Page 21 of Revelations

“Of course. Let’s go, Sweetness,” I tell her as my grandpa turns to look at me and watches as I help her from the table.

He gets an angry glint in his eye when he takes in the sling holding her arm in place and the way she stands so slow and careful because of her ribs. Without words, I let him know I’ll explain everything when the time is right as Killer steps up next to him and stares Genesis down. She literally shrinks into herself under his gaze since she doesn’t know him. I help her away from the table and walk her over to where Morgan is sitting on the couch with the TV on low in front of her.

“Devil, you have to talk to them today. If you don’t, you’re gonna lose Raptor for good. You’re both amazing men and I don’t want to see either one of you continue to hurt the way you are right now. It looks as if Raptor is leaving with his family. When he gets back, pull both of your family members aside and have the talk,” she whispers just before we get to Morgan.

“I will, Sweetness. I’ve already made up my mind to do this. Caleb has been talkin’ to me about it and he’ll be right at our side. I’d prefer to tell my family first, but I know we need to do this once Raptor gets back with his family. I don’t want to have to say this more than once. Especially when I’m still so unsure what they’re gonna say in response,” I promise her, my voice breaking as I lean forward to press a kiss against her forehead, lingering for longer than ever before as Matie squirms in my arms.

“Give me my buddy,” Morgan says, standing up and taking him from my arms before sitting down and moving a pillow over for Genesis.

I help her get settled on the couch with the pillow under her arm to help her keep it elevated. Once she assures me she’s okay and doesn’t need anything else, I make my way back over to the table where my parents, grandparents, Carson, Hope, Caleb, and Hope’s family are standing. There are small groups all over the common room as the families greet their sons and siblings get to see one another again. The only exceptions to this are Vault, Annabell, Valor, and Savannah. They’ll always be everyone’s family here, but their dad is no longer alive to make the trip and spend time with his boys and grandchildren. Vault is currently holding his daughter as I catch his eye and he gives me a sad smile. Yeah, this shit still gets to him and Valor because Hound should be here with us. Their uncle should be here too.

“Dylan, it’s so good to see you,” my mom says, pulling me into her arms, squeezing me as tight as she can while resting her shoulder on my arm. “All of my boys are finally back under the same damn roof.”

“We are. It’s been nice havin’ Caleb here to hang out with. Though I know you’ve missed him more than Carson and I have. You’re his mom after all,” I tell her, keeping my arms around her until she finally pulls back and I get hugged by Shy.

“You look like you’ve got the weight of the world resting on your shoulders, Dylan. You know we’re gonna make you talk about shit while we’re here,” she states, her voice letting me know this won’t be up for debate.

“I know. And I’ll talk. I’m just waitin’ on somethin’ and then we’ll all sit down together. It’s really important and I don’t want anyone else but Killer and Tank there if Tank and Maddie are comin’ down,” I promise her as my dad steps up and takes me from Shy’s arms.

“They’ll be here. Maddie wanted to stop in Cedar Bay to see the grandbabies before they got here. You know how youraunt is. She’ll probably take one or two of the babies and bring them here with her so the boys have to chase their kids down,” my dad informs me, laughter filling his voice because it’s the truth.

Tank won’t stop her either. Whatever Aunt Maddie wants, Aunt Maddie gets. He spoils her rotten and it doesn’t matter if it means his sons have to leave their house to take their kids back from her. He spoils the grandkids just as much as she does. If you want to see the softest side of Tank, put one of his grandbabies in front of him and you’ll never meet a softer man than him. Maddie is a close second to that, but those kids are their entire world and he doesn’t give a fuck who knows it.

“I’ll make sure the extra rooms are set up for the triplets then,” Annabell says walking over to our group so she can hug her mom and dad.

Annabell is also my aunt after my grandparents adopted her. When it comes to things like this, she still holds back and doesn’t assert herself into the greeting. I’m gonna want her here when Raptor and his family get back from lunch. Vault too. If this chapter of the club is gonna have a problem with our relationship, it’ll be good to know that shit now instead of waiting to tell everyone here later on.

“Annabell, will you make sure you’re available to meet with the family in a little while? Vault too,” I ask her, nerves already filling me as she looks up at me with a soft smile on her face.

“We’ll always be there when you need us, Devil. You don’t even have to ask. I might not be your aunt by blood, but I love our family and you will always come second to Vault and our kids. Spend time with them and let us know when you’re ready to talk,” she says, hugging me close before greeting her mom and dad.

“Son, are you okay?” my dad asks me, pulling me to the side away from the rest of our group as he turns to face me.

“No, I’m not. I’m hopin’ once we have this talk in a little while that I’ll feel a whole lot better,” I answer him honestly.

“Okay. We’re not goin’ anywhere. I’ll let Tank and Maddie know when they get here. I hope part of this talk later involves what happened to that girl you were just with. Genesis, yeah?” he states, his eyes making their way over to where she sits talking to Morgan while playing one handed with Matie.

“It will.”

Raptor and his family have just gotten back from lunch. I look to Annabell who nods her head and stands from the table with Vault, Valor, and Savannah. Vault stands up with her and they head down the hall to the game room we have back there for the kids. That will give us the privacy we need for this conversation.

“Can you guys go with Annabell and Vault, please?” I ask my family as I stand from the table we’ve been sitting at for the last two hours.

“Yeah. Anyone else comin’ with us?” my dad asks me, looking around the common room.

“Killer, I’d like you to be there too, please. The triplets can go in too since they’re family. I’ll be right in,” I tell them as I make my way over to Raptor and his family. “Jennifer, Boy Scout, Wood, it’s good to see you all again. Can I ask if you would come with us to the game room? We need to have a talk about somethin’ really important. Probably the most important conversation I’ll ever have with anyone in my life.”

“Of course,” Wood answers me as Raptor opens his mouth to say something, but quickly shuts it when he can’t think of anything.

I hang back and let his parents and Geek walk in front of us. Looking over toward the couch, Genesis is looking at me and I give her a tentative smile because I’m nervous as fuck.

“What is this about, Dylan?” Wade asks me as we follow his family to the game room.

“You wanted me to share our relationship with our family members and this is me doin’ that. We’ll start with our family and then add in everyone else in the club. I can’t do it all at once. I hope you understand that,” I answer him honestly, clenching my hands into fists so I don’t take his hand in mine as we get to the entrance of the game room to find our family members sitting around the room.

“You don’t have to do this, Dylan. If you’re not ready, you can wait,” Wade says, hope filling his voice which tells me this is the right decision. No matter what the outcome is, today is the day I start fixing my relationship with the only man I’ll ever love.

“Yes, I do. I’m never gonna be a hundred percent ready to do this, but it’s now or never,” I answer him, stepping forward enough to pull the doors closed behind me so no one else overhears our conversation. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and just stand there for a minute before opening my eyes, releasing my breath and looking around the room at everyone I hold close to me. “I’m sure you’re all wonderin’ why I asked you to be here today. I’m goin’ to share somethin’ I’ve been keepin’ a secret for years with you all. Wade has been the only one to know up until very recently.

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