Page 27 of Cruel Revenge

“I would’ve told you about this eventually. I just wasn’t ready to share yet.”

Jade scoffs. “Not ready to share the fact that you’ve been in a relationship, got engaged, and got married, all in secret?” She shakes her head. “I know the entire family has issues, but I think you’re taking that to a whole new level.”

She might be right about that, but I’m not going to stand here and debate how deep my issues run, tonight. It seems like a waste of time.

We’re going to go around in circles and in the end, I know the two of them are going to get what they want. That doesn’t mean I won’t make them sweat for it.

I finish the piece of bread I took. “I should go see Aiden and then get going. I have some things I need to do.”

Jade whirls around and crosses her arms. “You can’t leave now. We have to talk more about the reception, and you have to have dinner. It’s just got to simmer for a bit, and then it’ll be ready.”

Gia comes back into the room with Bianca on her hip. “You have to stay.”

Sean and Aiden wander into the kitchen with Dominic and Royce close behind.

Aiden looks at me before taking in the way the others are huddled around while Ellie races down the stairs.

She charges into the room with a grin. “If we’re going to be talking about Skyla’s husband, then I need to be involved with this conversation. There’s no way I’m missing it.”

The twins open their mouths, probably to start on me again now that everyone is here.

I throw my hands up in the air “Just plan the damn reception. But it needs to be classy. No keg stands. I’ll decide if I’ll come when you tell me what will happen, in detail.”

Ellie slinks over to Sean’s side with a playful frown. “Skyla is becoming less and less fun in her old age.”

I groan and lean over the island, dropping my head to my hands. “When have you ever seen me do a keg stand? You know what? Forget it. I don’t know how we got to this point in the first place, but this isn’t going to be a frat party. If the two of you are going to throw it, you’re going to make it nice, got it?”

Jade claps her hands. “It’s going to be so nice. You’re going to love it, and Joshua is going to have a good time getting to know the family.”

Royce is the first to look at me after the bomb is dropped. “Joshua? Joshua Vitale?”

“Yes.” I stand up straight and stare at him, arching an eyebrow. “Is there a problem with my husband, or are you all going to control yourselves?”

His teeth grind. “I can’t believe you married that asshole after what his brother did to you.”

“You’re marrying Gia after what her family has done to us.”

I shoot her a quick smile. “I adore you, but your sister is becoming a real pain in my ass.”

Gia shrugs and snags the bread off the counter, breaking off a piece for herself. “No offense taken, at all. Zoe has always been a pain in the ass.”

Royce leans against the counter as Jade dumps the pasta in a pot of boiling water to cook. “I think that we’re all missing the point here. Not only is Skyla married, but she got married to the bastard who sent our family on a downward spiral of losing money.”

My voice raises above the others as they start to argue back and forth. “Joshua wasn’t the only reason we had problems. He’sreinstating our cocaine deal, and he’s cutting down supplies to the other groups in the area. And if we decide to take more control of the east coast, he’s prepared to back us.”

Gia’s eyes widen. “He’s the biggest supplier in the country.”

Royce stares at me like he’s seeing right through me. “If he’s willing to be this generous now, why didn’t the cocaine resume when you started dating? Or got engaged?”

“Because I didn’t think to ask for it before. I thought we were doing fine with what we had, but our numbers started dropping, so I asked him for help. He was nice enough to agree.”

Jade adds the half-cooked pasta to the sauce to finish cooking. “Whatever the reason for it, I think this is a good thing. And we’re going to have a party to celebrate, which means that all of you—I’m looking at you, Royce—are going to be on your best behavior.”

Royce glances at Aiden. “You’re fine with her being married to Joshua Vitale?”

He says Joshua’s name like it’s the worst cuss he’s ever heard.

I roll my eyes and grab the bowls down from the cupboard, helping Jade dish up the pasta and top it with fresh basil and slices of mozzarella.

---