Page 16 of Tossed into the Mob (The Wolves of La Luna Noir #4)

SIXTEEN

brOCK

My dad had made a huge effort to welcome Treyton despite tiring easily. He still used a cane, but his physiotherapist said he was walking so well, he might be able to get rid of it in the next few weeks.

Sitting at the kitchen island, Dad had made apple danishes, and I’d put them in the oven. The apartment smelled like our old home, safe, warm, and welcoming, while looking nothing like the place.

Dad emerged from the bedroom smelling of lavender, his favorite soap for as long as I could remember, and sat in an armchair.

“I’m nervous.”

I’d skipped over the bit about how serious Treyton and I were, just told my dad there was someone special I wanted him to meet. But he’d picked up on my nervous energy and understood how important this meeting was, so I admitted it was Treyton, the name he’d added to the note.

I’d expected him to react with horror, but his expression was more resigned.

The buzzer rang, and we both jumped. Dad went to get up, and I told him to stay where he was and opened the door. Treyton’s face was pinched, and there were beads of sweat above his upper lip. Poor guy, he must have been as nervous as me.

He had a box of chocolates in one hand and a bunch of flowers in the other.

“I wasn’t sure what to bring.”

“They’re lovely. Thank you.” The chocolates were ones my dad adored, so that was a lucky guess.

We kissed one another on the cheek, bumping noses and mumbling I’m sorry before trying to kiss the other cheek and repeating the process.

I took the gifts and introduced my mate to Dad who greeted my one and only with a smile. They shook hands, but Treyton didn’t grip too hard. I loved how considerate he was of his shifter strength, as my dad was still recovering. Or I assumed that was what it was. Maybe that was how he shook hands.

“You’re Shawn Durand’s son.” Dad hadn’t seen Shawn in weeks, as he hadn’t been back to the library since the accident. “That was how I connected you to the family, that and the documentary.”

There were so many interconnections that led to Treyton and me meeting. One missing link and I might never have found him or my future.

“That’s right. It’s strange that you and Dad met before me and Brock did.”

“I hope you have a sweet tooth,” Dad said.

Treyton sent me a quick look, and I mouthed, “Danish pastry.”

“Absolutely.”

I bustled into the kitchen, not wanting to leave the pair alone for too long. After putting the flowers in a vase, I placed the coffee and pastries on a tray and went back to the living area.

Treyton glanced around the living area and out to the balcony, and Dad studied his clasped hands in his lap. I had to start a conversation to veer away from the apartment and how we acquired it. There were so many possible pitfalls to his meeting Treyton, and I wanted Dad to remember Emilio fondly.

“Milk?” I asked my mate as I poured coffee for the three of us.

“Please.” Treyton took the cup I offered.

Now what? “Treyton’s a midwife, Dad.”

My dad chuckled. “I’m aware because we watched the documentary together.”

Right. I was messing up already.

Dad put his cup down, and Treyton chewed a mouthful of pastry while sending me a “Help” look.

“There’s an elephant in the room.” Dad’s statement had my mate and me locking eyes. Treyton was a wolf, so who was the elephant? If Dad admitted he was a shifter, I’d faint.

“You’re both dancing around and pretending that Treyton isn’t a shifter.”

I dropped my cup, but my mate, in true shifter fashion, caught it. Coffee slopped on the granite floor, and I raced for a cloth to mop it up, thankful I had time to come up with a response.

My mate bent over and helped me clean the floor while raising both brows like inverted triangles.

“The floor’s clean, Brock.” Dad’s tone reminded me of Flint’s when he gave a command.

I got to my feet, the damp rag dangling from one hand.

“I knew who your father was.” He launched into an explanation of working in a restaurant the Durands owned and meeting Emilio. “We were fated, and he marked me, but we could never be together.” He lifted his sleeve and showed a small scar I’d always assumed was the result of a childhood accident.

Both Treyton and I sat still, not saying anything as the sadness that had engulfed me after reading Emilio’s letters returned.

“He looked after us financially, but I had an inkling that something bad had happened, and that’s when I bought the gun.” He tapped his mating mark. “We weren’t together but our bond was real.” Dad went on to say that Emilio had told him to leave a letter for me in case something happened.

“He led a dangerous life and was aware he could be killed, but he couldn’t walk away from the life.

Originally the letter mentioned contacting the Durands, saying he worked for them, but when I suspected something had happened, I didn’t know who to contact in the Durand family.

” He added that he was scared to just turn up at their door.

“Until you met my dad and saw the documentary and put two and two together?” Treyton reached out and took Dad’s hand. “It must have been hard, the not knowing.”

Dad nodded and wiped away tears. “I always wondered if you would turn out to be a shifter, Brock.”

I pinched my arm and grimaced. “Nope. I’m as human as a human could be.”

He’d chosen not to tell me about my father, and if I’d been in his position, maybe I would have done the same.

“I never stopped loving him. Still do.”

Dad wasn’t talking to me or Treyton. He was somewhere else, perhaps imagining himself with Emilio. I took his hand, and he squeezed it. He’d carried this burden since I was born, and I hoped he could eventually move past the sadness and live a life filled with purpose.

Dad reached out to Treyton with his other hand. “I see how you look at one another and I know that look. Don’t let anything keep you apart.”

We hadn’t talked of where we’d live or even what I was going to do. I’d lost interest in my studies, but if Treyton and I were to mate, we’d have to make that hard decision. I couldn’t imagine living far from Dad. He needed me.

An hour later we were back at Treyton’s apartment. Though there was no rush to mate, after listening to Dad, I wanted to complete the bond we shared.

"Are you okay?" Treyton put an arm around my shoulders.

“Not really.” I turned to him and cupped his cheek. “I can't shake off the feeling that we should mate now. There’s nothing stopping us.”

“That kinda was the plan.”

I tapped my brow. “Oh yeah. I forgot.” I laughed at myself being so forgetful.

“You’ll be tied to me for life and by extension the Durand family and La Luna Noir. That’s a lot of baggage.”

I pointed over my shoulder, and Treyton peered behind me. “I’ve got my own baggage. Having a traitor for a father, the one who wanted to annihilate your family, for starters.”

He pressed his lips on my forehead, and my body tingled. I wondered if that sensation would fade over time or when we got old he’d still make my body sing.

“My wolf is excited, particularly as we’ve waited so long and he messed up big time.”

“Will it hurt?”

He laughed and pulled me close. “After everything you’ve endured, you’re worried about a tiny scratch?”

“Maybe. Yes.”

He explained how his claws would extend and he’d mark me on my chest. “Or my beast can bite if you prefer.”

I chose the scratch.

“Not all humans mark their mates.”

“What? No way. I’m your mate, and I’m going to sink my teeth into your flesh so all shifters understand you’re mine.”

He pulled off his sweater and shirt and my heart galloped. His bare skin never failed to excite me, and I placed my hand on his chest to confirm his calming effect. My heart slowed, and I smiled. My Treyton, love of my life.

“I love you and adore you, and my life was incomplete before you turned up and aimed your gun at me.”

I fake swooned and clutched my hands to my chest. “You’re so romantic. I didn’t know it back then, just that I needed you at my side. But now I recognize you for who you are. My beloved.”

After removing my shirt, Treyton’s claws extended, and he placed them on my shoulder. I took a deep breath and held it as his beast’s claws broke the skin and trailed them over my chest. It stung a little, but I ignored that and sat with the knowledge that he had mated me.

He dabbed at the trickle of blood before telling me it was my turn.

I licked around his nipple, making him shiver, and scraped over his chest with my teeth.

He flinched, obviously pretending I was hurting him.

I was proud of the mark, but it was already healing, leaving a red welt that would fade to silver.

Though I didn’t feel any different physically, emotionally he was mine. The deal was sealed and couldn’t be undone.

We sat holding one another until I told Treyton he should tell his family.

“Do I have to?” he whined. “They’ll be overexcited, someone might get furry, and they’ll demand all the details.”

“Listen to yourself. Growing up, with just me and dad, I would have done anything to have a large, noisy extended family.”

Treyton huffed and puffed so much I thought he was going to blow the house down. But he called Arnie, and the older man’s face popped onto the screen.

“Well?”

My mate held up my hand, and his grandpa cheered. “I said you were part of the family the first time we met.”

“Hello.” Ranger popped up in front of Arnie. “So a big celebration, as in a marriage ceremony?” Arnie swatted him away.

“We haven’t talked about it.” My mate gave me a sideways glance, and I shook my head. I didn’t need vows and fancy suits and a big cake.

“We probably won’t.”

Arnie’s face fell, though he recovered quickly and said he understood. Hunter appeared behind Arnie and mimed tears falling. Damn, they were laying on the guilt.

“I doubt Flint’s going to appear.” Treyton peered at the screen. “But I’m waiting for the rest of you. Madd? Anyone?”

“Madd’s away on assignment.” That was Rudy wearing some bright blue frothy concoction. “We were hoping to see you both, maybe meet your dad, Brock.” He gripped Arnie’s arm. “Maybe we could all come for a visit.”

Dad was a strong omega, but he’d been through a lot, and an onslaught of Durands was too much.

“We could come to you and do a small ceremony.”

Treyton mouthed, “What?” at me.

“Excellent.” Rudy clapped his hands together. “You can stay here if you want. Treyton, what about Shawn and Richie. We can’t accommodate everyone in this house. And there’s Brock’s dad too.”

“There’s always Flint’s basement.” Ranger put his wrists together because Tony had been handcuffed when Flint put him there.

“Hold on.” Treyton didn’t yell much, and everyone froze. “We’ll let you know about the parents.”

My mate ended the call. “Do you really want to do this?”

“Think so. Besides, It’ll be interesting to be one of the family and not just the son of a traitor.”

“If you say so.”