Page 78 of Grave Games

Kiddo. I hadn’t been called that in years. “Very happy, Dad. I had to fight to get to where I am now, and I had to face what Josh did so I could find a way to put it behind me. But I did it. With Romeo’s help, I’ve been able to move on and look to the future instead of being mired down in the past. I can’t tell you how good that feels.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” He fiddled with the can of soda, as if he didn’t know what to do with it. “We heard from Josh the other day. He didn’t say where he was, but he sounded great. Happy.”

“Good.” After Arthur’s funeral, Josh had decided to heed Romeo’s advice by leaving Chicago until Hades was taken care of one way or another. For both his safety and ours, I had no idea where he was, but both Romeo and I received texts every now and again to assure us that he was still alive and kicking. The tone of his texts matched what Dad had claimed—Josh seemed genuinely happy. The mistakes he’d made in the past, the mistakes that had wounded me and destroyed our family, had been more than paid for. Now all I wanted was for my family to come out of the darkness we’d been plunged into and remember what it was to walk in the light. Josh was trying to do that, and so was I, thanks to Romeo’s influence.

Now it was my father’s turn.

“Are you okay, Dad?” I searched his face, noting the deep frown lines that had gouged themselves into his brow and the solid downturn bracketing his mouth, as if he hadn’t smiled much in the years we’d been apart. “I mean… are you happy?”

“I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to see you, hear you. As you were going into the house with Romeo I heard you laugh, and by God, kiddo, it made my heart soar all the way to heaven. That my little girl can still laugh, and love, and look forward to the future is a miracle in strength. And you’ve needed to be strong, after what was done to you, and what I did to you—” A sob broke off his words and he quickly turned away, his hand coming up to cover his mouth. But shutting up now was exactly the wrong thing to do.

“Dad, it’s okay.” Impulsively I caught him in a hug and squeezed him tight. “It’s okay, you hear me? I’m okay. I love you, and I’m okay.”

He tried to say something, but the force of his sobs broke the words up into jagged pieces. We stood that way for a long time while he cried it out, and my own eyes stung at the sound of sheer pain coming out of him. This was my father, for God’s sake. The pillar of our family, and a man who had seemed indestructible at one point in my life. Nothing should have shattered him like this. Nothing. But that was the insidious taint that was Hades Colgrave. He had so much to answer for, including every heartbroken tear my father was made to shed.

The breeze whispered through the elm’s leaves overhead, and I let the sound soothe me as my father fought for calm and slowly…slowly… found it. And at last I was able to figure out what he was trying to tell me.

“I love you.”

My arms tightened all the more as tears streaked down my face. “I love you, too.”

“I never thought you’d want to hug me again.” His voice was the texture of sandpaper as he gently backed away to search my face. He sighed, releasing all the guarded nervousness that had been wrapped around him like a shroud, and suddenly he was just my dad again—older, more world-weary and battered, and so very human. But still, my dad. “Or talk to me. Or even look at me.”

“Not too long ago I went to a funeral for a kid just a couple years younger than me. He was my friend, and he should still be here because the world was a better place with him in it. His parents will never be able to hug him, or talk to him, or look at him again. When I look at it that way, I’m just mad at myself for wasting whatever time we’re destined to have left in this life. As of now, there’s only time left for love, laughter and family. At the end of the day, that’s really all that matters.”

“Family, huh?” Dad scrubbed a hand over his face before glancing back at the windows. “Does that include me and Mom?”

“Absolutely.”

“And hopefully some grandchildren at some point? I’m not getting any younger, you know, and I’ve got this great idea for turning the side yard into a little playground. I’m thinking a low-profile jungle gym, a climbing wall, maybe a playhouse and a covered sandbox—”

I hugged him again while my heart swelled so much it brought tears to my eyes. “I’ll see what I can do.”

*

Romeo

“Finally, a real bed.” Smoothing the comforter in place and plumping the pillows, Shiloh stood back, jammed her hands on her hips and reviewed her work. “There. Perfect.”

“It sure is. Too bad we’re about to fuck it all up.” Coming out of the bathroom, I tossed the day’s clothes into a brand-new hamper by the closet before reaching for my wife. Her scent, honeysuckle and soap, wrapped around me like a welcoming embrace, and with a sigh I buried my face in her hair. “Crazy day, yeah?”

Yeah.” Her arms tightened around my middle. “Tomorrow’s going to be even crazier. We just got the big pieces of furniture in place. Tomorrow I start opening boxes.”

“Scary stuff.” I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “But I was talking about you and your dad.”

“I know.” She melted against me with a sigh, and I closed my eyes to better savor the feel. I was a huge fan of everything about my woman, but when she melted against me like this, as if molding her shape against mine was her reason for being, I almost lost my damn mind in sheer bliss.

“So you’re okay with your dad being back in your life?” I had to make sure I hadn’t screwed things up.

“I’m better than okay, baby.”

“Good.” A weight I didn’t even know was there vanished from my chest, and suddenly I felt lighter than air. “I wasn’t sure everything would work out, but when I saw you hug your dad, I realized I never should’ve doubted you. That hug was my proof that I’d found the strongest, most loving woman in the whole world. Not everyone would be able to let someone back into their heart after being dealt such a bad blow, but you didn’t even hesitate. You just gave him the gift of your love, and it was a beautiful thing to see.” I brought my lips down to hers for a warm, cherishing moment. “I’m so proud of you, baby.”

“Really?” She smiled at me, and it was so brilliant with happiness it was a wonder she didn’t light up the whole house with it. “I’m proud of you, too.”

“For what?”

“For being smart enough to know what I needed, even when I had no clue. But today you gave me back my parents. I feel as though a missing piece of my personal life puzzle has been found, and now I’m complete.”

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