Page 148 of Succumbed

His grin falls away. “I can imagine. Our father…he’s always been cruel, but especially so to you. I hope…Lex, I hope you don’t let him sabotage the future you deserve.”

Reginald wasn’t the only cruel one. “Say more, please.”

He shifts, turning to face me. “I don’t think Reginald is capable of loving another human being, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t. And it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be loved. You do.”

I take a shuddering breath, looking away. I’m not ready to cry. Not to him.

“Thank you,” I croak, clearing my throat. “By the same coin, Nate, I hope you realize you don’t have to keep a family who has only ever ordered you around in their own self interest. You can build your own.”

His chuckle is self-deprecating, almost hollow. “With who?”

“Me,” I offer. “Your son.”

Nate’s eyes bore into mine. “Jackson.”

I raise a brow. “He goes by Jax.”

He huffs. “Right, Jax.”

“He lives in my pool house, not sure you knew.”

His brows raise. “I…I should’ve known.”

“Probably,” I concede. “Do you want to hear the story? From my perspective, at least?”

My brother searches my face, his expression torn. “Yes, Lex. Please.”

I smile. “He walked right up to me in the lobby downstairs and introduced himself as my long lost nephew, then gave me this sheepish little smile and asked if I wanted to get to know each other. I took him to the coffee shop across the street, and we talked for an hour.” Chuckling, I look out at the redwoods. “Miles was ready to kill me for messing up my schedule, but I couldn’t walk away. And when Jax asked if we were hiring, I gave him a job on the spot.”

Nate huffs, shaking his head. “Bold of him.”

“No, you don’t get it,” I insist. “He’s so…genuine. I don’t know that I’ve ever met someone so real and open about who they are. I couldn’t abide the thought of sending him somewhere else to find work, not when I could keep him close and get to know him. And when I found out he was sleeping in his sprinter van in my parking lot, well. It was a no-brainer to offer the pool house.”

His jaw drops, and I laugh.

“I know. That was my reaction, too.” I smile, thinking of the lights Jax strung up when he moved in, and how their very presence is soothing. “He’s special, Nate. You should be proud. I am.”

Nate swallows roughly. “How is he?”

“Too insightful for his own good,” I chuckle. “You’ve met him.”

“He’s a surfer. And I think he mentioned modeling?”

“He still works in my mailroom, too. He wears the surfer persona well, though you’d be smart not to underestimate him. There’s a lot more to him than his easygoing nature would suggest.”

Nate swallows roughly. “Does he…does he want a relationship with me?”

I unfold myself from the chair and move to the couch, perching next to my brother. Reaching out tentatively, giving him the opportunity to put his boundaries back in place, I grip his hand in mine.

“That’s something you should ask him, Nate. I know your son better than I know you, you know.”

“Yeah,” he grunts, voice raw. “How weird is that?”

“What even is normal in this family?” I counter, expression wry. “I know him well enough to know he’ll give you all the chances you want, Nate. He’s got the biggest heart. I love him fiercely.”

Nate’s eyes widen as he watches me. “You do?”

“He’s my family. And I’ll protect him with everything I have.” I tilt my head, raising a brow.

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