Page 67

“You owe me, you little shit!” Hale kept shouting.

Rather than take part, Sunshine stood his ground and shook his head. B stood right next to him, and I realized he waited until he thought I left for work before confronting his son.

There wasn’t anything either Sunshine or his lawyer could say that would convince Hale he wasn’t right. He was adamant his son ruined his life. As though he had no part in his own downfall.

Such a delusional asshole!

Without hesitation, I grabbed Hale by the scruffy hoodie he had on and threw him off the porch, where he landed in a heap on the grass. Following him down, I must’ve looked homicidal because he scrambled to his feet and ran away.

I sent the video evidence of him breaking the restraining order to our lawyer and Mateo to add to his building case, and since then, we haven’t heard from the man.

“So far, so good. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s smartened up, which I doubt, or we haven’t given him an opening to come near Phoenix. Besides, I’m sure his lawyer explained to him the dire consequences he’s facing and confronting us will only make it worse.”

Mateo nodded to Phoenix and said, “Does he miss the man?”

“He was never a father, even going as far as blaming him for his mother’s passing. Hale then ignored him until he could use him, but he never stopped telling him what a disappointment he was. There’s nothing to miss.”

I paused as I stared at the man Sunshine has become. “And we try to make up for all that he’s lost. Both B’s and my parents tell him how proud they are of him all the time and when he changed our surnames, they were enthusiastic.”

I basted the ribs and checked on the rotisserie chickens, and they were browning well. After searing the steaks, we’d be ready to eat.

“You and Charlotte, huh? How’s that going?”

The man gave me a smile I associated with being in love.

“Good. Great, in fact. She was worried about my job and while I’m not in danger, I have crazy hours. But we’ve been working on spending as much time together as possible, and she’s thinking about moving in with me since my house is closer to the bakery than her apartment.”

With a smile, I squeezed his shoulder before I dropped my hand. “I’m happy for you two.”

“Despite the circumstances of how we met, it’s the best relationship I’ve ever had.”

I laughed and agreed. “It’s not how it happened, but that it happened at all.”

Familiar arms came around my side and I glanced down, smiling at Sunshine, who skin was a dusky peach and his smile was as big as his face.

“Food almost ready?”

“B sent you over here to ask that, didn’t he?”

He shrugged. “I missed you, so it wasn’t an imposition. You doing okay, lover?”

“You’re here. B’s making mischief, like always,” I glanced up to see B with Fergus over his shoulder, both men laughing as B ran. Gio let out a curse in Italian and chased them around the yard.

“So yeah, all is good, Sunshine. And food’s ready.”

***

Phoenix

As the crickets chirped in the moonlight, I found myself slouched against Luka’s chest, my legs draped over Burton’s lap, as he rubbed my shins in a soothing, rhythmic manner.

The last guest left about an hour before, and after we cleaned up and stored the grill away, we gravitated toward the bench swing and I cuddled with both of my men.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “Both of you have given me a life I never thought I could have, so I wanted to thank you.”

Luka tightened his hold on me while Burton laid his head on my chest, listening to my heart beat as I rubbed up and down hisback. The three of us, along with our genuine friends and family, were who I treasured.

I’d never given up on the idea my father would look at me and be proud I was his son. That was until he unraveled.