Chapter 21
The deep, commanding voice caused Shawn’s stomach to twist.
“What the hell did you just say to my daughter?” the man repeated with narrowed eyes.
Shawn’s heart thudded. The man’s presence filled the room.
Behind him, there were seven men.
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At first, Shawn thought they were his bodyguards. Until he noticed the unmistakable resemblance between all of them. The same strong jawline, the same blue eyes.
For a second, Shawn’s mind went blank.
His daughter?
He turned back to Aurora. She stood at the doorway with a small smirk on her face, and an icy look in her blue eyes.
“This… this is a joke,” Shawn said, his voice cracked. He forced a laugh that came out like a cough. “Come on, Aurora. Your father? Really?”
None of them laughed.
The tall man stood a few feet from him. “You heard me the first time.” His voice dropped low, but it sounded more dangerous than the initial shout.
Shawn’s throat went dry. “Look, maybe I… maybe I misheard-”
“You didn’t mishear anything,” Aurora said flatly.
Shawn’s eyes flicked to the line of men behind the father. Seven of them. His stomach
turned.
Seven brothers. One girl.
Shit.
He had seriously messed up.
He pulled his shoulders back, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
“All right,” he said, forcing a small smile. “Maybe I got a little heated. We–Aurora and I— have history. Sometimes people say things they don’t mean.”
One of the brothers, who had a buzz cut, stepped forward with a scowl on his face. “You called her a whore,” he said, with a low growl.
Shawn swallowed. “I… I didn’t mean-”
Another brother with dark hair folded his arms. “Sounded like you meant it.”
Shawn raised both hands in surrender. “Look, I apologize. It came out wrong. I was angry. I
_”
A blur of movement cut him off.
A fist slammed into his jaw. It was hard enough to snap his head backward. Pain flared
Chapter 21
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through his face. He staggered, catching himself before he fell.
“Logan!” Aurora’s voice rang out.
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The brother with the buzz cut, Logan, shook out his hand but didn’t step back. His eyes burned. “That’s for our niece, Jasmine,” he growled.
Shawn tasted blood. He wiped his mouth, staring at the bloodstain on his palm. Rage burned with him, but the fear was more.
The father moved closer until he was almost chest–to–chest with him. He didn’t shout, but he sounded dangerous. “I heard you were the bastard who put your hands on her,” he snarled, “The one who killed my two grandchildren.”
Shawn’s heart plunged. He opened his mouth, but no sound came.
The father’s eyes narrowed. “Is that true?”
Shawn’s knees turned to water. “That’s… exaggerated. I–things happened. It wasn’t-”
“Things happened?” another brother barked.
“I never meant-”
“You never meant to?” Another brother took a step forward. “She almost died because of you.”
“I-” Shawn stammered. “I made a mistake. Tiffany-”
“Don’t you dare,” the father cut in, with a piercing glare. “Don’t you dare call that woman’s name in this house.”
Every pair of Redmond eyes drilled into Shawn like sharp knives.
Shawn’s mind raced. He had to salvage this. The Redmonds were his last hope. If they turned against him, the deals, the investors, everything would collapse.
He forced another smile. “Mr. Redmond, I came here tonight for business. I respect your family. I respect your daughter. My words were out of frustration, and they don’t reflect how I truly feel. I love your daughter so much.”
One brother gave a short, humorless laugh. “Respect? Love? After all you’ve done?”
Shawn pressed on desperately. “Aurora and I had a complicated marriage. She’s my wife, and I love her. Even though mistakes were made on both sides.”
Aurora’s voice cut through his words. “Mistakes? You call killing our daughter a mistake?”
Shawn flinched.
The father’s jaw tightened. “You laid a hand on my child and now you dare stand in my
home?”
Shawn felt like everything was closing in on him.
“Listen, I came to discuss an investment opportunity. I can-”
“You will discuss nothing,” the father said with finality in his tone.
Shawn looked to Aurora for even a flicker of sympathy. But there was none, just cold, hard
