Judas (24 page)

              Judas went to shower, leaving the contents of his pockets on the table beside the bed. She was flipping through clothing, trying to decide what to wear to dinner, when his cell phone rang. She quickly snapped it up from the table to see who it was. Her eyes narrowed as she hit the button to answer. “What could you possibly want?”

Jaime was clearly not expecting Adessa to be the one to pick up the phone. “I want to talk to Judas,” she said.

              Adessa swiftly replied, “He's not available.” No way in hell would his old whore just call him up as if she had the right.

“Where is he?” Jaime persisted.

The nerve of her. Judas was no longer any business of hers. “That's not your concern,” she icily replied.

“I need to talk to him,” Jaime snapped, overstepping her bounds.

Adessa wasn't going to allow it. She knew exactly what Jaime's intentions were. “You're not going to tell him about that baby.”

             
Jaime didn't deny it. “It's his right to know. He needs to know,” her voice didn't waver.

“You have taken enough from him, Jaime. Just take your spawn and be happy that you have that. He doesn't want you and he doesn't want your baby. Leave him alone,” Adessa barked.

“That's not true. I don't believe you.”

“I don't care if you believe me or not. Don't ever try to contact him again or I will see to it that you spend the rest of your life regretting it.”

              Jaime was instantly enraged by the clear warning. “Don't threaten me Adessa. I'm a big girl and I'm not afraid of you.”

“It wasn't a threat. It was a promise, and it wasn't you that it was meant for,” Adessa warned.

Jaime gasped, sputtering into the phone in horror, “You… you wouldn't!”

“You don't want to find out,” Adessa said, hanging up the phone.

              She would never have to worry about the tramp again. She could go find another man to seduce and slice up, but it wouldn't be her husband. Never again. She would never see another penny from him, and Adessa didn't care if their spawn starved, as long as Jaime was out of his life for good. Adessa was so caught up in her hatred for Jaime that she didn't notice the shadow that stood outside the bedroom door. Listening.

             
Adessa's hands shook slightly as she realized what she had done. He would be pissed if he knew she spoke to Jaime that way, but she had no choice. She wasn't going to stand by and let Jaime seduce him back into the place he was fighting desperately to get away from. He didn't love her and he was weak. Too weak to resist Jaime's charms and Adessa was ready to do whatever it took to keep him far away from the blonde tramp. She erased the history on his phone and took the additional step to block Jaime's number before replacing it beside his wallet and spare change.

             
“Did someone call, earlier?” he asked, strolling into the room wearing only a towel.

She shook her head innocently, “No, not that I know of,” she lied.

He walked to his phone and picked it up, checking the history. “Guess I'm imagining things. I could have sworn I heard it ring,” he said, dropping it back onto the table.

“It happens when we get old,” she said, forcing the playfulness into her voice as she removed his towel and began to dry his still dripping form. That would distract him.

              Two hours later, they were back in the sitting room. Judas seemed more relaxed than he had been earlier. She could smell the faint scent of his soap beneath the heady cologne he wore, and it reminded her of how masculine and virile the man could be. She moved closer, breathing in his scent, accustoming herself to the feel of his warmth beside her.

She had no idea why he refused to touch her, but she had given him his space and for once, she was determined not to push. He would come to her when he was ready, and she would wait this out, however long it took.

              The door burst open without a knock, and two enormous men strode through, lightheartedly bickering between themselves as they made their way across the elegant room. Judas hugged them each, clapping them both on the back as they exchanged their hellos. They were all exactly the same height, and all of them beautiful, though it was easy for Adessa to know them apart. Mathew was clean cut, and handsome, bearing emerald eyes that were identical to Judas and Phillip. He reminded her a lot of Judas in his demeanor, but there was nothing commanding about him. He was quiet, maybe even thoughtful, and obviously at ease.

             
Mathew nodded, acknowledging her, but continued the pleasantries that were underway between the group. He wore a crisp polo shirt and slacks, which made him seem more relaxed in contrast to the others, and his movements were graceful and fluid. For a first impression, Adessa was nearly starstruck.

             
She had to admit, she hadn't expected Liam to be so handsome, or so poised, given the colorful impression Anita had painted of him. He was rough around the edges, but there was something about him that caused her pulse to instantly quicken as his baby blue eyes met hers.

The glance was passing but Adessa was wondering if she would need a napkin to contain her drool. His hair wa
sn't as dark as his two brothers, and it was long, and flowing. It was hair that she could vision herself yanking in the heat of passion. And those eyes. They were piercing in intensity and she had to force herself to look away from him.

             
There was no darkness in Liam, but she could sense that he took life a little less seriously than his brothers. His jeans bore holes in the knees, and he wore a black hooded sweatshirt, but he had a presence, and it seemed to fill the entire room. It baffled Adessa as she watched them how different each of them could be, yet they were exactly the same. Anita's words replayed in her head. “All women love my sons. Rich, well, all but one. Handsome. Ignorant. What more could you ask for,” the woman had said. Looking at them, especially Liam, she couldn't imagine how a mother could be so blind to how magnificent they were.

             
“Doll, meet my brothers Liam, and Mathew,” Judas called, leading them to where she had risen from her seat. She extended her hand to each of them forcing her mind to the present and not the dream she just concocted in her mind. “Hello Mathew. Liam. It's a pleasure to finally meet you both.”

Mathew spoke first, his lips curved in a sincere smile, “Likewise, Adessa, it's nice to finally welcome you to the family in person.” She thanked him as Liam chimed in.

              “Sorry I missed the big day, someone forgot to invite me,” he said, nudging Judas with his elbow.

She laughed softly, “Well, now, that wasn't quite planned. None of this was, actually.”

He was at ease, despite the circumstances and he responded with with a boyish playfulness. “So I've heard. Judas never was one to follow the rules.”

Mathew interjected haughtily, “You should talk!”

              Adessa went quiet, allowing the brothers to catch up, exchanging light banner for the next hour. She was watching the three of them, but her eyes kept returning to Liam. She had no idea how life could have been so unkind to him amongst such privilege but she knew it had to be something horrible that had happened.

His own mother called him a mistake, and he had been on his own since he was fourteen. If the rumor was true, then she could easily see how he might have earned the reputation of the town drunk. Anyone would drink in order to erase Anita Quinn from their memory.

              Liam stood, stretching his legs, and walked toward the small bar to pour himself a shot. His drink of choice was Jack, and she was mildly amused when he swallowed a double shot glass full of it. She suddenly wished she were a drinker. Maybe it would help her not want to strangle their mother.

Judas watched him curiously, quipping, “Starting early, bro?”

Liam shrugged, pouring another double, before replacing the bottle on the shelf. “Can't hurt. I figure beer isn't going to cut it for this affair. Might be about to throw my body into shock by eating real food.”

             
Mathew chuckled lightly, “Indeed. Such is the bachelor life.”

“You could change that,” Adessa said, butting in.

He shook his head, pointing to his brother, “No thanks. Matt's next in the firing line. I'll wait my turn.”

Mathew nodded, but shot down the not so subtle plot. “It's getting about that time for me, but my practice is first on the list.” He was a doctor, just starting out, Adessa remembered.

Liam smirked, “You just don't know the value of a naked woman squirming beneath you. You should get out more.”

             
“Spoken like a true playboy. Some of us get off on success,” Mathew chided, sounding ready to throttle him.

“All of my sons. Grown men now, but still bickering over the chicken or the egg. Some things never change,” Phillip's kind voice came from behind, as he entered the room. He walked straight to his son and hugged him tight. “Welcome back, Liam. We've missed you around here.”

Liam returned the embrace, but shook his head, his gaze drifting toward Adessa. “Don't get too sappy. I came for the food, and the redhead.”

             
Judas cleared his throat in warning. “That redhead belongs to me. Go find your own.”

Liam chuckled, feigning hurt at the implication. “Relax, just had to come and see for myself how well you've done. And well, it's a free meal,” he said, raking his fingers through the unkempt brown strands that fell over his hooded sweatshirt.

Adessa peeled her stare away from his, jumping in to save them all. “What are we having, anyway? I'm starving,” she asked, turning to Phillip.

             
“Ms. Marie is making her famous Lasagna and whatever else she can throw together to go with it,” he replied, adding with a glance toward Liam, “We're eating in an hour. Don't ruin your appetite.”

“My appetite is alive and well,” Liam answered, stealing another glance at Adessa. If he wasn't her husband's brother, she might have thought he was throwing her a hint. Her attraction to him was carnal and immediate but she wasn't about to go there. She was almost at the finish line, and she wasn't going to let Liam's presence throw her off course.

              Their meal was surprisingly uneventful. Anita had kept herself in line, barely speaking to any of them but then again, she probably wouldn't have managed a word between all of the chatter of her sons. They were a lively group, and even the servants had come to join in the easy repartee.

Judas smiled warmly at her, holding her gaze several times during the meal. He was relaxed and happy, and all of this morning's nervousness had disappeared. This was the way family was supposed to be.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

They were settled into the soft bed in his old room, laying beneath the same linens that had been his since he was a teenager. The nostalgia was nearly breathtaking, as he thought of how long it had been since he left. Twenty years now. Twenty years of hiding from the one person he could never run from. Himself. He wrapped his wife in his arms and held her, sighing softly at the memories that paraded through his mind, reminding him of everything he had missed. His brothers were grown men now, and on their own paths. He was too late.

             
Of all the things he missed, seeing Liam grow up was the most difficult. He should have been there to protect him. He should have taken him in. He should have done a lot of things, but he didn't. This was his chance to heal his past, and he would find a way to make it up to them all. Especially, his wife. He would become a brand new man. One without secrets, and one they could all be proud of and respect. He would have his family back.

             
“It was really nice to have Liam home,” he said quietly, kissing his wife's forehead.

She was alone in her own thoughts, but she smiled at his gentle words. There were questions in her clear blue eyes as she turned her head to look at him. “Why did your father allow her to throw him out. So young, I mean?” It was an honest question, and she was interested in knowing about his family.

Judas shrugged as he answered, “He couldn't stop her. She and Liam never got along.” That was an understatement, but she already knew that.

She shook her head weakly, “I don't understand. He's her son.”

              He took in a long breath, explaining, “Actually, he's not. He was born of an affair my father had with a stripper.” And the secret was out. Well, one of them. Judas knew there was more to it but he was young at the time, and he knew that there were things his parents didn't tell him.