Page 23 of Embracing Darkness

The extra tidbit about our jobs didn’t worry him as much as I thought it would have. Then again, Rhys was a thinker, so things might be different in the morning.

“So, that’s Rhys Knight,” Dmitri purred as he leaned back in his seat, rubbing his chest. We should have left him at home but he was a stubborn ass most of the time. “Makes sense why you didn’t want to move.”

“Not just that,” I blurted out. It was mostly that. Those beautifully bright red cheeks every time I said something to catch him off guard. The way he melted in my hands when he came over. The way he seemed to settle when I was around. “His piece of shit ex was an issue. You know that Rhys has called the police on him a few times?”

I bit my lip, realizing that I probably shouldn’t have said that in front of two men who would do anything to protect those they deemed important. Valentyn caught my gaze through the rearview mirror before focusing back on the road. It was a miracle Valentyn didn’t turn the car around and return to Rhys’ house.

The silence grew tense as the cute snores of our kid erupted into the car, Paval murmuring about something unintelligible as he twisted around in his sleep. I smiled at the boy again before looking up at the guys seated in the front of the truck on our way home. “Val, you know that Owen was the one who probably hired us.”

He just grunted, Dmitri stretching obnoxiously as I slapped at his outstretched hands. “I guess this was a job after all. It makes sense.”

I cradled Paval against my chest as the kid wriggled around again. I was so thankful the kid had grown out of his nightmares because having him crawl into my bed every night and kick my back had been a terrible thing to wake up to. “Then why didn’t we-” My words trailed off as I looked at Val through the mirror. “Right.”

My mind traveled back to Rhys. We had asked him to be ours, hasty decision as it was. The fact that Paval had accepted him meant so much more than Rhys could possibly understand. In our line of work, trust was everything, which meant that we’d also have to eventually tell Rhys that continuing the renovation was to investigate the origins of the job itself.

The truck pulled to a stop and I looked up to see that we had arrived back home. Valentyn jumped out and opened my door, arms outstretched for Paval. “Did you see the way Rhys stepped toward me when I touched him?” His eyes were hopeful even if his expression was strained.

I handed off Paval and then jumped out after, nodding. “For once, we weren’t the monsters in the room.” It was weird, having someone that looked so fucking innocent choose us over someone else.

Valentyn opened the front door as we shed our shoes, moving toward Paval’s bedroom to set him down. “It just says that whatever Owen is bringing to that door, the reason he wanted us—Rhys has seen some part of that.”

Valentyn tensed and I knew what he was thinking. If he thought for a moment that Rhys was in danger, our newest renovation was going to turn into a sleepover. Unfortunately, someone like Rhys was going to push back on that shit. He didn’t seem all that excited to have people encroaching on his territory.

“Val-” I stared, hoping the warning in my voice was able to deter him to some extent but that look in his eyes told me what I needed to know. Not that I was complaining. I hadn’t wanted to leave the house in the first place.

“He intrigues me. No one ever gives a shit about Paval.”

Valentyn wasn’t wrong about that either. Everyone worried that Paval wouldn’t have the right upbringing, not because he had three fathers, but because he didn’t act like a kid. Sure, he enjoyed the occasional blocks or hanging with kids his age but he spent a lot more time drawing and reading. He loved using big words and learning about the world around him. He knew how to handle himself and at five years old, he was a handful.

Most people saw that as neglect rather than a smart kid.

Still, this was a bit too soon, wasn’t it? Dmitri stepped in as we watched Paval curl into a little ball and start snoring. “His choice of family isn’t the best.” Dmitri’s voice was thick and deep with his accent, Valentyn slapping the back of his head as an immediate response.

“I don’t judge you by your family. Don’t judge Rhys.”

Fucking hell. It had been a long time since Valentyn had fallen this hard. Granted, with him, love didn’t look romantic the same way it did with me. The fact that he wanted to protect Rhys was enough. “You feel that strongly? We just met him.”

“I do.” Valentyn punctuated before leaving the room. Dmitri stayed behind with me, looking for guidance and finding none.

“Look, D, it’s a lot and it’s fast but I don’t think Val’s wrong. No, hear me out. We were both in that kitchen, watching him respond to us like normal men. There was no job, no threat, nothing else to worry about. Just you and him.”

“No fucking way. You’re saying he might be a golden ticket? You can’t know that shit after one day. Neither of you can.”

I smirked, casing him in against the wall despite him being taller than me. “He didn’t even flinch when you mentioned our jobs. Tell me I’m wrong, D. Look me in the eyes and tell me I’m wrong.”

We had been looking for someone like Rhys foryears. We weren’t sure we’d ever find someone, a few people coming damn close until the thrill of three men wore off. However, when I had found Rhys? I just knew. As off-limits as I claimed him to be, I just fucking knew that Rhys was endgame.

“If you know, you know. Right? Dmitri,” I purred as I pressed a kiss to his lips and then his chin before nibbling on his jaw. “Tell me I’m wrong,”

His breath was hot on my skin as he arched against me, hands fisting at his sides. “You’re not wrong,” Dmitri finally said, giving in. He let out a deep breath as he relaxed against the wall. “So, we renovate the kitchen, and then what? The first payment—”

I cut him off. “We’ll use this renovation as a distraction from everything else as we find out what’s really going on.” We wouldn’t be taking the job if it was a real one anyway. That, I had already decided, especially if it involved Owen.

There was just something about him, something about Rhys that stood out. The need to protect him, to love him, to make him understand that he was more than just a passing thought. I had no idea what it was but if Valentyn hadn’t chosen Rhys, I would have eventually brought him around.

And that thought terrified me.

Because I was pretty sure Rhys had been caught up in shit he didn’t understand and even worse—didn’t know was coming.

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