Page 69 of Knockout (Whiskey Dolls 2)

As Sybil burst into laughter, Leah attempted to skewer me with a glare that had no effect whatsoever. “Right now I’m concentrating on growing our family.” She placed one hand on her stomach, right over the skin tight lycra dress she was wearing, and the other on her husband’s shoulder.

“There really is nothing more important than family,” Raymond cut in. “Not that I’d expect you to understand, given how you grew up.”

“What the fuck—” Jude would have burst from his seat if I hadn’t grabbed him by the arm and yanked him back down. I had to hand it to the old man, that was a well-placed shot. But I was made of tougher stuff.

“Oh, I’m well aware. I think more so than most people.” I gave Jude an adoring look, playing up the part of fiancée as I placed my left hand on his chest so Gram’s ring was in perfect view. “And I’m looking forward to the day Jude and I start a family of our own.”

Chandler made a sound just then that was part laugh, part snort. “Fat chance of that happening. Jude doesn’t want kids. Isn’t that right, old sport?”

“He was very adamant about that when we were together,” Leah added, a slick smile on her face, like she thought I might not have been privy to that little nugget before now.

Without meaning to, I played right into their hand, turning to face Jude, the words spilling out before I could catch myself. “You don’t want kids?” I asked with a frown. It wasn’t rational, I absolutely knew that, but for some reason, hearing that made my stomach sink like a lead balloon. We were still brand new. We hadn’t even put a title to what we were. We were still alongway off from discussing things of that nature, and yet the knowledge that he didn’t want children left me feeling like I’d just been punched in the stomach, causing me to let that mask slip for just a second.

Jude leaned close, lifting his hand to trace my jaw with him thumb. “Baby, we can talk about that later.”

But it was too late. I’d already made a crucial mistake in letting my guard down. Seeing that vulnerability, the Kingsleys didn’t hesitate to pounce.

“He probably thought you were a safe bet,” Sandra started. “Since you never had parents of your own, I assume you wouldn’t have the first clue how to raise a child, and therefore, wouldn’t want any.”

“Mother, shut up,” Jude gritted out, his rage nearly palpable, but I was too busy trying to refortify those walls that kept me safe and protected from assholes like these.

“Or maybe you think you can make up for never having any love by having a million babies of your own.” Leah’s face was a mask of condescension as she added, “At least thensomeonewould have to love you, right?”

These bitches were two for two, and if I didn’t get a small reprieve, I was going to lose this fight. Even boxers got short breaks between rounds. I needed to catch my breath, then I could come back strong and ready to fight back.

“Excuse me for a moment.” I shot up from my chair just as Jude pounded his fist into the table, ready to rip into everyone. “I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

And with that, I bolted away from the table.

31

Jude

“What the fuck is thematter with you people?” I bellowed as I shoved up from my chair so hard it went sailing backward, clattering to the floor and drawing the attention of the Kingsleys at all the other tables, not that I gave a flying shit. “I knew you were the scum of the earth, but this shit right here, this was next level disgusting. There isn’t a fucking ounce of compassion among the lot of you! You know who else doesn’t have compassion? Goddamn serial killers! That woman you just ran off, the one you insulted worse than I ever thought humanly possible, is going to be mywife, goddamn it! If you aren’t physically capable of showing her kindness, the very least you can do is show her some respect!”

“Jude, please, lower your voice,” my mother scolded. “You’re making a scene, and we don’t appreciate it.”

I barked out a laugh in utter disbelief. “You don’t appreciate it? You don’tappreciate it?” I repeated, my voice rising an octave with each word. “Tell me, Mom, did those doctors down in Mexico suck out every ounce of humanity left in you when they sucked the fat out of your ass and thighs? Or did the gallons of vodka running through your body just kill your soul?”

The woman actually had the nerve to pull in an affronted gasp as Gram muttered, “Vampires don’t have souls, everyone knows that,” behind the rim of her wine glass.

“Sit down and lower your voice,” my father barked. “You’ll do well to remember your place, son. And you willnotspeak to your mother like that. Do you understand me?”

“Understand this, Dad. Go fuck yourself! You think just because you have money, that gives you the right to look down on anyone and everyone else? Newsflash, old man, it doesn’t! You haven’t worked for a single red cent of what you have, so the fact you feel you have the right to be the world’s biggest asshole is truly astounding. You aren’t special, Dad. This whole goddamn family is a blight on humanity!”

“What’s going on here?” Layla asked, her melodic voice full of worry. I was so lost in my rage I hadn’t even noticed she’d returned.

My father rose to his feet, doing his best to look imposing as he curled his lips into a sneer. “You think you’re better than me because you get dirty for a living? You think this family is a blight on humanity? I’ve got news for you, boy,you’rea blight on this family! The biggest mistake I ever made was letting your mother keep you when she told me she was pregnant. I knew then that I should have paid her to get rid of you, and there hasn’t been a day that’s passed where I haven’t regretted that decision.”

Before I could react, before I even had a chance to feel the pain of the blow he’d just landed, Layla was shoving past me, a whirlwind of righteous indignation and glossy dark hair. The sound of her palm slapping across my father’s cheek echoed through the entire restaurant like a gunshot, and a red handprint bloomed on his face instantly. Everything suddenly got so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

“Howdareyou!” she shouted, her chest rising and falling with fast, angry breaths. “Your son is, hands down, the best man I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, but you’re too much of a monster to appreciate what you have! The fact that he turned out as wonderful as he did when he was raised by such disgusting, hideous people is a testament to how amazing he really is.

“If Sybil wasn’t so incredible, I’d be convinced a horrible mistake was made at the hospital, because I don’t think there’s a single redeeming quality in the whole lot of you! As it is, I’m shocked a woman like her managed to give birth to a demon like you. With your personality, I’d have expected the devil himself to have squirted you out fully formed!”

How it was possible that I had to swallow down my laughter just then was beyond me, but that was the power Layla had. She made everything better. She was light, even in the pit of darkness that was my family.

“Baby, come on,” I started. Suddenly I was the one trying to talk her down when, only seconds ago, I was an inch away from jumping off that very ledge. “They aren’t worth it. Let’s just go.”

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