Her venom paralyzed him. And like the snake she was, she slithered forward, eager to sink her fangs in for the kill.
"What a slap in the face it is to your granddad that you changed the name you were born with. The name that entitles you to the inheritance that means you don't have to hold down a real job. Deacon McConnell can work out, add more tattoos, get in the ring for three or four minutes and prove he's tough. Why your grandfather didn't cut you off astounds me."
And he was done. With all of this. For good. "I'll tell you why Granddad didn't cut me loose. Because when I came back after bein' gone for years, he asked me why I left. He was the only one who did. Until Molly, he's the only one I told."
Her eyes flashed fear. She shook her head-as if asking him to keep quiet.
Fuck that. And fuck her.
Deacon opened his mouth, and his mother moved in front of her husband. "Don't listen to him, Bing. He's caused enough problems over the years. Don't let him make more for us now."
"Deacon." His father's eyes met his. "Tell me."
"Granddad knew. I don't know how, but he was the one person who understood the kind of loss I suffered after Dante died. He knew there'd be no recovering from it."
"That's because Dad had a twin who died when he was ten. He never spoke of him."
Now it made sense.
"What did you tell him, son?"
"What my mother said to me the night you left me with her." Deacon looked over at her. "She told me she wished I would've died instead of Dante. I'd known for months I repulsed her every time she looked at me. But to hear her say that she hated me?" He took a breath. "Then she told me everyone would be better off if I disappeared because losing my family was what I deserved after killing her son."
Silence.
Then his father made the most anguished noise Deacon had ever heard. He wheeled around, loomed over his wife, and yelled, "How could you?" right in her face.
"It's not what you think."
"Then explain it to me, Julianne! Explain to me why everything always comes back to you? I trusted you. I stood by you."
"But it's not-"
"No buts! Did you, or did you not, tell our only surviving son that you hated him and wished he were dead?"
Tears rolled down her face.
"Answer me, goddammit!"
"Yes, but I wasn't in my right mind! I don't remember half of what I said! God, Bing. I was in such a fog of grief-"
"Get. Out. Of. Here."
She dashed her tears away. "Bing! You don't mean that."
His father's face was pasty, and he looked to be in shock.
Deacon locked eyes with his mother. "Go. Give him some space."
She backed away slowly. Then she turned and ran from the room.
The vindication Deacon expected to feel didn't happen.
His dad lowered himself into the closest chair. Deacon followed suit.
After a bit, Deacon said, "Dad?"
"I . . . didn't know."
Not an accusatory Why didn't you tell me? "I know. What can I do now?"
His father reached for his hand. "Just sit with me while I try to make sense of this."
"Sure."
Deacon tried not to show his impatience after they'd been sitting there in silence for half an hour. By the time another thirty minutes passed, he was damn near ready to crawl out of his skin.
But this was his father's way-quiet contemplation. Dante had been the same way.
So does that mean you take after your mother?
No. Fuck no.
As much as he wanted to find Molly and tell her everything that'd happened tonight, it'd keep. She was strong enough to hold her own among this superficial crowd. And for the first time, maybe ever, Deacon didn't walk away from his dad when he needed him.
• • •
MOLLY had been pacing in the hallway since Deacon had barreled past her. His rudeness should've pissed her off, but it didn't. It scared her.
She'd never seen him like that.
So she'd heard the shouting inside the room but not the actual words exchanged. Whatever was going on . . . she knew it was bad.
Her conscience, the part that loved him, urged her to go to him.
But he had made it clear he didn't want her involved.
Isn't this the way it goes with Deacon? He keeps you in the dark. He kept from you that the reason he agreed to come to Texas was for a JFW board meeting-for a board you didn't even know he was on. You had no idea that he'd agreed to fight Watson-and you find out the same time as his family-the family he despises? Then he drops the bombshell about staying in Texas for training camp? Not to mention he ditched you today-and he abandoned you tonight. Now he's rude and uncommunicative and you just shrug it off? Offer excuses for his behavior? When he's exhibiting the same closemouthed behavior that sent you running from him the first time?