Sullivan Family: BOOK 2

XV

"I want things to go back to normal." I murmur, biting at my thumbnail. We are seated around the dining room table again, although everyone is in different spots. Ian and Odin have me, Silas and Hollis squished between them. Emmett and Lukas have joined Simon and Levi on my side of the table, making us all squeeze in from Ivan's left hand to Odin's right. Uncle Ira sits alone on the other side, crows feet around his eyes showing his amusement.

"So, this is our uncle?" Manny asks, shifting uncomfortably in his chair when Uncle Ira's mocking eyes land on him.

"The one and only." Uncle Ira replies, a smirk etched permanently on his face.

"We don't have any other unknown uncles hidden away?" Luke asks dubiously, crossing his arms over his chest at the derisive look Uncle Ira sends him.

"I'm your father's only brother. His younger brother." Uncle Ira answers. I appreciate his answers, but I don't trust them with how sarcastic he comes off as.

"Oh, would you look at that?" Hollis says in a snarky voice. "An answer. Wow!"

"Shut up." Odin sneers, reaching around Silas to slap the back of his head. Hollis slumps in his chair, pouting. Uncle Ira laughs outright at him.

"Cut your damn hair off, Hollis." Uncle Ira growls. "Stop tryna look like a damn woman."

Hollis' face flushes scarlet as Manny, Luke and Levi all yell at Uncle Ira to mind his own business. Odin slaps the table to stop the shouting match. I curl into Ian's side, grateful I am out of Odin's arm range. Still, I feel a little rejected that Odin chose to put Silas beside him instead of me.

"Let's just call the cops," Odin suggests wearily. He sits back down, glowering at Uncle Ira. "He'll be put right back for breaking the restraining order."

"Why do you even have that?" Manny asks, staring at his feet when both Ivan and Odin stare him down.

"I'll tell you–," Uncle Ira begins.

"Will you?" Ivan asks sharply. A thump on the table has all our heads careening to him. His black handgun lies on the table, the small barrel pointed directly at Uncle Ira.

"Pfft." Uncle Ira scoffs, sadistic joy lighting up his eyes. Goosebumps litter my arms at the familiar expression that usually comes from Emmett after he's mutilated a pet.

"You haven't talked to me in a decade, Uncle Ira." Ivan says lowly, his fingers moving along the gun. The hair on the back of my neck stands on edge. "I'm not a little boy you can bully anymore. I have a family to protect."

"You took your daddy's family!" Uncle Ira snarls, lunging toward Ivan. I gasp when Ivan stands up, his gun an extension of his arm and his finger ready on the trigger.

"Think about it, Uncle Ira." Ivan says calmly, a serene look on his face. "We have a restraining order on you. The police know what you did to us. They're going to come in here, spit on your dead body, and shake my hand."

"That was amazing." Hollis whispers in awe. I nod in agreement, blindly high fiving him.

"This is my family, Uncle Ira. The only way my father is getting them back is when I'm six feet under." Ivan vows, his body rigid and his promise unyielding.

"Ian, you really gonna let that stand?" Uncle Ira coaxes. "You followed your daddy like a lost puppy. You were his favourite."

"He's lying." Odin claims, subtly shaking his head at Ian. I pat Ian's knee under the table, then find his hand and hold tight. Ian's body is stiff with tension, his wounded brown eyes conflicted.

"The scars on my body say otherwise." Ian remarks, his voice groggy with emotion.

"He took you everywhere!" Uncle Ira hisses, jabbing his pointer finger at Ian. My fingers sprawl in different directions from how tightly Ian squeezes my hand, but I press my lips together to stop from making a sound. "He showed you the business and you worked alongside him! He had big plans for you."