Emmett walked to the door, turning to lean against it as Wilder got out of bed. He ignored the pain as best as he could, though a groan slipped out when he pulled a shirt over his head. Once the fabric was in place, he looked up to find Emmett watching him with narrowed eyes.
“I’m fine.”
Emmett arched a brow at him but kept his mouth closed, shaking his head slightly before turning and opening the door. He followed Emmett into the living room, grinning when he saw Alvis with his arms crossed and a disgruntled look on his face while Dash stood by the dining table, shoving food into his mouth courtesy of Kian’s excessive cooking. He only cooked that much when he worried, which in turn made Emmett worry about him, and Wilder didn’t like that one bit.
Alvis stepped up next to Dash just as Emmett reached them and put his arms around them both, drawing them into a warm embrace.
Alvis’s blue eyes widened for a moment, and then he gave in, hugging Emmett back. Wilder stayed back, watching those three with tears lining his eyes. Who knew that the thing the boys needed to finally trust them was a bit of Emmett? He couldn’t claim to be surprised. Emmett was exactly what and who he’d needed, too. He wasn’t much for sharing his man, but he’d survive sharing him with the boys. Once in a while. Maybe.
“Alright, get off my man.”
Emmett pulled away from the boys to throw a glare at him over his shoulder. There was exactly zero percent heat behind it.
“So that’s what it is, huh?” Dash asked, his grin making Wilder flip him off.
“I might have a concussion, but I can still whoop your ass.”
“There will be no whooping of asses.” Emmett met Wilder’s gaze and signed,“Only mine.”
“Deal,” he said with a wink.
The blush spreading on Emmett’s cheeks as he smiled did things to his heart. It filled his damned chest with butterflies. He hoped it always would.
Emmett stepped back between the boys and put a hand on either’s shoulder.
“You can have my old room,” Emmett said, tugging them toward the stairs. “Ezra’s been sleeping in the office for some unknown reason anyway, and Talon… I don’t even know where he’s gone.”
He was pretty sure the two were avoiding each other. It was the why he wasn’t certain of. Nor was he sure he wanted to know. They were adults. They could figure it out on their own or man up and ask for help if they couldn’t.
He watched as Emmett and the boys disappeared up the stairs, a smile finding his lips when he heard Alvis’s voice among the chatter. He had a feeling those boys were going to thrive here. He might make Kings out of them yet.
Laughter brought his attention to the couch. Miles was sitting the furthest away, Kaz next to him, his hand on Miles’s thigh as he watched him talk amicably, hands gesturing excitedly.
Jane sat in Solo’s lap, looking up at him as if he hung the moon, whereas he looked at her as if shewerethe damned moon.
He still found it strange to see, but there wasn’t that bite of betrayal in his gut anymore. Yes, they lied. Yes, they should’ve told him. They were well aware of that. They were making amends, and he was letting them. He wanted to trust them again. He wanted his family back.
Jane looked up, catching his gaze, and warmth filled him when she smiled and waved him over. He stepped closer, sitting down next to them, chuckling when Jane leaned over to press a kiss to his cheek.
He was too busy smiling at Jane to hear whatever made her gasp and whirl around, almost falling off Solo’s lap, his arms around her the only thing keeping her from sliding onto the floor. It didn’t even make her pause before she was crawling across Solo and Kaz to get to Miles, who only laughed and wrapped his arms around her.
Solo huffed out a laugh, and Wilder breathed a sigh of relief when it only brought a smile to his lips. Solo glanced at him, those dark eyes filled with affection. He put a hand on Solo’s shoulder, giving him a nod.
He couldn’t be certain, but he thought that might be a sheen of tears in his brother’s eyes as he nodded back, a hand covering Wilder’s to squeeze it.
His family was back together. There was only one thing missing, and he didn’t have to wait long before Emmett returned. He pulled him into his lap, grinning when he went willingly and turned his face up for a kiss. He happily obliged, as he knew he would for the rest of his life.
CHAPTER FOURTY-ONE
Wilder
HE WALKED through the front door of the clubhouse and hung up his helmet before continuing inside. Laughter from the living room propelled him in that direction. He could hear Dash’s deep laugh mingling with Emmett’s bright one, a huff letting him know Alvis was present as well.
The boys had not been happy at the safe house, so he’d brought them here to stay while they healed. While they, hopefully, learned that kindness wasn’t a transaction. As much as he wanted them to stay here for good, he didn’t know if they wanted to. The decision was theirs in the end, though considering how much they both seemed to like Emmett, he thought there might be a good chance they’d stay.
He leaned a shoulder against the doorway, a smile spreading on his lips as he watched the three of them. Emmett and Alvis were sitting on the couch while Dash was in constant movement. That boy just couldn’t sit still. Emmett was teaching Dash and Alvis to sign while Alvis was teaching Emmett the language the boys had made up themselves.
Three pairs of eyes swiveled in his direction when he stepped into the room. Only one lingered.
