Page 42 of Forever Your Touch

Mason spotted his mother first and all but ran to grab her up. Irinia Kincaid was tiny. She was barely five feet, but that never stopped her from bossing all the men in her family who towered over her by over a foot. She looked like Dimitri, all blonde and blue-eyed. Dimitri was the only Kincaid brother who hadn’t inherited their father’s black eyes and hair. Fucker stood out like a sore thumb in family photos.

“Mama.” He hugged her so hard she gasped. “I missed you.”

“My beautiful boy.” Irinia cupped his face and kissed his forehead. She’d never be able to do that if Mason hadn’t picked her up. “I missed you too,syn.”

“Don’t hog Mama,brat.” Kade tapped him on the shoulder. “The rest of us need a hug too.”

Mason released her and looked for his papa. The difference in his appearance from the last time he’d seen his father nearly crippled Mason. Ronin Kincaid had always been an imposing figure. His black hair was now a salt and pepper color that made his pale face stand out even more. He’d lost weight. Not just a little, but a good sixty pounds. He looked small and fragile. The cough that rattled out of his lungs made Mason’s hands shake.

Ronin was very, very sick.

“Mason.” His papa held out his arms, and he went right to him, letting him enfold him. He fought back tears. His papa didn’t need to see him break down. He had to be strong for him.

“I love you, Papa,” he whispered right by his ear. The familiar smell of Old Spice and tobacco assaulted his nose. His father smoked all his life, and he was paying for it now.

“I’m not dead yet, boy,” Ronin grouched and pulled back. “Don’t you all start acting like I am.”

“You no be ornery to mydeties, Ronin Kincaid!” His grandmother, bless her soul, was shaking her finger at his papa and demanding respect for her “babies.” God, he’d missed the old woman.

“Love you too,Babushka.” Nikoli swooped in and stole a kiss. “You ready to go trolling the old folks’ homes for your new man?”

“I need to find me some booty.” She winked at Nik when Irinia gasped. “You and Mason are still taking me,da?”

“Da.” Nikoli laughed at his mother’s outraged expression. “We have a date for next Friday night at bingo.”

“Do not encourage her!” Irinia’s lips thinned, but Mason saw the sparkle of laughter in her eyes.

“But, Mama, if we don’t encourage her outlandish behavior, who will?” Viktor asked mildly.

Irinia rolled her eyes but smiled when Viktor hugged her. “When do we get to see the rest of our grandbabies?”

“We’re headed to my house. All the women are there with the children.”

“Mateo, do you remember yourabuela?” Conner was behind Irinia, and she jumped when he spoke. Fucker was always quiet as a cat. He still held Mateo, who was watching the reunion with curiosity. He’d met his grandparents once before but hadn’t seen them since.

The smile that graced their mother’s face could part the heavens when she turned and saw Mateo. “Hello, sweetheart.”

Mateo didn’t say anything; he just watched her. It reminded him of Kade. He was a trained FBI agent, and he tended to watch everything without trying. His son had picked up on that particular habit. The kid looked just like him too. A mini Kade with his mama’s piercing green eyes.

Eyes that sometimes looked dead. It didn’t happen so much anymore, thanks to Delia, but when that look appeared in his nephew’s eyes, it was a punch to the gut for Mason. Especially since he didn’t know how to help the kid.

Mateo clung tighter to Conner when Irinia stepped closer.

“Say hello to your grandmother, Mateo.” Conner’s firm tone pushed the boy to do as he was told.

“Hola, abuela.”

“Move out of the way and let me see my grandson.” Ronin pushed past his boys and wasted no time in plucking the boy out of Conner’s arms. They all saw the panic flare on the little boy’s face, but Ronin paid it no mind. “Your papa teaching you Russian?”

“Sí,” Mateo whispered.

“Da,” Ronin corrected him. “‘Yes’ in Russian isda.”

“Da,” Mateo said, his eyes going blank.

Kade retrieved his son, worried at the blank stare. Mason was too. This all had to be too much for Mateo. “Hey, kid. I’m taking Delia for some ice cream later. You wanna come?”

Mateo looked over at him, his eyes so expressionless, it hurt Mason’s heart. “Strawberry?”

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