Page 84 of When Kings Fall

So had Lena. He’d even made a pass at her actually.

It was a torrid situation where he was concerned.

I took in all the information, then nodded. “Understood. Then I’ll have my contact mentor you covertly until the deed is done. He’ll come to the mansion.”

“I can’t ask you to—”

“You’re not asking. And you should have. These shackles your father has forced on you could have been cast off much sooner if I’d known.”

It took him a moment, but then he gave me a chin lift and admitted, “I’d like that. Very much. Thank you.”

“Good, then it’s settled. I’ll call my contact first thing and schedule mentoring sessions for once this current situation is dealt with regarding Lynch. In the meantime, continue to dust off your artistic skills in preparation.” I smiled out at him. “We’ll get you the life that you want.” Now I was on a roll, I looked out at Levi. “Speaking of, you and I need to talk after this rest period. About Knightsridge and what you want to do where that’s concerned.”

“Yeah, actually that’s perfect.”

“It is?” I’d thought he’d been pulling away from it.

But maybe it was just that his focus had been on Lynch and I’d read too much into it.

“I’ve got ideas, Dad.” He winked.

“Oh, fuck,” Mason uttered. “Brace yourself for that talk now, Roman.”

“Shit, yeah,” Colt agreed.

“Aww, stop,” Brianna said, fondling his hair.

I grinned at the sweetness.

Then Levi laughed at her reaction, happy, loving-it laughter.

My son was actually laughing! Again!

And it was the most amazing sound I’d heard in years.

I couldn’t believe it.

The Levi I’d thought I’d lost forevermore was returning.

20

~Colton~

I watched quietly from the door of the guestroom that Mason was crashing in.

There he was sprawled out on his stomach sketching away rapidly.

He had a pair of headphones on, music blaring and I smiled to myself as I heard one of my songs sounding through.

“You opened up my life/ Now I can breathe without it hurting/ I’m finally learning/ Until us/ Until me/ Until you.”

That particular song, those lyrics, were really apt for the current circumstances.

Brianna Walker coming into our lives had changed so much, had bettered so much.

And I was so happy that she’d found a way to free Mason.

She’d calmed Lev down and settled him.

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