Adrian walks to the door. “Hi.” He smiles.
“Where have you been soft cock?” Cameron calls. “It was a good game you missed.”
Natasha walks back out of the room and returns, pulling someone by the hand into the room, and I frown. She pulls my mother into view and we all fall silent. What’s she doing here? I didn’t even know she was in the country. My anger immediately starts to pump.
“Get out!” I snap as I jump to my feet.
“Joshua!” Natasha snaps as she puts her arm around my mother protectively.
“How dare you turn up at my house?” I reply.
She drops her head as her eyes fill with tears and my heart hurts. She looks bad. I’ve never seen her like this. My eyes flick to my father and his eyes are glued to her as well.
“Margaret is staying with us for a while,” Natasha announces.
“Like hell,” I reply.
Natasha’s eyes flick to Cameron. “Cameron, she’s not fit to be staying alone at the moment.” Cameron frowns and immediately stands, goes to her and puts his arm around our mother, understanding whatever that code stands for.
“It’s ok, Mum. You can stay,” he says softly. His eyes flick to me and he subtly shakes his head.
“Margaret, let’s get you to bed, honey,” Natasha says softly as she smiles at her. I frown. What the hell is going on here?
My mother’s haunted eyes meet mine and then flick back to Natasha for approval. Natasha smiles warmly. “You’re safe, Margaret. It’s ok. This is a safe place,” she says softly.
I frown at Dad and my brothers. “No,” I snap.
“Joshua!” Natasha asserts. “Enough! This is my house too and Margaret is staying here as my guest. I just found her in a two-star hotel across town on her own, frightened half to death.” Her voice raises with her anger. “You two are two of the wealthiest men on the planet and yet she has no fucking money! Tell me why!” She looks at Dad and me.
Robert drops his head in shame and guilt fills me.
“Now I am taking Margaret to her room and tomorrow we are going to the police and having that fucking asshole charged and we are uniting as a family.”
Wilson shakes his head. “I want nothing to do with her.”
“Well tough luck!” Natasha yells, losing her temper. “She is my mother-in-law and my children’s grandmother and I will not have her disrespected one fucking minute longer.”
The room shrinks at Natasha’s venom. She’s furious and my eyes flick to Adrian in question.
“You know I have had an epiphany. I would give anything on earth to have my father back. It doesn’t matter, all this bullshit you are all going on about. We can get through this… together… the Stantons are not being brought to our knees by James Brennan. Margaret has suffered enough at the hands of that monster and I for one am standing by her in her time of need.”
My heart skips a beat and my eyes fill with tears. I don’t think I have ever loved Natasha more than I do at this very moment.
Natasha angrily wipes the tears from her eyes. “That’s what families do… we stand together… and defend each other. Don’t let this monster do this to us!”
I look at the floor and Natasha quietly grabs my mother in an embrace and leads her out of the room. We all sit, still and in shock. Why is Natasha on her side now?
“I don’t get it,” I snap. “Natasha wouldn’t let me go to the police before. What’s changed?”
Adrian stands. “I think the charges against him have changed,” he murmurs.
“To what?” Robert snaps.
Adrian’s eyes meet his. “To rape.”
Dear god.
Chapter 18