Page 24 of Seeking Salvation

Chapter 7

Bás had decided to hold the meeting, to discuss the plan for Maya, in the small conference room at the Mountain Rescue building above the compound. While he trusted Maya, Titan understood why Bás was being cautious. Walking into the building, he couldn’t help but glance at the spot where Maya had left Tyrique just yesterday. Maya saw where his gaze had gone and her shoulders tensed. He placed a hand on her back to try and ease the tension.

He didn’t blame her for what she’d done, not after spending twenty-four hours living her life. Having a baby was fucking hard. Harder than he’d ever really known and it made him think of his own mother. She’d been very far from perfect, letting him and Devon fend for themselves a lot, even more so after Devon died, but she was probably doing the best she could.

Explosive nappies, colic, sleepless nights, and a constant stream of feeding and changing had left him exhausted but his heart felt so full. Full of love and gratitude for someone he hadn’t known existed until yesterday. That Tyrique was his son was in no doubt now, after the DNA results had landed in his email this morning.

He wasn’t sure how he’d feel but relief and a sense of being part of something special filled him. The circumstances would always haunt him but one thing he’d learned through his fuck ups and his friendships, was that holding on to the past would destroy any hope of a future.

“Morning, Titan. Don’t you look like a perky ray of fucking sunshine.”

Reaper clapped him on the shoulder as he walked in and clearly, his exhaustion was showing on his face. “Get fucked, Reaper.”

“Ti, watch your language.”

Titan looked at Maya and then Tyrique. “Shit. Sorry.”

Maya narrowed her eyes, and he tried not to grin at her attempt to be intimidating.

“Maya, you want coffee or tea?” Reaper called from where he was pouring water into his own mug.

“Coffee would be perfect, thank you.”

“Milk? Sugar?”

“A little milk and two sugars, please.”

Titan placed the car seat with his sleeping son in the middle of the conference table and glared at Reaper as he handed Maya her mug and proceeded to sip from his own.

“Where’s mine?”

“You told me to get fudged,” he whispered, earning him an approving smile from Maya for his use of fudge and not fuck. “So, get your own.”

“A-hole.”

Titan made himself a tea, adding milk and sugar and grabbed a packet of custard creams from the cupboard. He offered the pack to Maya, who took two before he took the pack and sat beside his son on the couch.

Leaning back, he tossed his ankle over his knee. “Where is everyone?”

Bás was usually the first to arrive at a meeting, but so far it was just him and Reaper.

“Something came up but he should be here in a few minutes.”

Titan read the tension in his friend’s face and decided not to ask for details in front of Maya.

The door opened and Charlie walked in with Bishop, the pair bickering like the old married couple they were. Behind them were Snow, Hurricane, and Bein. Duchess and Lotus were thankfully working on something else and wouldn’t be joining them. He loved them like sisters but they were a lot. In fact, all the women here were way more terrifying than the men could ever dream of being and he didn’t want to scare Maya off. Not that she couldn’t hold her own, the woman had proved, in the last twenty-four hours, that she was a force to be reckoned with.

“Hey, Titan.”

“Morning, Charlie.”

“You look like crap.”

“Love you, too.”

Tyrique stirred and Titan placed his palm on his belly, and he settled again. It was amazing how his touch could soothe his son. His son. God, would he ever get used to that?

“Maya, the woman with the silver tongue is Charlie, Bishop’s better half. Charlie, this is Maya, Tyrique’s aunt.”

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