made the marriage contract binding,” Nash said.

Eddie groaned, shaking his head. Nash grabbed the wine bottle off the center of the table and took a swig.

“Whoa, Myles, you were right, that felt good to get off my chest.”

My eyes snapped to Myles as the reality slowly seeped into my brain.

“Yer a cunt,” Myles growled.

I sucked in a deep breath, and then another, but none of the air felt like it was going into my lungs.

“There was a contract…to her,” Vicky growled looking at Eddie as she pointed at me.

Her voice held as much disbelief as I felt.

“Lies, more lies.” Her head turned in Nash’s direction, eyes narrowing into thin slits.

“You fucking asshole,” Vicky growled, and I couldn’t agree more.

“You chose to marry that thing over me?”

Thing!

She swiped her water glass off the table, and I squealed in shock as she threw it at me instead of Nash—I should’ve expected it. The icy water hit my chest and splashed in my face, soaking the front of my dress and getting some on Liam.

“Victoria,” Eddie growled.

“You…bitch,” I swore.

Grabbing the breadbasket, I heaved rolls at her like small baked missiles.

Vicky screamed and covered her head, but in the process, fell over her chair.

Her dress slid up, showing off her lace-clad ass to the whole room.

She jumped to her feet with her hair hanging in her face, making her look like Cousin It.

“I’m going to pull all your hair out,” Vicky threatened with a screech.

“ENOUGH,” Eddie shouted, his fists slamming on the table.

“Lilya, go dry off. Victoria, go cool off. In ten minutes, we will try this goddamn dinner again. There will be no more fighting and no more dirty laundry. We will discuss the weather if that is all that is left,” he snarled and stomped out of the dining room, the thump of his cane like a cannon going off.

I turned my glare on Nash. I was going to kill him. We were married. Fucking married!

“Are all of your family dinners like this,” Drew asked Nora.

“No, but I wish they were,” Nora said, laughing.

A minute ago, I would’ve agreed with her. I looked at Liam, then Myles and Theo, and I knew…it wasn’t just Myles…they all knew…and not one of them told me.

I left the table, then spun around and pointed at them. “Don’t follow me…so…angry.”