“I…forgot. That’s good. Great, actually.”
Georg pats his nephew’s arm. “Why don’t you share with Ant—and us—what scares you the most?”
Erik thins his lips and locks eyes with me. Wordlessly, I tap my chest. I get it. Really, I do.
Turning back to Ant, Erik’s voice is steady and kind. “Because of your size and how young you look, you are still vulnerable to trafficking. One miscalculation, one guy gets the drop on you, and…poof. You could be overpowered so easily and then disappear off the face of the earth. It keeps me up at night, the thought that I…that we could lose you. Do you have any idea how terrifying that is?”
“Then make me dangerous, Erik. Make me better. Make me as good as you.”
Erik looks over at me. “What do you think about this?”
I swallow thickly, choosing my words carefully. “I feel many things about this. I think my nephew is trying to take back his power. I’ve seen this in many people who have survived trafficking. They do something specific, something to help them feel empowered again. I am terrified for the same reasons you are terrified. But I am also proud of him. He can do something I cannot. As happy as it makes me to remove a child predator from the earth, it’s never easy and it often stays with me. He’s quite a thing, my nephew. I think Anja is right.”
Ant turns to me and buries his face in my chest, throwing his arms around me.
Erik inhales deeply, then exhales slowly. “Okay. I’ll talk to Anders.”
“And Hopper?” Ant asks against my chest.
Oof. I’ve heard tales about Hopper. A sweet guy but far from sane.
Erik shakes his head, not wanting to agree. “Yeah, probably Hopper too.”
“Don’t forget Odd,” Anja says.
Erik wrinkles his brow. “He’s retired.”
“From the operations, yes. But I know he’d love to help, and there’s something about Ant that reminds me of him.”
“Okay, Auntie. I’ll do it.”
Bram gestures to the table. “We have a lot to discuss, but dinner is getting cold, and that would be a shame.” Turning to Charlie and Erik, he continues, “I hope you’ll join us. There’s plenty.”
Looking slightly humbled, they both nod and join us at the table. Before he sits, Erik clears his throat and turns to Levy and me.
“Uh, before we eat, I apologize to both of you. I…shouldn’t have said that about your relationship. It’s clear you both want what’s best for Ant, and whatever else you do is your own business.”
I shake his hand, and Levy leans in for a half-hug.
“We know you want what’s best for him. We all do. Thank you for apologizing.”
With that, we all sit down for a lovely meal. Anja and Georg carry the conversation. They’re funny and so warm, and their wine is entirely too easy to drink.
By the end of the night, despite the drama—or maybe because of it—I more fully understand how lucky my family is that our Ant found his way here. While we’ll work hard to make sure he knows he’s an important part of the Hernández family, he will also forever be a part of this found family.
17
LEVY
It’s the Sunday after the confrontation at the bunkhouse, and there’s an incredibly handsome priest on our front porch. His plain black button-down is tucked neatly into faded jeans and his sleeves are rolled halfway up, exposing heavily tattooed forearms that contrast with the white collar at his neck. His Doc Martens and black nail polish round out the look.
Erik moves past me and opens the front door. “Hey, uh, Father.”
The good Father snorts and pushes the hair off Erik’s forehead with a knowing look. “Don’t let the collar fool you, Erik. I’m still Beckett underneath.”
Right as Beckett’s hand drifts down Erik’s chest, Ant walks into the living room with Elias and a small rolling case full of the clothes and electronics we bought for him. His sharp eyes immediately clock Beckett’s flirtatious lean and familiar contact. Even more telling, Erik spies Ant and immediately steps back from his collared friend.
Murder fires up in Ant’s eyes, even as he gives Elias a sweet hug. I’m, like, eighty percent certain Ant won’t kill Beckett, but Ant’s glare could make a person’s ears bleed.
