Page 242 of The Valiant Knight
On top of that, honestly, Tony didn’t mind taking care of him. He minded this man’s one way trip to his self-destruction.
Because there was no room for error when it came to saving someone, Tony was honest.
Someone needed a‘come to Jesus talk’, and since it was just the two of them, he was up to bat. The irony was that he’d had a moment like this, and someone saved him.
Now, he’d repay the favor.
“I’ve been where you are, Graham. I wanted to die so many times as I wandered alone.”
He chewed his toast.
“What stopped you?” he asked, genuinely curious. He had a wife, kids, and a good life. Graham would trade with him in a heartbeat.
He was born gay, hated for that, had to take lives, and survive PTSD. Add in losing D’Artangnan, and he was a hot mess.
Tony said one word.
“Family.”
Well, he was shit out of luck there, now wasn’t he? Since he didn’t have any, the chances of surviving this were slim to none.
Great.
Family was foreign to him since his own parents kicked him out because he was gay.
Unfortunately for him, no one wanted a gay son who was a huge disappointment.
“I don’t have any. I went into the military because I was alone, and I had to survive. Being gay isn’t easy when your parents put God over their own flesh and blood.”
He imagined not.
They had plenty of Marines that the Blackhawks took in because they were gay.
Michael.
Raphael.
Saint.
Gryphen.
They protected them, but in return, they were protected right back.
“You have family. Gryphen was frantic over you, and Ian was also worried sick. The Blackhawks are going to take care of you. You work for them now. This is your home, and they will make sure you’re okay. That’s family, Graham. You aren’t alone, Mr. Lainey. You have a good job, and you have a circle that will protect you.”
He said nothing.
Why?
He didn’t want a circle.
He wanted to go back in time and stop himself from destroying his whole life.
“Do you know how much you’re loved when a man recovering from being shot is going to try to get to you? Gryphen was trying to get on a flight to save you. Do you know how much you’re cared about when he’d send someone to find you, and try to keep you alive over the phone?”
A tear dripped onto his hand.
Tony kept going.
