Page 69 of Doc

“You’re obnoxious.”

Cristian laughs and relaxes back in his seat. “In all seriousness, I’m glad you seem to have found someone who understands you. I worried for a long time that you wouldn’t. Especially since I know you won’t give up what you have with James, and it takes a special kind of person to enter into that type of relationship. I know I wouldn’t be able to do it. My need for my husband is too great, sharing him with another is inconceivable.”

I shrug a little. “You know you can still be possessive and in an open or polyamorous relationship. Look at your son’s relationship as proof. I don’t think I have to remind you of how…close Hollis holds his lovers to him. And yet, they not only managed to make it work when Roman joined them, now they’re adding Jude into their relationship. I’m sure it’s not easy, and I’ve already had to stitch Jude up once, but somehow, they’re figuring it out.”

He nods in agreement. “You’re right. I might not understand, and it’s not the life I wanted for my son, but he’s thriving under the care and love of them all. So, I suppose, as long as you’re happy and it’s working for you, I am happy. After all, it wouldn’t do our friendship with the Russians any favors if I have to cut down Petrov’s nephew.”

I grin. “Don’t worry about me, Cris. What Soren and I are building…it’s the real deal. Plus, I can handle myself, thank you very much. If he breaks my heart, it’ll bemyblade cutting through his flesh.”

Cristian laughs and shakes his head at me. “I almost feel bad for Soren. Almost, as anyone who willingly gets into arelationship with your crazy ass has to be a little insane themselves. Should we have a mental evaluation done on him?”

“You know, most people see you as the big, bad, scary mafia Boss. In truth, you’re just an asshole with a weird sense of humor.”

Cristian smiles and his dark eyes light up in a way most other people don’t get to see. From the day he and Tennant found me, Cristian has been…not soft, but more open with me. He’s allowed me to see parts of his personality that only a very select few have the privilege of seeing. Though, before I came along, I think the only other person who knew the real Cristian was Tennant.

Now, he has a husband and son, plus me and Ten, and all the people we come with. In the twenty years since meeting Cristian and agreeing to work for him, our small circle has grown substantially; and for me, who came from a background that didn’t inspire many true, lasting friendships, it’s an odd yet comforting feeling.

“I have to keep you on your toes, Doc. It makes things interesting. As long as you know you’re not alone in this.”

“I know, Cris.”

“Good. Now, onto the reason I called you here.” He reaches for something on his desk and tosses it my way. “It’s that time of year again. And I think it’d be a good idea to bring your new Daddy. Roman is trying to convince Hollis to attend this year with Jude. I'm not sure he’ll get very far, but it’s worth a shot.”

Picking up the heavy cardstock, I glance at the invitation. The annual charity event put on by one of the many causes Cristian supports isn’t my favorite thing, but the sheer joy I get from ruffling certain feathers always makes it worth it.

Tossing the invitation on the desk, I study Cristian while I try to get my thoughts in order. We’re both older, of course, but aside from his features getting sharper, harder, helping him lookthe part of the mafia Boss he is, Cristian hasn’t changed. His eyes are still deep pools of midnight that see far more than you ever want them to. His thick, dark hair shows only the smallest amount of gray in it.

I grin at him as I say, “Your beard is starting to get gray, old man.”

Cristian huffs. “I’m barely a year older than you,Ashby; don’t avoid the subject.”

“They’regoing to be there,” I say slowly.

“Yes,” he agrees. “They always are. Is that a deterrent for inviting Soren along, or is your devious mind happy about it?”

“Honestly?” I let out a sigh. “I’m not sure. Throwing my relationship in their face would make my entire year, but I don’t know if I want to subject Soren to that… Besides, I haven’t told him about my past yet.”

Cristian doesn’t hide his surprise at my words. “Really? He hasn’t asked about your pretentious as fuck name, or how you became the Family’s Head Doctor?”

“No, I keep waiting for it, but nothing. I guess he trusts I’ll tell him when I’m ready. He knows my first name. That came out because we had a bit of a…misunderstanding, I guess you could say, when we were first figuring each other out. I’m honestly not sure how long it would have taken for me to tell him, if we didn’t set certain rules in place early on. Other than that, we haven’t talked about where I came from.”

If I were anyone else, Cristian’s assessing gaze would make me squirm, but I’m used to him trying to force the truth out of me without uttering a word himself. It’s a stalemate for a long few moments as I refuse to be the first to break.

“Think about it, at least,” he finally says, knowing he’ll never be able to out stubborn me. “I’m not saying you have to lay all your cards on the table, but if things are as serious as you’re leading me to believe, then maybe this is the next step. I won’tforce you to tell him everything, but at least prepare him for the charity dinner and your parents.”

Swallowing the sudden lump in my throat, I nod in agreement. “I will. Think about it, that is.”

“Good. Bring him by for dinner this weekend; I’d like to get to know him better.”

I groan. “You can’t embarrass me.”

Cristian’s grin is full of mischief. “I would never do such a thing.”

“Fucking liar.” Switching gears, I ask, “Is it a good idea to go to the charity dinner with everything going on? Are you any closer to finding out who’s after us?”

Cristian’s face changes, his expression going colder, his dark eyes burning with the promise of pain for our enemies. “Hollis is working on it. From my understanding, he has Leandro trying to bring the hacker who’s been shielding them out into the open, while he and his brother build some type of virus and tracer. I don’t fully understand all of that, but he thinks it’ll be successful.”

“No ideas still on who they are?”

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