Page 20 of Dean (Unexpected #9)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

DEAN

I was loath to leave Avery home alone with Kit. The two of them looked like they couldn’t kill a fly let alone protect themselves from Nick, but hell, I had no choice. I had to go meet Anthony. This was non-negotiable. I even tried to get out of it, but he refused. This must be more important than I thought.

Or maybe he just doesn’t give a fuck about my personal life. He does seem like a man who always gets what he wants.

Maybe when I see him, I’ll speak to him about Nick. Maybe he has some way to scare the shit out of the guy so he’ll leave Avery and me alone.

But Kit assured me he’d keep Avery safe—not that I believed he could, but what other choice did I have—so I threw on a suit that barely still fits me and tried to tie a tie. I only managed to get it around my neck when Avery stepped up and helped me secure it.

“There. A little rumpled, but better than your jeans and t-shirt,” he says.

“Yeah, I guess. Are you sure you’ll be okay here? Fuck, I don’t like leaving you alone. ”

“We’ll be fine. Kit says he knows martial arts.”

I glance at Kit who is picking his nose, and I sigh.

“I’d feel better if you came with me.”

“I wasn’t invited. Just go and come right back. You have the cameras now too. I’ll be fine. You can keep an eye on me.”

“All right. Well, call me if anything comes up. Or call the cops.” Avery made a report to the police earlier, but there was really nothing they could do without a suspect. All they could do was document it. That’s all they seem to do these days—paperwork.

“I will,” he leans up and presses a kiss to my mouth, and I hold him against me, not wanting to leave him tonight. Not when everything seems to be going to hell.

Damn Anthony.

There’s really no reason he needs me this urgently. I fucking hate that I feel indebted to him in some way.

Probably because he’s dangerous and I don’t want to be on his bad side.

I curse his name the entire time I drive to Cash’s parents’ house. And when I arrive, I brush a hand through my hair as I stalk through the expansive garden, trying to find Anthony. Fuck, I hate these parties. I know Cash grew up in this lavish lifestyle, but I never did.

I could never wear a suit again and be a happy man.

Unless it was for my wedding. Then I would.

Especially if Avery was the one walking toward me down the aisle.

My gaze moves up, and I see Cash standing in the distance next to Anthony and his parents. He’s wearing an impeccable suit and tie, looking so put-together it makes me feel ridiculous. I’m pretty sure I look like I got dressed in the car.

Cash meets my gaze, his mouth opening and closing in confusion before glancing sideways. My eyes follow, and I see Ben approaching, his hand linked with Ford’s, and everything falls into place. Those thoughts I was having the night I caught Ben at Ford’s house…all those suspicions were correct.

Hell, I fucking knew it.

I’m not fucking crazy.

I actually feel kind of giddy that I was right .

Ben’s gaze flicks to mine and his cheeks pale as he tears his hand away from Ford’s, holding it to his chest as if he’s wounded. I watch as he heaves, and I step forward in a slight panic, all that excitement fading away, when I see that he looks like he’s about to pass out. My gaze moves to Anthony who is observing this, all with a drink in his hand, looking as cool as a cucumber. He moves up beside Cash and says something in his ear before nodding and stepping away.

God, what a dick. Did he set this up? Did he know about this and not tell me? Is that why he asked me to come here?

I don’t fucking know. All I know is that my son looks upset and I want to pull him into my arms and hug him. I want to reassure him it will all be okay, that I’m here no matter what.

I step up to him and place my hand on his trembling shoulder. He looks like he’s about to burst into tears. I want to address it, to lay it all out there. No more hiding. No more secrets.

“Ben. Hey, this has gone on long enough. I think you have something to tell me.”

Ben’s eyes fall to the ground, and he swipes at his eyes before turning and bolting. He’s running, slipping slightly on the grass as his legs carry him farther and farther away. I watch him, surprised my unathletic son can move that fast.

Shit. He’s a speed demon. I didn’t know he was that agile.

Ford moves to go after him, but Cash grabs onto him. “Wait. Give him a second.”

Ford looks at Cash, his eyes watery. “But he’s upset. He doesn’t need a second.”

I sigh and reach out, tugging them both a little farther away from Cash’s parents, who are glowering at us for making a scene. They always hated how different Cash was. They never liked Ford and me. We were the reason for his downfall, in their eyes.

“Hey, hold on. I’m his dad. Let me…I’ll go find him and talk to him. I’m the reason he’s upset.”

“Shit, Dean,” Cash murmurs, looking forlorn, as if he can’t believe this happened tonight. But I don’t care about this like they think I do. I just want Ben to be happy, to feel loved. That’s all I’ve ever wanted .

“Look, we can all talk about this later. Just know that I know. I’ve known for a while, I think. I might be an idiot sometimes, but I’m not that dumb.”

Cash swallows so loudly his throat clicks, and Ford curses under his breath.

“We didn’t mean for it to happen…”

“I know.”

“And it was all above board. We weren’t creeping on him when he was younger. It’s still new,” Ford interjects.

“Yeah, I know that too.”

“Hell, Cash wasn’t even into guys until?—”

His words are cut off, and he looks at Cash sheepishly. Cash runs a hand over his forehead and I can see the tremble in his limbs.

“We love him,” Cash admits after a moment of silence.

“We do,” Ford adds. “We’re fucking obsessed with him.”

“Yeah, I figured. And I get it. I just…I need to find him to tell him I love him. The three of you being together changes nothing. But I know my son. I know he’s built this up in his head, and I don’t want him to worry.”

Ford looks at me, confusion in his gaze. “How are you okay with this?”

“How could I not be? He’s with the two best men I know.”

Ford sniffles loudly and then pulls me into a hug. “Goddamn you. Making me cry.”

I pat him roughly on the back and then slap him on the shoulder.

“You always were a crybaby.”

“Fuck you,” Ford replies with a laugh, and Cash pulls Ford into him.

“Right. Well, it’s been a few minutes. He’s had time to cool off. I’ll message you where we end up. You can come get him when I’m done reassuring him that this changes nothing.”

I give my best friends a nod and walk away.

I’m sure this will bother me later, the secrets they kept, the way they kept me in the dark for who knows how long, but I get why they did it. I can see it so clearly now. But really, all that matters is that I get to my son and reassure him that I love him .

He’s the best part of me and Elaine.

I want him to know that.

Nothing will change that.

As I’m sitting in my car, trying to call Ben, Anthony messages me and tells me he’s taken my son back to his place. Apparently, Ben’s gotten close to his son, Angel. Fuck if I knew that. Didn’t even know he had a son.

My heart clenches. Seems I’ve done something wrong when it comes to my son; I missed a step. Maybe I’ve been so consumed with Avery that I’ve missed out on something he’s been trying to tell me.

Or maybe he didn’t tell me because I shut him out.

Fuck, was this because of me?

I think about Elaine and wonder if she’d be disappointed in me as I drive myself to Anthony’s estate. Asshole taking my son away, but at the same time, he always was a bit of a shit-stirrer.

At least Ben is safe , I think as I tighten my grip on the steering wheel.

He’s in a relationship with Cash and Ford now. The three of them are together. Hell, I fucking knew it but thought I was going crazy, making shit up in my mind. But it all makes sense now.

They love him. They’ve always protected him.

And as he got older, it must have changed. Ford and Cash together have always made sense, but adding Ben in?

Maybe I don’t want to think about it too hard. But as long as he’s happy, I’m happy. I pull up to the large gate leading up to Anthony’s house and park my car in the roundabout, seeing that Cash and Ford are here as well.

Hell, they beat me. Must have burned rubber coming here.

I told them I wanted a minute with my son first, but it seems they couldn’t let this go. Seems they love him more than I thought.

It warms my heart.

My knuckles rap on the door and a man I don’t recognize opens it, eyeing me silently. Must be a guard .

“I’m here to see Ben.”

As I say that, I hear a loud commotion in the foyer.

“We just want to see him,” Cash yells, his voice growing angry.

I look at the man who continues to stare at me. “Um, that’s my best friend. He’s here for my son, Ben,” I try to explain. “Can I just…can I just go in? I can make sure everything deescalates.”

The guard nods and steps aside. I walk through the foyer, seeing Cash and Ford arguing with Anthony, who looks far too calm in this moment.

Probably because he knows he could have them disposed of quickly. They pose no real threat.

“He’s safe. When he wants to see you, you’ll be allowed to,” Anthony tells them, his voice made of steel. He’s not backing down.

My eyes flick to the stairs when I hear a commotion and see Ben standing there with his best friend, Tatum. God, I haven’t seen that kid in ages. The two of them walk slowly toward us. He’s grown up. Looks just as much of a brat as he always was.

“No. Thank you, but I’m…I’m here,” Ben says, his voice wobbling as he addresses us.

Ben meets my gaze but it’s pulled toward Cash and Ford, who are rushing up the stairs, pulling him into their arms. They don’t even give him a minute to breathe. Before I can blink, he’s crushed between them. I don’t know where Ben starts and where Cash and Ford end.

“You never fucking run from us again,” Cash grumbles, his words making my chest constrict. I can hear the panic in his voice, the urgency. They were afraid.

They were afraid they lost him.

“Never again,” Ford adds, and Ben sniffles loudly.

“Okay.”

They stand like that for a long time, the three of them holding on to each other before Ben turns his gaze back to me. Anthony is off to the side next to Tatum, who is standing on his tiptoes and whispering something in his ear. Anthony’s fist clenches near his side before he suddenly grabs onto Tatum’s neck and walks him backward into the hallway, Tatum smirking the whole way .

Like I said, he always was a little shit. Ben walks up in front of me, looking contrite.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispers, his cheeks darkening.

I can’t handle it. My son looks broken, like he doesn’t know what to do. So without a word, I pull him into a hug. “Shit, Ben. You don’t ever need to run from me. You can always tell me things. Anything. I’ll always listen.”

A sob leaves him, his fingers curling into my back, holding me tightly.

“I’m so fucking sorry,” he chokes out. “I should have done better…I know you’re so disappointed in me.”

“No. No .”

“Mom would be so ashamed. Please don’t hate me. Please don’t hate Cash and Ford. It’s not their fault…”

I can’t make out everything he’s murmuring as I squeeze him tightly.

“No. No, Benjamin. Don’t be sorry. Don’t be ashamed of falling in love with two incredible men.”

When those words leave me, I feel him freeze and pull back, swiping at his running nose and eyes.

“What?”

“You fell in love with two men who I love like brothers. How could I be upset with you for that? I’ve had some time to think about it and I’m happy for you three.”

Ben sobs once more, his breathing sawing in and out of him as I pull him into a hug.

“Hey. Can I speak with my son privately?” I ask Ford and Cash, who are looming anxiously. “Please. Just a minute.”

Ford and Cash seem reluctant to let him go, but eventually, I lead Ben into a secluded hallway. We stare at each other awkwardly for a minute, and then Ben swipes at his eyes. “How long have you known?”

“I had suspicions for a while, I guess. It was all in the back of my mind, but it was solidified when I showed up at Ford’s and you were there.”

He huffs a laugh and groans. “Fuck. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to lie to you, I just couldn’t… ”

I rest my hands on his shoulders and shake my head. “It’s okay. As long as you’re happy…”

He nods vigorously. “I am. I have been.”

“Good. Then, I’m glad.”

We just stare at each other and I pat his shoulders, squeezing them gently.

“I’ll always be your dad. But I know that, as your partners, that Cash and Ford will be the ones you usually go to, but please know you can always come to me. And now that you know I know, can we do things together again? I miss you.”

He swallows, looking a little sheepish. “Yeah, I’d love that.”

“Now listen, when you ran, Cash and Ford almost died. They’re worried about you. You should go to them. Reassure them that everything is going to be all right.”

“Will it, Dad?”

I nod and press a kiss to his forehead, feeling like he’s my little boy all over again, needing his father’s reassurance. “I guarantee it will. They just want you to be happy, and that’s enough for me.”

“How did you get to be so awesome?” Ben asks, and I roll my eyes.

“I’ve always been awesome.”

A laugh slips from his mouth and I add, “And honestly, it’s also Avery. I think I’ve changed a lot about the way I think since him.”

Ben acknowledges this, he must see it. I feel like a totally different person since he came into my life. “I’m gonna go talk to my guys,” he says, pulling me into a quick hug before moving back out to the foyer. Cash and Ford are standing there, shoulder to shoulder, their eyes narrowed, worry lining their faces as Ben approaches.

I watch him go to the two men who have been with me for decades. Who were there for me when Ben was born and when Elaine died. We’ve been through it all and to know they’re even more a part of my life, of Ben’s life, makes me fucking happy.

I’m so fucking lucky.

This really couldn’t have gone any better. I know these two will love and protect him forever.

Even when I’m no longer around .

“Welp, I think I’ll leave you three to it.” I grab my keys out of my pocket, jangling them. “Gotta get home to Avery.”

“Yeah, okay. Bye, Dad,” Ben says, and I offer them a small smile, winking at Cash and Ford as I go.

Yeah, everything will be okay with those three. I don’t need to worry.