Page 110 of Tortured Eyes

I look around the area, checking in on Bryce as she takes Nathan from Gabby. She laughs about something, nodding my way, and both my mother and Gabby double over in hysterics. Fuck knows what they’re talking about, but they can have their joke on me if they want. Gabby deserves that. She also deserves a new thing to cling onto. Hopefully, she’ll make sure the twins know all about their great uncle who they’ll never meet.

Reece suddenly comes barrelling by to shake up the calm, shouting and hollering and, once again, chasing his sister. I smile and watch him run this time, amused as Carter tries bringing him to heel and Fia laughs. Doubt that shit’s going to happen. As Carter said earlier—too much Vico in his blood. He’ll be more interested in my way of thinking than listening to his father. It's something I’ll be more than happy to help with.

“Father Cleary,” my father says.

I turn back, watching as Samuel approaches. He smiles and nods at us, all that honesty looking me right in the eye. I couldn’t have achieved any of this without him. He’s the ghost inside me, the one who makes me a better man for what that’s worth. I chuckle to myself as he shakes hands with my father, looking at their fingers clasped together and then walk towards Bryce after giving Samuel a soft pat on the back. Maybe one day. When he’s ready. Until then, they can get to know each other without me being in the way.

Damn sure they’ll get along just fine.

Damn sure we all will now.

The End.