Page 24 of The Destruction You Desire

"Does he know… about us? About who his dad is?"

"Yeah, well… to a point. We never lied to him. He knows he has three brothers but he doesn't know who your dad is. He loves that he's got older brothers and is desperate to meet you. Apparently, I'm only so much fun because I'm a girl."

Leon laughs. Seeing a smile on his face melts my heart a little. "Well, yeah. I can understand that."

"Hey," I complain.

"I… I think I need to meet him," he confesses nervously.

"Okay."

"I need…" He blows out a long pained breath. So many things go unspoken in those few seconds as he tries to find his words. The pain that's oozing from him is palpable and I have to fight not to just pull him into my arms and hold him, to tell him that everything is going to be okay. But also, I think doing just that might freak him out even more.

He's clearly fighting some internal battle and I can't help but worry that my confession has triggered him somehow.

The Leon I'm looking at right now is different from the one who caught me before I hit the floor outside of Luca's room only an hour ago.

"I think I need to see that something good came out of all of this."

I nod, totally understanding that.

After giving him the directions to Aunt Fee's house, we both buckle back up and head that way, our breakfast—or lunch—long forgotten. Not that I'd be able to even eat it now with the way my stomach is churning.

"Before we go in there, I need to tell you something else," I confess.

"Fucking hell, Peyton," he groans, sounding like he's at his wit's end when it comes to secrets and shocking announcements.

"Kayden was in the car crash that killed my mom."

He turns to me so fast that I'm surprised he doesn't pull something. The speed of his reaction warms me from the inside out. He's not even met Kayden yet and he's already protective.

He's already proving what I've always known. The Dunn boys are going to be incredible big brothers to that little boy in there.

"Is he… Is he okay?"

"He will be. He's on the way to making a full recovery. But he's in a wheelchair right now."

"Fuck," Leon breathes.

"He broke both his legs, his pelvis. He's had a couple of surgeries to pin everything into place. Everything is looking as it should but it takes time, you know. He might never make the NFL like his big brothers, but it shouldn't limit him too much."

"Jesus fucking Christ."

"He's strong, Lee. So fucking strong. Brett doesn't deserve him."

"That cunt doesn't deserve anything fucking good in his life."

Knowing the only thing I can say to that is to agree, I push the car door open and climb out.

Nervous energy radiates from Leon as I pull my key from my purse and slide it into the lock. The second I push the door open, footsteps race toward us.

"There you are. Do you know where my son— Oh, Leon? Hi," Aunt Fee squeaks, changing her tone mid-rant.

"Uh… h-hi," Leon stutters, his brows pulling together as he tries to figure out how this woman knows him when he has no idea who she is, no doubt.

"Leon, this is my aunt Fee, she was my mom's best friend and she agreed to take us in after the accident. She's seen enough photos over the years to know who you are," I add lightly.

"Okay. Nice to meet you," he says politely, turning his megawatt smile on her.