Page 30 of Chaos Claimed

“That’s just it!” Percy slid his hand down his face. “I have no idea. Before Tito, my only issue was my dad. Even though I’m wise enough to be afraid of him, he’d never made me fear for my life. But Tito, in less than two hours, changed me in ways I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from.”

He nestled Percy into the crook of his arm, and Percy sank into him, feeling like he could finally breathe again. He absorbed the man’s warmth and strength, taking whatever he needed to steady himself.

“Then this is the perfect opportunity to set new goals.” Using the arm wrapped around Percy, Santiago traced his fingers along Percy’s neck and jaw. “And you know the best part?”

There was a best part in this wreckage? “No.”

Santiago gently lifted Percy’s chin, encouraging him to look up at him. “You don’t have to figure it out all at once. You can even change your goals if you want.”

Percy gasped. “What kind of witchcraft is this? Change one’s goals? That’s unheard of.”

Santiago chuckled, the sound as soothing as the distant rumble of thunder.

“But you need to stop hiding your spirals, cariño. We can’t move forward, or even get knocked back a step, if you don’t tell me when it happens.”

That was the problem. Percy was afraid Santiago would grow weary of dealing with his instability. They were so frequent that even Percy struggled to keep up with them. They struck him out of nowhere, making it hard to pinpoint when they were going to happen.

“I won’t grow tired of them,” Santiago murmured.

Percy raised an eyebrow. “Are you a mind reader now?”

A slow smile spread across Santiago’s handsome face, causing his eyes to twinkle. “I just know mi elegido very well.”

They looked up as the screen door creaked open. Suero stepped out, yawning and stretching.

“Have a good time with my mom last night?” Percy shot him a glare.

Suero stiffened as he looked their way. The prick had the nerve to lightly blush.

Macey was an adult, and her personal life was her own business. But Percy… Absolutely not. In his mind, his mother didn’t have sex. He was born by immaculate conception.

“What in the hell is that blush about?” Percy narrowed his eyes as Santiago tightened his hold on him.

“Chill that shit.” Suero curled his lip, causing Santiago to give a low growl. “I just babysat, perrito.”

“With my mom snuggled up on your goddamn lap.” Percy tried to get up, but Santiago kept him pinned firmly by his side.

Macey appeared in the doorway, her hair a mess. “That’s enough, Percy. We just pigged out on junk food and watched bad movies.”

That was something Percy and his mom did together at least once a week. Not Macey and Suero.

“Not that I have to explain myself, but we’re just friends. More like a mother-son dynamic than whatever you’re imagining,” she said, causing Suero to give her an odd look.

“I’m your—” Percy began, but Santiago’s firmer grip and slight head shake stopped him.

Fine, Percy would stay quiet, but only because he sensed Santiago was trying to convey something important to him.

“Thanks for last night.” Suero gave Macey a playful wink.

“What the hell does that mean?” Percy yelled as Suero descended the steps and headed toward his motorcycle parked at the curb. “Come back here and explain yourself, you—”

Santiago placed a beefy hand over Percy’s mouth, but even muffled, Percy continued to speak. That was his mom, and in his eyes, no one would ever be good enough for her.

“That was rude,” Macey said to him. “Suero was the perfect gentleman. You owe him an apology. I am allowed to make friends, or is that privilege reserved only for you? No offense, Santiago.”

She stormed back into the house with a huff, leaving Percy at a loss for words. His mom had never spoken to him so sharply before.

“How am I the villain here?” He glanced from the door to the street where Suero was riding away, the roar of his motorcycle loud in the morning’s peace.

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