Page 84 of Anteros' Return

“Wow, I guess she told you then, huh?” He laughed. This pricklaughed,and it took everything I had not to pummel my fist into his face.

“Yeah, funny enough. Since being home, we’ve spoken about everything, including the years you deprived us of!” I was livid. This man who once pretended to be our friend was only after what he could get and what he wanted—my family.

There was no way in hell he’d ever take what’s mine. He deserved nothing.

“You think Emily would ever truly love you again, Beckett? She’ll see you for who you are—the fame hungry arsehole you always were. I mean, you pissed off to Spain the second you could, not giving a shit about her then.”

“We would have been fine. I would have dropped everything the second she told me, but you didn’t give me that chance, did you?!” I spat, slamming my hand down on the table beside the door.

“You don’t deserve them. Liam is who he is because of me. I helped Emily raise him.” He smirked looking like the cat that got the cream.

“He’s who he is because ofme, not you.” Emily’s voice was flat, but the anger hidden beneath her emotionless expression was clear.

She walked to where I stood, stopping in her tracks beside me. She linked her fingers with mine as she looked up at me with a supportive smile.

“You can’t be fucking serious!” Mike scoffed as he looked as though she’d slapped him silly.

“I’m deadly serious, Mike. You lied to me. You made me think that Beck turned his back on me and our child. Liam is mine and Beckett’s child, not yours like you told his parents.” She was seething as she squeezed my hand tighter.

“I also blocked your number on his phone,” his lips twisted into a sickening smile, as if he was proud of himself, “and do you know what? I’d do it all again.”

“You bastard.” She seethed, tightening her grip on my hand.

“Emily, you know he’s not right for you, and he’s not fit to be a father to Liam!” He shouted, his voice getting louder with each word.

“That’s enough!” I stepped towards him as he stepped back. “Raise your voice at her again, and I’ll end you. Don’t think I won’t.”

He chuckled sarcastically, and it rubbed me the wrong way. His gaze was locked on Em, and I hated it. Hated what was going through his mind when he looked at her. I checked over my shoulder to see Liam still playing keepy-uppy outside.

“How can you even show your face here after what you did?” Emily asked as calmly as possible.

“Because I don’t regret what I did. I don’t regret lying to you or Beckett. I don’t regret lying to get what I wanted, either.Granted, you weren’t as easy as I expected you to be. You were too hung up on this twat, but we were getting there.” He smiled a toothy grin, thinking Em would run into his arms like some sort of fucked up fairytale.

“And how’s that working out for ya?” I teased, fighting to hold back my laugh.

“Fuck you, Beckett! Do you think that boy will forgive you for not wanting him? Forgive you for lying to him since you’ve been home? Because I’m pretty damn sure you haven’t told him yet, have you?”

“It’s none of your business when we tell him. In fact, never speak my son’s name or Emily’s again.” My hand twitched as I fought back the urge to send him on his arse through the front door, but Emily, yet again, stopped me.

“You just had to come back, didn’t you? Worm your way back into Emily’s heart and let her believe that you truly care about her.”

“I don’t need to explain anything to you. My relationship with Emily has nothing to do with you and it never will.” I pulled her into my side, not wanting to let her go, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

“You’ll ruin Liam. I just know you will. Emily is better off with me, and deep down, you always knew it.”

Emily scoffed from beside me, knowing how wrong Mike was, but he didn’t seem to care since he didn’t show any signs of bloody leaving.

“You can go now, Mike. I don’t wish to see you again nor do I want you around Liam.”

Before I knew what was happening, Mike had fisted my T-shirt, the anger in his eyes now apparent. He wanted to hurt me physically since his words did fuck all to me.

I knew I’d be able to put him on his arse, but I also knew a dick like this wasn’t worth losing my career and family over. Ihad to be sensible. I knew how his mind worked, how he’d twist things to paint me as the bad guy.

“I should end your career for good! See if you’ll be happy then when no team wants you with a career-ending injury,” he spat, the smell of hard liquor invading my nostrils.This dick got behind a wheel like that?!

“Leave my dad alone!” That’s when I froze completely, as did Emily, and Mike himself.

“Liam?!” Emily gasped. She spun to face our son who wasn’t upset or shocked like you’d expect. No, that boy was angry, and his furrowed brows confirmed that.

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