Page 15 of Dangerous Daddy

“Luca showed me a picture of all these amazing Lego sets they’ve put together. They have a Lego room and everything. He says I can come help, if I want. Can we go?”

Even though Adan looked hopeful, Axton fully recognized Adan had interrupted him to save him. He had kept Axton from swallowing his pride to rebuild the relationship with his brother.

He met Jarek’s stare. “I’d love that.”

Jarek’s expression made Axton’s throat swell. He realized—hopefully, not too late—that he had a family. Jarek looked hopeful, yet scared of getting crushed. Until that moment, Axton hadn’t noticed what he put Jarek through with his rejections and life decisions. While Axton had a lot of regrets, every move he made through life had led him to Adan. He wouldn’t know this current happiness without his past fuck-ups. That didn’t mean he couldn’t start fresh. The problem was that would never happen if they didn’t confront the past. This wasn’t the place or time, but Axton was afraid he might lose his nerve.

“Your dad wasn’t my dad.”

Jarek stayed completely expressionless, despite the sudden confession.

Adan shuffled closer.

Axton pulled him into his lap and continued. He needed to hold Adan for strength. “That’s what they were fighting about the night they died and that’s why I just wasn’t loved the way you were.”

Jarek’s chest expanded as he took a deep breath. He slowly released it. “I know and I’m sorry I didn’t realize it back when it mattered. We were given all the same things, and I had my head buried in my goals. You deserved better from everyone, especially me. You’re my brother. Not a half sibling or unwanted responsibility. You’re my brother. I love you. Nothing else matters.”

Axton couldn’t speak. His throat was too swollen. He nodded and cleared his throat. “I love you too.”

Adan squeezed his hand.

Axton automatically kissed his ear. The truth sank in. It was Adan’s love that set him free and opened his eyes. He had let go of so much when he chose to make room for Adan. If Adan and he could see the best in each other when everyone else only saw the worst—and there was a lot of worst to see—then Axton could look past his childhood trauma to reach for his brother. Nothing that happened to Axton over the years was because ofJarek. While Jarek might have been oblivious to a lot of things, he wasn’t cruel, and he loved Axton.

Luca passed Adan back his paw and Axton’s phone. He crawled Jarek’s way. “I’m hungry, Daddy. Can we get pizza?”

Jarek sat up and pulled Luca into his arms. “Of course, baby.” He looked Axton’s way. “How about it, guys? Would you like to get some pizza? We can eat while we check out the Lego room.”

Adan looked his way with hope bleeding from his eyes.

Axton squeezed him and stood with a giggling Adan tucked under one arm. “Sounds great. We’ll follow you.”

Luca covered his mouth and stifled a laugh over Adan’s predicament.

Jarek stood and tossed Luca over his shoulder. “After you.”

They exchanged smiles, and it was as if the clouds parted. He was happy. Truly content deep in his heart. Beau had backed down, and he had his brother back. Adan had called him Daddy. Life was going places.

With his heart and stomach full, and Axton’s giant nude body curled around him, Adan had never been more content. Axton’s bed was ridiculously cozy. Adan wished he could sleep like this—in Axton’s arms—every night. He wouldn’t start that hope, only to be crushed. Life never took mercy on him for long.

“What happened with Beau?” Axton massaged Adan’s hip as he asked the question, as if worried he might send Adan running or ruin the moment.

Adan smiled into the dark. He found peace in these intimate moments where they calmly spoke like a real couple. No yelling or fighting. No judgment. “He tried to give me flowers.”

Axton snorted. “You don’t even like flowers. You’re allergic.”

Adan’s smile grew. “Just more proof he never loved me. This entire stalking thing has been about pride or loneliness. Both. I don’t know, but it had nothing to do with me. Still, I don’t really know what happened. He set those roses on the table, and I looked into his eyes. Everything went sort of calm inside me and I just kind of started talking. I didn’t make it about me or about rejection. Instead, I made it about him and reclaiming what was left of his family. Then Luca saved me from the conversation, and I don’t know. Next I looked, he was gone. What about you? What happened on your end?”

He felt Axton shrug. “He said it was over.” Adan’s eyes fell closed. A weight lifted from his chest. When he spoke with Beau, things felt different. Calmer. For once, he thought Beau listened, but hearing Axton confirm his thoughts felt amazing and also alittle sad. A chapter closed in his life. It was a long chapter too. He had been part of the Bosi family for longer than he had been an adult. Now he was officially an orphan.

Axton ran his fingers through Adan’s hair. “Are you okay, baby?”

Adan chewed his bottom lip. His eyes stung. It was so stupid. He wanted to be free of Beau. Adan definitely didn’t want Axton to think Adan wanted anyone else. “I’m alone in the world.” The words fell in a whisper that came from his soul. Adan hadn’t meant to speak. It was Axton. Adan could never stop himself from telling him everything. “I guess I have been for a long time.” But it felt very real tonight. Axton had reconnected with his brother. Adan wasn’t stupid. He knew the only reason anyone had been nice to him lately was because of Axton and maybe a little for Soren’s sake. Adan was still the most hated boy in town. He felt very weak and exposed tonight for seemingly no reason at all. Sometimes, reality hit from nowhere and the bed he had made was swallowing his sanity whole.

“So, am I only your daddy sometimes? I’m confused. I’m new to this.”

A sad smile tugged at Adan’s lips. He loved Axton so much. No one tried as hard as him. “It’s okay. I know that’s not a role you want. This is just a bad moment for me. Sometimes reality just smacks me in the face. I’ll be fine. I love us the way we are.”

Axton gently urged Adan on to his back. With his weight braced on one elbow, Axton stared down at him. “Call me Daddy.”

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