Page 25 of The Destruction You Desire

Embarrassingly, Aunt Fee blushes.

"I have no idea where Elijah is," I say as she opens the door wider for us both to enter. "Last time I saw him he was…. You probably don't want the details," I say, thinking about him with his tongue down Ella's throat.

"Like father like son that one. Maybe one day he'll find a woman to nail his ass down. What happened to you? No offense, sweetie, but you look like hell."

"Luca happened."

"Ah, so my son wasn't the only one up to no good last night."

"Something like that. Anyway, Leon agreed to bring me home. I've told him everything Luca's failed to and he'd like to meet Kayden."

"Of course. He's watching TV, why don't you go on through and I'll put the coffee maker on."

She smiles at both of us, her gaze lingering on Leon a little longer than necessary as if she's trying to work out what his intentions are here but she obviously likes what she finds because she lets us move through to the living room.

"Hey, baby boy," I say when I find Kayden watching cartoons with his beloved stuffed lamb tightly in his grip.

"Hey." His eyes widen when he looks at me. Christ, I must really look a mess if I'm being judged by a five-year-old. "I've brought someone to meet you."

I stand aside and allow Kayden to see Leon standing behind me.

Kayden's eyes light up, although I can see a little hesitation there. After all, he thought he was getting his chance with Luca yesterday and I made him leave.

"H-hi," he says nervously, his eyes flicking from Leon to me, probably worried that I'm going to freak out again.

"Kayden, this is Leon. Your—"

"Brother," Kayden finishes for me.

"Hey, lil' man. What are you watching?" Leon asks, walking farther into the room as if they've met a million times before.

I stand leaning against the doorway as Kayden begins an in-depth rundown about the PJ Masks episode he's watching and who everyone is.

"That's a fine sight right there," Aunt Fee says as she stands beside me.

"Kayden deserves this."

"Girl, they all deserve this."

I nod, a lump clogging my throat and tears burning the back of my eyes as I watch the two of them together.

I did the right thing today. Getting this time with Leon will mean everything to Kayden.

I stand there for the longest time cradling the mug Aunt Fee passes me in my hands just watching them.

I have no idea how much time passes but after a while, my skin begins to tingle with awareness. It's a reaction I only get when one person is close.

Glancing away from Kayden and Leon, I look out the window, my breath catching as my eyes lock onto a very angry green pair standing out in front of the house.

7

Luca

The farther I ran, the more clarity I found and the more I realized that I fucked up this morning.

Fuck, not just this morning. I've been fucking up for the last five years.

Ever since my first reaction to her telling me what my dad had done was to call her a liar.