NORA
Stone sidles up behind me, pressing his hard body against my back, and drops his lips to my ear. “You need to stop staring at the door, angel.”
I turn my head to look up at him, and his hard blue eyes meet mine, filled with the same concern I feel. “I wasn’t.”
He presses a quick kiss on my cheek. “You’ve been watching the door like you’re a guard at Fort Knox since we got here.” He motions with his hand holding his tonic and lime toward Nana’s tree, where all the kids sit, opening their gifts. “You should be having a good time. Not worrying about when Luca and Byron are going to get here.”
As if it’s that easy…
The Christmas music fills the room, mixing with the laughter and chatter of everyone crammed in around the tree, and I turn my attention to Coen and Isaac tearing into their gifts excitedly. All that careful wrapping and bows, tossed aside in seconds once they see what’s inside.
Isaac glances up at me, looking so much like his father—more and more every year that passes. He holds up his new gaming system. “Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad.”
I smile at him, trying to push away my worry for another little boy who should be arriving soon. “You’re welcome.”
Coen scowls, staring at his gift—the science kit I swear he told us he wanted months ago. “Why did he get that, and I didn’t?”
Stone releases a heavy sigh. “Because you’re four years younger than him. Maybe when you’re fifteen, we’ll get one for you, too.”
Coen pouts, but I try not to take it personally. He’s at that weird age where everything upsets him, no matter what we say or do. There is no “right” with him now. I pray he makes it through it as fast as Isaac did and that when he turns thirteen soon, it doesn’t get worse and he starts acting like my sweet, helpful boy again.
The rest of the kids excitedly thank their parents and tear into other gifts, and my gaze cuts to the door again.
Stone’s free hand comes up to rub at my arm. “You’re really worried about Jude, aren’t you?”
I sigh and finally turn to face him, quickly peeking around us to make sure no one’s listening. Even though Savage, Stone, Dani, and I have already filled in everyone on what happened to Luca and Byron yesterday, we don’t want any of the kids to overhear.
“I am.” I shake my head, pressing my palms against his hard chest. “You don’t understand how destroyed that boy was.”
While Stone came to Luca and Byron’s with me to meet Jude, he never entered the room when I did the exam. He never saw what had been done to that poor boy or how traumatized he is from the life his father has been forcing on him.
Stone’s jaw hardens, and a muscle there tics as he tries to contain his anger. “I think I have some idea.”
Of course, Luca and Byron filled him in while I examined Jude, and he’s already made the calls to set things in motion for them to get temporary custody while things get sorted out. They should be meeting with Stone’s contact at HSD this morning before they come here—something that never would have happened on Christmas Day without Stone pulling strings and calling in favors.
I sigh and drop my forehead to his chest. “I just don’t know how he’s going to react to all this.” I motion around me. “We’re a lot, and that kid is traumatized more than anyone I’ve ever had come into the hospital.”
That vacant look in his eyes mixed with the absolute terror—it isn’t anything I can ever forget.
“I have them running every test I can think of on his blood just to make sure he’s not sick with something we can’t see, because who knows what the hell he was exposed to when…”
I can’t even say the words, and Stone grasps my chin and tilts it up until I look at him.
“Your heart is too big, angel. You know that?”
I offer him a sad smile. “Yours is, too. You just don’t like to admit it.”
Stone grins at me. “Well, I don’t want you spending the whole day worried and distracted. The kids will pick up on it.”
“I know.”
He lowers his head until his lips brush my ear again. “I have an idea, something that might take your mind off it.”
I pull back slightly and narrow my eyes at him because I know that look and the promise in those words. “We are not having a quickie in your childhood bedroom again, Stone. Your mother almost caught us last time.”
A slow grin tugs at his lips. “That would’ve made for a very interesting Thanksgiving, though, wouldn’t it?”
My body heats at the memory of the way he made me come before our last holiday dinner even as I smack his arm.
He chuckles and leans in again. “I was worried you were going to spend the whole day dwelling on this, so I brought something for you.”
I raise a brow at him. “Oh, yeah, what’s that?”
Stone gives me that lecherous grin I always know means trouble, and I hiss at him.
“It better not be a coil of rope. You are not tying me up at your mother’s house.”
He releases a laugh that draws everyone’s attention, and Storm and Landon both offer us knowing grins, while Caroline raises her mimosa toward us and Saint smiles. Gabe and Skye roll their eyes, but Savage and Dani return their focus to the kids and Nana, who’s sitting in her high-back chair, watching all of them before she has to start on dinner.
Stone wraps his arm around my waist and tugs me fully against him. “Not a coil of rope. We’ll save that for tonight when we get home.” He kisses my cheek. “Maybe I’ll even string you up on the hook since we got interrupted last night.”
A shudder rolls through me. “Promises. Promises.”
He tightens his grip on me. “I brought your favorite toy. You could go back to the bathroom, take off your panties, and slip these ones on right now.”
I push back from him and glower. “You mean your favorite toy?”
Torture device is a more accurate description.
I could never forget how he used the vibrating panties on me while sitting in this very house at his mother’s table when we first got together, and the reminder sends heat between my legs despite the complete inappropriateness of the situation.
Stone grins. “Semantics.”
He brings his drink to his lips and takes a sip. I’m sure he’d much rather be enjoying a bourbon or mimosa with everyone else, but his continued sobriety over the last fifteen years has been the only thing that ever allowed this to work—and he’s worked hard for it.
I know there were a lot of times he wanted to break, wanted to go down that road when the stresses of managing all the legal problems of Hawke Enterprises and having two young sons got to him and he would have loved to drown his problems in booze or cocaine. But we worked through those times together and used other outlets for his frustration and need for the illusion of control.
We did it together, just like we always will. Just like he’s trying to do now—using a naughty promise to try to distract me from my worry. And after so many years, the fact that he still looks at me with that fire in his eyes and still follows through on his threats makes goosebumps break out over my skin.
I feather my lips over his. “As much as I know you would enjoy toying with me today and distracting me, I think I need to keep an eye on the kids and the door. I don’t know how Jude’s going to react to any of this. He might need me.”
Stone’s gaze immediately softens, and he presses a kiss to my forehead. “You’re such an incredible woman. You know that, right?”
“You’ve told me once or twice.”
“But you don’t always have to take care of everyone else.” His gaze holds so much concern. “Sometimes, you have to take care of yourself, or let me do it.”
I press my hand to his cheek. “You always do.”
He tilts his head to brush his lips over my palm, then Isaac rushes over holding up his new gaming system.
“Can we set this up when we get home?”
Stone nods. “Sure, buddy.” But he glances at Coen. “You know you’re going to have to let your brother play it, too, right?”
Isaac scowls. “Why? He has his own gifts.”
I turn to our oldest—and most stubborn—the one who’s so much like his dad, who always wants to be in control of everything. “Because he’s your brother, and you have to share, whether you like it or not.”
The little smartass who has developed so much attitude in his teens raises his dark brows. “Did Aunt Dani always share with you as a kid?”
I laugh and look over at her, where she sits on Savage’s lap, arm wrapped around his neck, as they watch Kennedy dig through her new makeup kit. “Your Aunt Danika was always a little selfish, and that’s one reason I want to make sure you’re not.”
He scowls at me again but huffs and walks back to plop down onto the floor near the tree and next to Coen. Coen fiddles with one of his other gifts—a new Lego set—looking sullen. Isaac shows him the game system box and points to one of the games, and Coen’s eyes light up.
Stone tugs me to his side, wrapping his arm around my shoulders as he takes another sip of his drink. “You’re a good mom.”
I look up at him. “You’re a good dad.”
He grins. “That’s a lie, but thanks for saying so.”
“You didn’t have one, babe. All you had was—” I bite off the name instead of saying it, but it’s too late, and a dark cloud settles over his eyes. “You didn’t have the best male role model, but you’ve been incredible with them, practically raising them yourself while I was going to medical school and through my residency and fellowship. Don’t underestimate how incredible you are—at being a dad and so many other things.”
* * *
STONE
It’s hard not to—knowing what I put Nora through, what I hid from her for so long and what the truth did to her, Dani, and their mother, what it and my choices did to everyone. She had every reason to push me away and never look back, to try to keep me from Isaac when he was born and cut me out of their lives. Yet, somehow, this magnificent woman has stuck by me and given me life.
I’ve done everything in my power since the day I came back to make it up to her, to atone for my sins and become a man she can be proud of, a good father to Isaac and Coen and husband to her, but sometimes, it still feels like I’m failing.
And seeing that boy last night, hearing Luca and Byron tell me how they found him and what had been happening outside one of our clubs, makes anger flare red hot like I haven’t felt in years. Instantly, my mind placed Isaac and Coen in his shoes, and that need to protect Jude when I didn’t even know him roared to the forefront.
None of us will ever let any harm come to him again, but we all know he has a long, bumpy road ahead that I fear we are wholly unprepared to help him navigate.
Nora’s soft hand finds my cheek. “Where’d you go just now?”
I force a smile at her. “Nowhere, angel.”
At least, nowhere good.
But I need to take my own advice and not focus on the surprise Christmas guest who will be arriving soon and instead concentrate on everyone around me. Scanning the room, I find the presents all opened and the kids disappearing in small groups to start playing with their new games and toys. Angelina hangs out near Storm and Landon, flipping through things on her phone, seemingly disinterested in the fanfare we still go through for the younger ones.
“It looks like everyone is done.” I incline my head toward the kitchen. “The girls are going to start cooking now.”
The incredible brunch spread we already enjoyed before opening gifts filled our stomachs well, but now, it’s time to get ready for the massive Christmas feast Nana always prepares for Christmas dinner—which is my cue to stay far away from the kitchen.
Dani slides off Savage’s lap and approaches us, her eyebrows raised. “Nora, you going to go help Antonia, Skye, and Storm in the kitchen?”
Nora laughs and shakes her head. “Wasn’t planning on it. Since they always ban you, I figured you, me, and Care would clean up all the wrapping paper in here and get the table ready.”
Her sister scowls at her. “I was not banned from the kitchen.”
Storm sticks her head around the corner and points a finger at her. “Yes, you were! We learned our lesson many, many years ago not to let you touch anything. Not even the salad!”
Dani glares in her direction but doesn’t respond, just takes a sip of her mimosa. “Whatever. I can set a table.”
Nora slips from my arms to join her, with Caroline following close behind, leaving me leaning against the mantle with my tonic and lime, staring at the twinkling white lights on the tree.
Gabe approaches, beer in hand, and rests his shoulder against the mantle next to me, examining the disaster the kids have left in their wake. “You would think now that they’re all a bit older, they wouldn’t make such a mess.”
I chuckle and take a sip of my drink. “You’re insane if you really thought that would ever happen. They’re like Tasmanian devils, whirling in and whirling out of rooms, leaving destruction for the adults to clean up.”
Angelina glances up at us and scowls. “Hey, I resent that blatant generalization!”
I point at her. “Present company excluded.”
She pushes up from her chair and wanders out toward the sliding doors that lead to the back door, apparently not wanting to get stuck cleaning up after her little sister and cousins.
I don’t blame her.
Gabe lifts the amber bottle to his lips, takes a drink, then sighs. “You seem distracted today.”
To say the least.
And I thought I was doing a good job of covering it and was warning Nora not to let the kids see her rattled.
“I am.” My gaze cuts to the closed front door. “This situation with the boy Luca and Byron found…”
Gabe nods slowly. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it, either.” He casts a quick glance around the room and steps closer. “But everyone should be able to rest a lot easier, knowing Luca took care of the father.”
It takes a moment for his words to fully register.
Luca took care of the father…
All the air rushes from my lungs in a giant whoosh, and I dart my gaze to Nora, where she chatters with Dani and Caroline in the dining room, clearing off the table from brunch and resetting it for dinner.
Last night, Luca said he was going to track down Jude’s father, but this is the first confirmation he succeeded in his righteous and violent endeavor.
I step closer to Gabe. “Already?”
He nods slowly and takes a giant drink from his beer, even though it’s barely noon. “The dad came back to the club early this morning, looking for Jude…”
Shit.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t expected this, or that it wasn’t warranted. If anyone deserves to end up full of bullets and dumped in the bayou, it’s that piece of trash who called himself Jude’s father.
But I hadn’t anticipated it happening so fast.
One thing we’ve all learned over the years is that rash moves usually result in consequences we may not want to face. We’re careful. Meticulous. We don’t rush into anything—except apparently taking out abusive douchebags like Jude’s dad.
“Does everyone else know?”
Gabe shakes his head. “Not yet. Luca let Savage and me know, but we didn’t want to bring murder into our Christmas celebration right away this morning.”
“Holy shit.” I down the rest of my drink, wishing it were a glass of bourbon or even vodka at this point, after a decade and half of sobriety. “I’m glad the kid is safe. I just hope Luca did it right and I won’t have to represent him in felony court.”
A smirk tilts Gabe’s lips. “You really think Luca would do anything stupid like leave evidence or get caught?”
Good point.
I shake my head. “No…”
Rubbing at the back of my neck, I look at Savage, where he talks with Saint and Landon. He nods at me, his jaw tight. I return a bob of my head, and we don’t even have to speak for him to know that I’m now in the loop, which is likely what he’s telling the other guys.
It may be Christmas and not the ideal time to be discussing Luca’s late-night vengeance, but everyone’s tense. Knowing that’s been taken care of will certainly bring a much-needed sense of peace to the gathering.
A moment of silence lingers between us while Gabe watches the girls in the dining room across the foyer from us.
“You think Luca and Byron will have any trouble keeping Jude with them?”
I glance at him. “They shouldn’t. I spoke with Judge Cramer in children’s court personally last night, and I made a call to HSD this morning with his order.”
Gabe raises a blond brow. “So, they’re going to give a kid to the former head of the mob and his husband…just like that?”
Scowling, I shake my head. “No, not just like that. It’s a temporary order. They’ll have to get approved as foster parents and go through all the proper certifications. If this ends up being a permanent thing, then…we’ll see what happens.”
Gabe snorts. “Luca with a kid.” He takes a swig of his beer. “Now, Byron…that I can see. But Luca?”
I laugh and motion toward the open archway to the kitchen, where Skye busily bustles around with Storm and Mom, making dinner. “Did you really think you would be a father when you got together with Skye? I seem to remember you saying something about never having kids.”
His lips droop into a frown. “No. I never thought I wanted that or that I’d be any good at it. But”—he shrugs—”things changed.”
“Not enough for you to marry my sister, though. Just knock her up with twins…”
He rolls his eyes at me. “Ha, ha. Very funny. As we’ve said a hundred times, we aren’t the marrying type, but you know your sister has me locked down for life.”
I snort. “She better. You and Luca aren’t the only ones who can make someone disappear.”
Gabe’s green eyes widen. “Wow, threats on Christmas Day. Now the party has really started!” He smacks me on the shoulder and grins. “I guess it wouldn’t be a Hawke holiday without some.”
Chuckling, I push off the mantle and point a finger at him. “Why don’t you have another beer while I go find my wife?”
He smirks. “Going to drag her back to your old room for a nooner?”
I scowl at him. “You want me to tell Skye you said that?”
Gabe barks out a laugh. “You’d rat me out?” He shakes his head and motions toward the kitchen. “Actually, go ahead and tell her, and do it in front of Nana. I’m sure your mother would love to know what you two are always up to when you disappear back there to ‘find something’ or whatever excuses you make.”
Waving him off, I wander into the dining room and slide up behind Nora, where she leans over the table, adjusting the runner down the middle of it. I brush my lips to her ear, inhaling her scent that always seems to calm me, even when I’m at my worst.
Murder may not be on the menu for most families on Christmas, but for this one, in this circumstance, it’s the icing on the fruit cake.
“Luca took care of Jude’s father.”
She stiffens for a moment, then sags back against me, a weight lifting off her shoulders that I’m confident she wasn’t even aware she’s been carrying since Luca called us last night. “You’re sure?”
I nod against her and press my lips to her cheek. “Gabe just told me. He’s safe, angel. And now that he’s with Luca and Byron, he always will be.”
The Hawkes protect their own—blood or not.
At any cost.