Page 139 of Body and Soul

I closed my eyes, the weight of his words settling heavy on my chest. “I know. God, I know. But I can't risk losing anyone else. I already lost Dani, and I almost lost you. I can't...”

My voice broke, and I felt Eli's arms wrap around me, pulling me close. I clung to him, burying my face in the crook of his neck as the tears I'd been holding back for so long finally spilled over.

“We'll figure this out,” Eli murmured, his lips brushing against my temple. “Together. I'm here for you, Shepherd. No matter what. You hear me?”

I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. We stayed like that for a long time, wrapped in each other's arms, drawing strength from the connection between us.

When I finally pulled back, Eli cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the last of my tears. “First things first. We need to tell your family. Especially Xander and Xavier. They deserve to know what's going on.”

I grimaced, but nodded. “You're right. I just... I don't know how to bring it up without them hating me.”

“They could never hate you, Shepherd,” Eli said softly, his hands still cradling my face. “They love you. We all do. And we'll stand by you, no matter what. But we can't do that if you keep shutting us out.”

I leaned into his touch, drawing comfort from the steadiness of his presence. “I know. I'm sorry. I just... I thought I was protecting them. Protecting you.”

Eli pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “You don't have to carry this burden alone anymore. We're in this together, remember?”

I managed a shaky smile. “Since when did you become the wise one in this relationship?”

Eli huffed a laugh. “One of us has to be.”

The teasing note in his voice eased some of the tension coiled in my chest. “Someone’s begging for a punishment.”

I couldn't suppress the faint smile tugging at my lips. Trust Eli to know exactly how to pull me back from the brink, to anchor me when everything felt like it was spinning out of control.

“Okay,” I said, my voice still rough with emotion. “I'll call Mom and ask her to gather everyone for an emergency family meeting. It's time they knew the truth.”

Eli nodded.

I reached for my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I scrolled through my contacts. My mother's name seemed to mock me from the screen, a stark reminder of all the secrets and lies that stood between us. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the call button.

Eli's hand settled over mine, his touch warm and steadying. “You can do this,” he murmured, his breath ghosting across my skin. “I'm right here with you.”

I took a deep breath and hit the call button. The phone rang once, twice, three times before my mother's voice filled my ear, concern already coloring her tone. “Shepherd? What's wrong, Pebble?”

I closed my eyes, steeling myself for the conversation to come. “Mom, I need you to gather the family. Xavier, Xander…everyone. There's something I need to tell you all, and it can't wait.”

The gravel crunched beneaththe tires as we pulled into the driveway of the Laskin family homestead. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the weathered siding of the two-story farmhouse. Adjacent to the house stood the Laskin Family Funeral Home, a somber brick edifice that had served as both the family business and a convenient front for less savory operations.

As I cut the engine, I took a moment to observe Eli's reaction. His eyes were wide, darting between the house and the funeral home with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The set of his jaw and the slight tremor in his hands betrayed his nervousness, though he was clearly trying to mask it.

“Are you ready for this?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

“You mean am I ready to meet my dom’s mom, her girlfriend—who is a Russian mafia princess married to his dad’s boyfriend, who runs the fucking Russian mafia?” He blew out a breath. “How does one prepare for such a meeting?”

I couldn't help but smile at Eli's succinct summation of our complex family dynamics. “I understand this is a lot to process,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “The Laskin family structure is... unconventional, to say the least. But I assure you, they're eager to meet you.”

I’d lucked out because most of the family was already in town for the extended winter holiday. Warrick and Paxton were staying with Mom until his girls went back to school next week, and Xander and Xavier still lived at home. All it took was a phone call across town to River’s place and the gang would be all there.

Eli nodded, his platinum hair catching the late morning sunlight. The contrast between his edgy, tattooed appearance and the pastoral surroundings of the farm was striking. I found myself wondering, not for the first time, what my family would make of him.

“Let's do this,” Eli said, squaring his shoulders with determination.

We exited the car, the gravel crunching beneath our feet as we made our way towards the house. Snow piled up in melting drifts near the front of the driveway. Some puddles had frozen up overnight and were still melting, requiring careful footing.

As we approached the front porch, the screen door creaked open and my mother emerged, a warm smile lighting up her face. Annie Laskin was the quintessential picture of a doting grandmother—silver hair, neatly coiffed, kind eyes twinkling behind wire-rimmed glasses, and an apron dusted with flour. To the casual observer, she exuded an aura of homespun comfort and maternal affection. It was a carefully cultivated image, one that hid the steel beneath her gentle exterior.

“Shepherd, sweetie!” she exclaimed, descending the worn wooden steps with surprising agility for a woman of her years. She enveloped me in a tight embrace, the scent of vanilla and cinnamon clinging to her clothes. “I'm so glad you could make it.”

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