Page 140 of Wedlock

“I guessed as much,” he shrugs. “It made sense that she’d want Tiger out of the way to force Angie’s return with Talon. I came to her with my suspicion after you visited to ask about a possible daughter and my intentions towards your wife. Your Mother has been under my supervision since.”

“So, you knew Tiger wasn’t mine. You knew I had a daughter.”

“Yes, I knew.”

“All this time. That’s why you were living with Marianna and Adam! I fuckingknewyou weren’t turning Amish.”

His eyes, for a second, flash with his old impish humour, and my fangs run out.

“And,” I go on, fists clenching and unclenching by my side, “you said nothing to me about this. Even as we fought and supposedly ‘cleared’ the air.”

“We cleared the air about your wife. The child wasn’t my secret to share. Although, to be fair, your mother told you Tiger wasn’t yours the day she returned from her banishment. You just didn’t take the time, or have the inclination, to listen.”

“She said he was fuckingchanged,” I snarl, “not that he was a completely different child!”

“Still, had you listened, much of this drama would not have unfolded.”

“Oh, you and my mother suit each other down to the ground,” I growl, stepping slightly towards her and putting one foot on the edge of her gown to prevent her from rising. “And what are you working on with her now? Helping her finish the job? Helping her destroy my bastard son for some diabolical plan I haven’t even considered? Or maybe you have a bigger target now?”

“She was never left unsupervised with your boy,” Jag sighs. “Bastard or no, I wouldn’t counsel or tolerate anyone harming him. As it turns out, she’s contrite, and she does have feelings for him. I don’t believe she’ll try to harm him again.”

“I didn’t want to do it, Falcon. He was the price,” Mother groans.

“The price?” I glare down at her.

“The Free Men, they always come with a price. The child was expected to have been killed by Spider, when they learned he was still alive, and your heir…”

“The boy’s life was the price you were willing to pay for their aid in your scheme for my daughter? Both my children were to be sacrificed?”

“Yes,” she whispers, “there’s always a price, Falcon.”

“Good God, no wonder Angie wants no part of my world. Even you, the woman who badgered me not to become my father, a killer of bastards,youwould do the same to further your intrigues. You disgust me.”

“I didn’t want to do it. I love him, but I had no choice.”

I scowl down at her.

“Like you loved Viper? The son you never mourned? Or perhaps Asumpta? Another bastard you professed to care for yet forfeited to pursue your twisted goals. God help anyone you love, Mother.”

“She set Asumpta up for a fall after learning she was in league with Viper,” Jag sighs, “from what I can see she had genuine feelings for the girl and grieved her. She’s still loyal to Attracta. No one can blame her for not mourning Viper; he was a cunt through and through. Again, had you listened to your friends on this matter you might have spared a great deal of heartache to you and yours.”

“And you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to fuck my wife!” I snap. “So cut the crap and pray enlighten me as to what you’re possibly working on with the snake who bore me?”

“We’re working to save your daughter,” Mother whispers.

I narrow my eyes at her.

“And what on God’s green earth makes you think I’d trust you aftereverythingyou’ve said and done?”

“My question exactly,” Jag says quietly, his eyes dark and deadly as they consider her. “However, I believe she has come up with a solution that will work. We’ve come up with a compromise to give you and Angie what you both want without you having to abdicate or take any other drastic step you might live to regret.”

“You were actually going to abdicate?” Mother gasps.

“I am. But first I plan to kill you.”

“Like I said,” Jag interrupts, placing himself between me and the woman on the floor, “our plan will ensure you don’t have to abdicateorkill your mother.”

“And what will prevent me from killing you?” I snarl.