Page 34 of Dark & Deceitful

As much as I love my son and am overjoyed he’s finally comfortable being himself, dating someone much older scares me—for his sake, not mine. They are decades apart. He’s barely out of high school compared to a man who has tons of life experience.

“I’m an adult,” he argues, not at all on board with my concern.

Not wanting to ruffle his feathers any further, I gently touch my kid's arm to calm him. “You’re still his son,” I speak softly.

Whatever fight is brewing in Fog deflates the second he realizes I’m on his side. Always. No matter what. If he’s happy, I’m happy.

“Do you really think this is gonna be a problem?”

“With Dad? Probably. He’s protective of everyone in our family. And if he knows him, that’s gonna be worse.”

“Dad does know him.”

“Of course he does.” I massage the bridge of my nose. “What’s his name?”

“Lace.”

Hmmm… Lace. I’ve heard that name before, but I can’t place where.

“You guys out here?” Tarek calls, rounding the corner to join us—the heels of his boots crunching through the gravel.

Tarek takes one look at us, at Fog’s phone, and presses his lips together like he’s trying hard not to laugh.

“I know,” I announce to my eldest. “But Dad’s gonna be pissed when he finds out who he’s dating.”

“Lace is a good dude,” Tarek defends, surprising the heck out of me.

Is it just me, or does today keep getting weirder and weirder? I came here for lunch and to catch up with my sons, only to see Dark, visit with Pixie, and now this. Not that I’m complaining. I’m happy for Fog, and Dark hasn’t pissed me off too much.

Turning to Tarek, I put my hand on my hip. “So. Spill.”

“Spill what?” He runs a hand through his hair.

“If Fog’s sharing big news, I’m sure you have something to share.” I arch my brow and wait for him to come clean.

“Like what?” Tarek looks genuinely baffled.

“I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Fog wouldn’t randomly come out of the closet. It doesn’t fit his personality. Why today? Why now?”

They share a look.

Then, it dawns on me like a light switch being flipped on.

The assignment.

The risk.

The need to protect me.

“You told me because of the assignment,” I address my youngest.

Fog shrugs up one of his big shoulders and drops it hard. Yep. Thought so. That’s confirmation enough. When I run jobs for the club, the details are secure. Nobody but me, Cell, sometimes Sunshine, and on occasion, Dark knows. But this one, Dark got permission to brief them. No wonder they’re acting strange, even Dark, with him placing the cameras and Tarek calling him out for it. Then Fog’s support of wanting to keep me safe despite the problems with his father. They’re concerned. They don’t know what I’ve done for the club. How deep I’ve gone. All they know is I’m their mom, who runs intel. They don’t know about all the other stuff.

Awe. My kids love me—so much that Fog came out just in case something happened, he wouldn’t leave anything unsaid.

I dramatically clutch my chest. “You two are the cutest.”

Tarek rolls his eyes until all I see are the whites. “Go inside, Mom.”

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