Chapter 285 - Massimo

My brother swaggered in as if he hadn't just been at the mercy of the small woman in my arms. The confidence that leaked through every pore made me grind my teeth together. How had I not seen this? This arrogance? The cocksurity that oozed from him like the stink of a skunk?

I heard Momma's sucked in breath, and knew she was seeing Rafe as I was. We, all of us, had been too busy with our own lives to see the shitshow that Rafe had made of his. Well, those poor choices in the past were coming back to bite us all in the asses now.

Getting Eden's attention, I signed to her, "Tell Momma I want family here witness. Rafe not shield like past." I watched her take in the signs. Her poor, exhausted mind worked to rearrange them into English.

Eden's eyes widened as she watched me. I saw her bite her lip and nod. But she walked over to my mother despite her trepidation. Eden bent down, whispered in Momma's ear.

Momma's gaze shot to me. She nodded. Looking across the room, she held up a