Page 165 of Between Passion and Revenge: Part Two

Now, maybe it is time to start living for me.

I pick up the moisturizer and uncap it, adding four dots to my face to rub in before my skin dries.

“When did you become so wise?” I ask. “Also, when did you become Team Storm? If I recall correctly, weren’t you vowing to dismember him if he came within cutting range?”

Yenn laughs.

“I’ve been watching a shit-ton of Dr. John Delony clips lately, and as for being Team Storm…” She lifts an eyebrow. “I’m definitely not his cheerleader, however, anyone who puts that big of a smile on your face must have some value. Seeing as he’s my godchildren’s pappy, I’ll allow him to exist peacefully.”

It takes me a second, but when I process her statement, I burst out laughing.

“Girl, if you start quotingLife, I swear to God!” I bark a laugh.

Yennifer and I chat while I finish getting dressed for the day, and before long, I find myself walking into the foyer where Raiden and Storm look at Storm’s phone with matching looks of serious contemplation.

I take in the sight for a moment—the way they both tilt their head at a right angle, the matching crease between theireyebrows. Raiden really is a little Storm, even if he’s got a completely different temperament.

“This is super cool. Is this the design you want?” Storm says, flicking his gaze in my direction for a split second before going back to his iPhone.

Raiden hums.

“I’ve always wanted a tree house, but we never had any trees of our own in our building, and Gigi said no to building one in her backyard.” Raiden twists his lips for a second before pointing to the phone again, completely ignoring me.

Storm nods.

“I suppose that’s fair,” Storm says. He gives Raiden his full attention, lowering the phone. “What do you think of you and me building it together?”

Raiden’s eyes widen.

“You’re not just gonna have the man build it?” he asks.

“Rai,” Storm says with a laugh, “I am the man.”

Raiden giggles then says, “Bruh,” because that’s his go-to interjection, learned from YouTube.

“Seriously, though. What do you say? You game? We can do this in a weekend, I bet. Just you and me,” Storm says, still looking into Raiden’s eyes.

Raiden bites his lip and says, “Okay.” Then, with a big breath, he adds, “Dad.”

The smile spreads across Storm’s face like the sun coming from behind the clouds. Then, without asking, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Storm opens his arms and Raiden steps into them, squeezing his father tight.

God, I wish I had a camera.

Why are you denying this?

“All right, youngblood! Time for me to teach you how to whup some Zombie butt.” Axel’s joyous shout echoes across thespace, pinging off the tiles and making Raiden jump away from Storm. When he realizes it’s just Axel, he smiles brightly.

“Uncle Axel, I already know how to whup Zombie butt!” Raiden rushes toward Axel.

“Yeah, yeah, sure you do. But you don’t knowallthings, youngin’. It’s time for your lessons to begin with the master.”

Axel dramatically puts his fist into his opposite palm, bending at the waist as if to bow to Raiden. Our son laughs again.

“All right,” I say, finally speaking up and stepping into the conversation. I get nearer to Storm, feeling his body heat. God, I have to physically restrain myself from reaching over the five inches separating our bodies and holding his hand.

Just simply holding his hand.

But still, I resist….