Page 31 of Iron Crown

“We’ll get nothing done until I know who exactly you are,English.” Eoghan glared at Blink.

The hand Eoghan kept behind Cillian clenched into a fist.

“I told you, I am a friend of Jericho Vasiliev,” Blink said coolly, his emotionless eyes giving nothing away. “And I’m Lithuanian. Not English.”

Eoghan wasn’t satisfied, and he was going to ask him another question—like how he knewme,because it couldn’t just be from buying a few paintings—but Dairo interrupted.

“I am serious, I think Rose and I should move back to the Green Estate.” Dairo casually lifted his arms up, almost yawning infeigned relaxation. “They can get to know their cousin, Cillian, and Eoghan’s great with children, aren’t you, Eoghan?”

Eoghan lifted a brow, a smirk forming. That was Dairo’s effect on people.

“I’m sureDadwon’t mind, will you?” He lookedrightat Jericho. Dairo’s mischievous expression was like a red flag in front of the raging bull. “What do you say, Rose?”

Chapter nine

You’re Not My Real Dad

Eoghan

“Iam not yourDad,” Jericho said, wiping his large palm over his face.

“You are my father-in-law,” Dairo said with a low chuckle, yanking his chain. “As Yuliya has already explained to everyone at the table.”

He was antagonizing the shit out of Jericho, and it was getting out of hand. We had a war to fight. And I had to attend to actions that were more morose than a Greek Tragedy, so I needed whatever this little farce was to be over.

And damn it, I had to find out who the hell this Andres Lutkus was!

“That’s enough,” I said to Dairo, begging him to put a stop to his antics.

I felt tense. My skin felt hot, fevered. And all the while, I could feelherstaring. The secret that I had kept for almost twenty fucking years.

Secrets had a way of festering…

I should have known one of my greatest secrets would be rightthe fuckhere. I was a fool not to think of it, but between all the other secrets between me and Kira, I did not think one of mine would be the one to cause trouble. At least notthisone.

“I don’t know why you get so riled up about this, Daddy,” Dairo said with a lazy smirk. “We are family, after all,oof!”

I kicked Dairo under the table, and he kicked me back, missing and hitting one of the leg chairs, causing the whole thing to bump. The fuck was he on about,family?With that Russian?

“Wanker!” Dairo said, in agitation. “You could have kicked little Jerry!”

“I’d never harm a child!” I said, placing my hands over Cillian’s ears. “And watch your language in front of the children!”

Had I cussed in front of the child? I’m pretty sure I had.Shit!

I needed to quit smoking. I had to quit swearing too. What else did I have to stop doing around the tiny version of myself?

“Wankuh!” Cillian repeated.

The table went silent. Everyone stared, either in horror or in repressed laughter. I was a little bit of both.

“Enough,” Jericho bellowed, silencing us both. “Suka pizdiets!” Jericho wiped his brow as if he had no earthly clue how he ended up in this situation.

You and me both, old man.

“You’re not my real dad,” Dairo mumbled.

Jericho took a seat, Jocelyn still on his chest, her curled body warm against him. He obviously held his grandchildren often, because the baby was so comfortable in his arms that her eyes became heavy, her blinks long as she yawned.

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