Page 28 of Chief

Understatement of fuckingever, but I’d rather not taint either of them with knowledge about Elsa and what she did to me, or what I did for her.

That’s a clouded darkness that’s foul and oily, rotted fish and backed up sewers. It’s not the fun darkness Susa and I enjoy playing in, or where I’m slowly teaching Owen how to play.

Even more importantly, that it’s okay for him towantto play there.

Playbeing the key word, in Owen’s case.

I nuzzle the top of her head and kiss her there. I also gentle my tone when I speak. “Go clean up, sweetie, and blow your nose. We go outtogether. We donottell him about this.Period. This is between you and me. Understand?”

“Yes, Sir.” She looks up at me and I kiss her, a slow, sweet kiss to let her know everything is forgiven.

Stick, carrot.

I release her so she can go clean up and put herself together. Now alone, I stand by the bedroom door, leaning against it, my head tipped back eyes closed.

What have I done?

Even though Susa doesn’t know it—cannotlearn about it—a chink has appeared in the bastard’s armor. One I’ll have to carefully conceal from both of them.

Whether or not at some future point it’ll allow a fatal wound to be struck in what’s left of my soul remains to be seen.

When we return to the living room together, I sit on the floor next to Owen and praise him for obeying me by not moving, making sure I drop him all the way back into subspace before I allow him to go to Susa, where she sits on the couch.

I watch them together. As she folds her body over his, where he kneels in front of her with his head in her lap, I’m shocked at the jealous jolt that shoots through me when she speaks.

“Such a good boy,” she softly says. “Myverygood boy.”

It’s not jealousy at her, for holding Owen.

It’s jealousy that Owen can so easily access subspace and still trust her and relish in the freedom of giving himself to her ownership.

It’s a trust that was burned out of my soul years ago, and fucking hell, do I miss it.

Chapter Eight

Susa and I move past that. Fortunately, Owen is none the wiser.

This is one of those incidents that will remain private between me and Susa.

Period.

Besides moving past it, Susashowsme in everything she does with and to Owen that she takes my warning very seriously. Not only because she’s afraid to lose me, but because she truly cares about Owen.

Worse, she begins to regain and even increasemytrust in her. I can honestly say I don’t just love her, but I’minlove with her. To the point that I know wehaveto move forward to the next step.

It’s time.

For once, time is on my side, and I’ve been able to take time to make time. Befriending Owen’s father has paid off with him asking me that, if he bought Owen a ticket, did I think Owen would fly out for Owen’s little brother’s birthday?

I promise to do him one better—that Susa and I will bring Owen out ourselves.

Las.

Fucking.

Vegas.

It’sperfect.