Page 35 of Winds of War

Soon, the first dog came into sight, the hungry, wild shine in his eyes inducing a paralyzing fear in Montemayor, who shut his eyes tight and went rigid, hoping the animal would go away if he played dead. However, the dog got closer, the smell of the blood oozing from the man's wounds attracting it like a magnet.

After a while, other large, strong specimens joined it, starting to lick and lap at the red fluid. The more of its taste the dogs got, the more they wanted, their aggressiveness rising. The first one who arrived bared its fangs at the others, and they temporarily backed down, only to regroup and attack again a few minutes later.

Their target wasn't the dog that got there first but the man lying on the ground who they started to poke with their muzzles. It didn't take very long until one of them sunk its long, sharp fangs into Montemayor's side, making the man flail and kick in a desperate attempt to fight off the attackers.

However, the wounds Van inflicted in his thighs made it difficult for the Mexican to use his legs as a weapon against the hungry dogs. Even when they hit their target, his kicks made the animals angrier instead of hurting or at least scaring them. Soon, the little energy he had was gone, and he lay on the ground, curled in a ball of fear and pain.

Regret invaded Montemayor as he realized he was living his final moments, but unlike in the case of most of the people in his situation, it wasn't accompanied by repentance. The Mexican regretted that he didn't kill his nephew Joaquin when he had the chance, that he didn't start the war much earlier, and didn't produce more damage.

I should have attacked the goddamn place myself, while I had my little, disciplined army of mercenaries, Montemayor thought, looking in The Base's direction as one by one, the dogs started to feast off his flesh. MacNamara, if you imagine this is the end of me, you are wrong, was the Mexican's last thought as he succumbed under the wild beasts' fangs.

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“The food was absolutely delicious.” Joaquin rubbed his belly, eyes half closed. “Mama is a great cook, but this”—he pointed to his empty plate—is art. I’ve never tasted something so delicious, and I don't regret postponing my departure by one day.”

“Having you as a guest here and at The Base, which in many ways is my second home, is an immense honor and pleasure.” Ardan smiled brightly. “I'm really happy you accepted our dinner invitation.”

“I would have paid you a visit, anyway.” Joaquin stopped, a light blush coloring his cheeks. “I'm sure Cian already told you, but I wanted to talk to you about this, too, so...” Seeing the confused look on his hosts' faces, the young don-to-be stopped abruptly. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No, just that Cian and I haven't gotten to talk very much these last few days, and I'm completely at loss here,” Ardan said in a somewhat pained voice. “Sorry, son,” he murmured.

“I love Joaquin and I'm going to accompany him to Detroit,” Cian blurted out. “Soames is coming with us.”

CHAPTER 28

“What?” Alasdair stared at his stepson, the boy's words making him gasp in shock. “You can't do that. The heart condition you suffer from...the treatment...” the redhead stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Ardan gently covered his husband's hand with his own and gave him a somewhat melancholic smile. “He can and he will, my Spitfire. Remember what I told you a while ago when we talked about the moment Paisley will get married? Children only belong with their parents until they find the one who completes them.”

“Yes, I remember, my Ardan, and I agree, only that...” Alasdair swept a concern-filled gaze over his stepson. “Look at you, sweetheart, so fragile, so...”

“See, that's the problem,” Cian started in a sad voice. “From the moment I stepped into this house, you protected me and took care of me in so many ways, and I have no words to express my gratitude for how you welcomed the sixteen-year-old, lonely, vulnerable boy into your life. But although I’ve grown up, you still look at me like four years ago. Pater, Spitfire, I'm not a kid anymore.”

“Mister Stark, Mister MacNamara, I solemnly promise you to take good care of Cian.” Joaquin Montemayor spoke warmly, the affection he had for the blond transfixing his face. “As soon as we arrive in Detroit, I'll get in touch with the best cardiologists in the city and tell them about Cian's case, then...”

A gesture of Alasdair's hand cut Joaquin short. “I'm sure you'll offer my stepson the best medical care, and I appreciate your concern for his health, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Except you and Soames, Cian will have no one in Detroit, no familiar faces, no friends he could turn to when he needs a word of wisdom. I know we are only a phone call or a message away, but still...”

“Except for Soames and Joaquin, no one saw me for who I really am or what I can do. I was always Lorcan's sickly twin who needed special attention and extra protection. I want to change this. That's why I want to go to Detroit where no one knows the two of you or my brother. The label of Lorcan's brother or the boss's son hurt me as much as a physical wound.” Cian fell silent, lowering his eyes.

“I didn't realize how much you wanted to be treated the same way your brother was, although I should have.” Guilt washed over Ardan as he spoke in an almost whispered voice. “I'm really sorry for being such a lousy father and failing you like I did.”

“Please, don't blame yourself for things that are not exclusively your fault. I should have talked to you more; I should have let you know I didn't want to be treated like I was made of glass, but I was afraid you were going to ignore or dismiss me like mom did sometimes, and I preferred to keep it to myself. I want to help Joaquin with building the sanctuary he told me about, to prove to myself that I can achieve things all by myself.”

“Are you going to establish a sanctuary for abused and neglected kids using The Base as a model?” Alasdair turned to the young don-to-be, his voice a mix of respect and admiration.

Joaquin nodded. “I’ve dreamed of it ever since, as a teen, I heard for the first time about the horrors my wretched uncle's victims experienced at his hands. Permanently searching for the next hiding place, always on the run, I didn't have time or the means to make it come true, but now I can finally settle down and start working on those plans. I have my soulmates to help me with it.” Joaquin radiantly smiled, looking between Soames and Cian.”

“Doc, you can rest assured nothing will happen to your stepson, not as long as I still breathe.” The young guard turned to Alasdair. “I'll watch over him and Joaquin and keep them safe while they build a future for the helpless and innocent who fall prey to beasts disguised in human form.”

Ardan looked between Cian, Joaquin, and Soames, his heart singing with joy at the sight the three of them offered, all shy smiles and blushing cheeks. The three young men were obviously in love with each other, and they weren't afraid to show it now that they had removed all the obstacles standing in the way of their happiness.

Ardan's eyes rested on his son, pleasantly impressed, shocked even, by Cian's incredible transformation. Never in the four years that had passed since the then-teen came to live with him and Alasdair did he see the boy so confident, so full of life, so different from his usual, melancholic self.

Maybe, Ardan thought, what we saw wasn't the real Cian. Maybe it was only the chrysalis, the cocoon where the splendid butterfly in front of me hibernated, waiting to spread his wings and fly. He only needed an impulse, someone who looked into the depth of his soul and saw past the sick, melancholic, vulnerable kid.

Until that moment, Ardan wasn't fully aware of how much his older twin sons changed. The conversation he just had with Cian and Alasdair opened his eyes, making him see they weren't teens anymore. More than protection, they needed confidence in their own strength and abilities so they could make a life for themselves and their future life partners.

It's time for them to leave the protective bubble I built around them and go out in the open, Ardan continued the internal monolog. It's time for them to learn the ins and outs of running The Base because one day they'll follow my footsteps, and I don't want them to be unprepared in the face of the challenges.

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