Page 20 of Deceived Wrath

"Don't worry about Lorcan. We'll catch up to him."

"I know."

"Then what is it?"

Thankfully, a perky-looking waitress appears, which instantly distracts Brennan from his line of questioning.

"What can I get you?" She offers him a toothy smile.

Brennan leans back in his chair and lets his eyes rake over her. "Can you tell me what's good?"

I fight the urge to kick him under the table, but from the way the girl's cheeks turn crimson, it seems she's enjoying the attention.

"The waffles with bacon are my personal favorite."

"Is it, now? Then in that case, I'll have the waffles withextrabacon."

Her eyes turn to me. "And for you?"

"Just an Americano."

Brennan laughs. "My brother, the cheap date."

Once the waitress leaves, Brennan closes his menu and leans forward, resting his elbows on the checked tablecloth.

"So, are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"

I could easily lie, but for some reason, I don't want to. I'm exhausted, not just physically but emotionally. Every spare moment I have is spent ruminating over Scout and whether I've made the right choices. And it always comes back to me feeling like the worst parent in the world.

I would never admit it to Ronan or Kieran, for that matter, but having them know the truth has lifted some of the weight off myshoulders. Not enough for me to feel like I can take a full breath, but knowing that I can come to them if I need to has helped.

I look up and meet Brennan's eyes.

It was never my plan to tell him about Scout, but I guess he's going to find out eventually, now that both Kieran and Ronan know, and it feels wrong to keep him in the dark. So, I might as well come clean before I get caught up in too many lies.

"I have a son."

Brennan stares at me for a moment, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.

I wait for him to say something,anything, but he doesn't.

"Did you hear what I said?"

"You have a son."

"Yes."

"As, like, a human child?"

"Yes."

Brennan stares at me as if I've just sprouted another head, until he throws his head back and lets out a laugh so loud that every head in the café turns in our direction.

"Keep your voice down," I hiss.

"You're joking." He laughs, but when I fail to crack a smile, his grin instantly drops. "You're being serious."

"Deadly."