Page 273 of Cruel Throne

“No to an alien.” I roll my eyes.

Alaric lowers his phone slowly. “No fucking way.”

“Yes.” That’s all I can say.

“For how long?” Trent asks calmly.

“Yeah, so…it’s been awhile,” I admit.

“How long is awhile?” Cyrus chimes in.

“Over a decade.”

The room erupts into chaos.

“Over a decade?” Cyrus shouts.

“How the fuck…” Jaxson shake his head.

Gideon sets down his drink. “You’re barely a functioning adult. How do you maintain a marriage?”

“I prioritize.”

Tobias shakes his head. “Sorry I call bullshit. There’s no fucking way.”

Cyrus runs both hands through his hair. “You’re fucking unhinged. Kill on a dime… You make serial killers look tame…”

Jaxson’s eyes widen slowly. “Holy shit.”

“What?” I ask.

“Was this the reason for all cryptic shit?” Jaxson demands. “The list of names?”

“Wait. Years ago, you had me do some shady shit for you…”

I look Cyrus and then at Jax. “Yes.”

The silence this time is different. Then Cyrus lets out a sharp laugh. “You bastard.”

Jaxson points at me. “We’ve been running a covert wife op?”

“Yes.”

“You told me once,” Cyrus eyes are wide, “that you were handling a ‘delicate situation.’”

I shrug. “She is delicate.”

Jaxson chokes on his drink. “Oh my God. Every time you said ‘personal matter.’”

“You were going home to your wife,” Cyrus finishes.

I don’t bother answering.

Tobias actually claps slowly. “I’m impressed.”

Alaric starts to chuckle. “I’m not going to lie, I’m almost proud.”

Cyrus studies me carefully. “Why didn’t you tell us?”