Page 46 of Misdeeds of a Billionaire

Alessio gave me a dry look. It was all the answer I needed.

I lowered my eyes to Kol whose gray eyes glimmered with excitement. My nephew’s eyes had specks of hazel in them, much like his mother’s. Sometimes it reminded me of another set of hazel eyes, except for the gold. I had never seen eyes like that since.

Pushing the thought out of my mind, I smiled. “I think we have to hold your dad’s hand. Since it’s his first ride.”

Kol didn’t even hesitate. Fuck, the kid was good. Kind too. His small hand grabbed his father’s and squeezed. “I’ll be with you the entire time. With both of you.”

My brother’s expression softened. “I appreciate that, buddy. I feel safer now.”

Alessio had gotten his chance at happiness. I was happy for him, and I couldn’t even muster up any jealousy. Our father had fucked his life up by never owning up to his offspring. But he came out the other side with a good woman beside him.

Kol’s small hand took mine. “And I’ll keep you safe too, Uncle Byron.”

My brother and I shared an amused look. Fuck, our family was expanding and for the better. Although not for me. A small twinge in my heart reminded me of my chance. The single chance that ended before it even started.

I wouldn’t have minded being a father. Especially not with a woman like that. After her accident, she moved on. Outside of her returning to Stanford, I hadn’t kept tabs on her. It was too painful.

The ride started, and true to his word, Kol kept our big hands in his small ones. Except, he clutched our hands so hard, both Alessio and I winced. The little bugger was strong. Kind, but strong as fuck.

“What do you feed him?” I muttered to my brother. “Spinach?”

He let out a strangled laugh. “Yep, creating a Popeye here.”

“I didn’t know you watched cartoons.” My voice was dry with just a touch of humor.

Alessio shrugged. “It’s relaxing. You should try it sometime.”

“I’m gonna have to borrow your kid more, so I don’t ruin my reputation. It’d be kind of weird if people found me watching cartoons by myself.”

Silence followed while the ghosts surrounded us. Literal and metaphorical.

“Ever think about having a kid?” Alessio’s question came out of the blue. We had gotten closer over the years, in particular during the time his wife got stuck in Afghanistan. It took us months of greasing palms and making deals to find a way into the country that had shut down its borders.

“Sometimes,” I admitted. It’d be easier to have a child without the mother. I didn’t want another woman in my life. I tried—fucking really tried—but it wouldn’t be fair to tie the knot with anyone while my heart was still stuck on the red-haired French doctor.

“You’d be good at it. You have the patience for it.”Unlike our father.We both knew it. Our father’s selfish ways stretched beyond any normal politician. Although he had earned some points when he hired Kian—an old military specialist—to protect Alessio’s wife. Autumn and Kian were both in Afghanistan during the chaos. The connection and timing always seemed peculiar, but it didn’t matter. It saved my sister-in-law.

I smiled. “Maybe one day.” Fuck, even I could hear the tinge of bitterness in my tone. “So. Kol, are we scared yet?”

Kol blew out a frustrated breath. “Where are the ghosts?”

I chuckled. “Up in the air?”

“They’re supposed to come out of the ground and scare us.”

“Well, I am glad they’re not,” Alessio chimed in. “I’m plenty scared. Thankfully, you’re holding my hand, or I’d have started crying.”

I shot my brother a look. “Too much,” I mouthed.

Alessio just grinned, flipping me the bird over his head. So fucking mature.

“If you want to close your eyes, Dad, I won’t tell anyone,” Kol assured him.

I threw my head back and laughed. I couldn’t even picture Alessio doing that. The guy who ran the underworld in Canada, squeezing his eyelids in fear to make it through the ride.

“But Byron will,” Alessio answered in a feigned whiny tone. Geez, he was really enjoying this too much.

“I won’t,” I choked out, trying to keep a straight face. “Scout’s honor. I never rat on our family.”