Page 67 of Brandishing Betrayals

“You staying here tonight?” Kara asked softly.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“I’ll make up the guest room,” she murmured and walked away.

“You make this happen, we’ll be in the clear,” Johnny said. “One step closer to Dax Hillcrest being dead.”

I could only nod as I nursed my whisky, feeling the weight of the world settling on my shoulders.

Marcos

“IspentthenightatKara’s,” I told Jason and Nico the following morning when I saw them at the clubhouse.

They both looked up from the car they were working on in the clubhouse’s attached automotive shop. It was a new business endeavor that the Devil’s Psycho’s were starting, as the club needed to make more money—legal money—that we couldn’t get from our different dealings with running drugs, guns, or other illegal activities.

“I went to see Maya last night,” I continued when I had both their attention.

Nico looked relieved while Jason schooled his face into his usual stone-cold mask.

“I had to know for sure, one way or another. She denied Hillcrest threatening her and said she was fucking him.”

Nico’s head tilted back in disbelief, while Stone rolled his eyes. “I’m not surprised.”

“She was clearly trying to cover up. If he went to her parent’s house Sunday, then he’s growing suspicious of our involvement. He probably scared her to make sure she wouldn’t say anything.” Nico’s defense of her was admirable, but I didn’t know what to think anymore.

“Or she’s a lying whore,” Jason deadpanned.

“It was dark, so I couldn’t see her face clearly, but I kissed her and practically begged her to tell me the truth. I told her we would protect her and Luke if she was in danger and she just got angry. She denied any danger and said she was gladly fucking him.” [update previous scene].

Nico sighed and threw down his wrench. “I don’t fucking get what her deal is. Why won’t she just trust us?”

“Because she lied to you Nic,” Jason said softly, gently. “She was worked up, and in the moment, so she said what you wanted to hear. You want her to be lying so badly, that even when she keeps repeating the same thing over and over, you’re looking for looking for something that isn’t there.”

Nic shook his head vehemently. “No. I don’t believe that. You weren’t there; you didn’t see her. I’m telling you man. She was terrified.”

I sighed softly. “Either way. We don’t know. What I do know, is that I’m not on Luke’s birth certificate as his father. If anything were to happen to Maya, I would not get custody of my son—not easily at least. That’s not acceptable to me. So I talked tomy sister about it and she hooked me up with one of her lawyer friends that practice family law—”

“Marcos, no,” Nico snapped, shaking his head.

“I have to Nic!” My voice rose. “The lawyer is going to file a Petition to Establish Paternity. Maya can either voluntarily agree to a paternity test, or the court will order her to appear for testing. I need to make it legal that Luke is my son.”

Jason hummed in agreement.

Nico stared at me with a loss for words. “You’re not going for custody?”

“I need to establish paternity first. Custody maybe after, if Maya keeps up this bullshit charade with Hillcrest.” I ran a hand over my buzzed head.

“Fucking hell, Marcos,” Nic shook his head and paced away from the car. “You’re gonna rip out her fucking heart.”

“Like she did to us?” Stone shot back. “Like she keeps doing? You didn’t see her Sunday! How she pressed against him—”

“No! I was with her Saturday night when she sobbed in my arms when I questioned her about Hillcrest! I saw the fear in her eyes! You weren’t there when she confessed her love for us, before she clamped down on my cock!”

I let out a heavy breath.

“Point made. Heat of the moment,” Stone said.

“Motherfucker” Nico shoved at Stone.

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