“I think he’s done,” Violet said, a bit of sadness to her tone. “If he wants, would you be up to having another phone call?”
“Absolutely,” I said. “You can call anytime, and I’ll answer. Promise.”
Not sure if the phone call changed anything, or helped Toby in any way, but it was worth a shot. Violet and I talked a little more before hanging up. I hoped that Toby would call me. I worried about him more than I thought I should.
The boy had stolen my heart as much as the rest of the family had already. Would he be okay with Joshua? Would he open up to me when I got back? Or would Toby want nothing to do with me when he found out?
“You okay?” Zachariah asked, leaning against the doorway.
“Yeah,” I answered. “Just worried.”
“About what?” he asked.
“Toby,” I sighed. “What if he doesn’t like my reasons for being gone? What if he wants nothing to do with me?”
“I don’t think Toby would be anything but happy to see you,” Zachariah answered, pulling me into a hug. I melted against his chest. “He has liked you since he first time he saw you. It’s like the rest of the family, Avidya. No one could ever hate you, no matter how hard they tried to. You are light to the darkness in all of us.”
“You make it sound so easy,” I said, propping my chin on his chest. “You make it all seem so much easier than it really is. It’s not all sunshine and roses.”
“It’s you that makes it easy,” he said. “It’s all you. No one else. You are the one that is easy.”
“Did you just call me easy?” I asked with a glare.
“Well, I did get you with little effort,” he winked before his mouth crashed to mine.
Instantly, I melted against his lips and body. I let him take control of the kiss, making sure not hurt me or take things any farther.
With his lips alone, he showed me just how easy it was to forgive and forget. He showed me how much he loved me and would do anything for me.
As my stomach filled with butterflies, I knew he was it for me. There would be no more running or second guessing our motives in life. There was no more fighting against each other’s choices.
We were one, and would always be one. Nothing would be able to stand between us again.
Pulling back, his eyes were bright with happiness and love.
“Shall we go do something before I take you on that bed?” he asked.
“I’d love to do that, but yes please,” I blushed.
Yeah, now was not the time to let him have his wicked way with me. I couldn’t wait to get the all clear from the doctor next week. Now was not the time to test the links of fate with expanding our family. I don’t think either one of us could handle that.
Chapter 31
Zachariah
I never expected to fall into step being a father. I never wanted children, which everyone around me knew without a doubt. Kids and I just never got along. Ever. I didn’t try to be different to cater to children of any age. I never catered toanyone. That was until I found Avidya.
With Avidya, everything changed. She made me see how things were more than just black and white. Avidya brought things to light. She made me want to live; made me be somethingmorethan just a man that tried to control my men to bring in money.
That life was nothing when comparing it to the three of us now. Losing my brothel, losing my club, losing what I had worked so hard to get and my status in the world was no longer that important when put next to my wife and child.
Now as I held Joshua in my arms, watching Avidya sleep beside me on the couch, I knew I would never be able to give these two up. I questioned myself on why I didn’t want Avidya to have a kid. I asked myself why I didn’t want one. And why didn’t I give it more thought before jumping to conclusions?
Thinking over everything, I was scared that any child we had would be used against me. Everyone around me could be used against me. I didn’t want some nameless child to be forced into the life I led. I didn’t want its choices taken away from it.
My choices were all my own as I grew up. I didn’t have to be in the mafia. I didn’t have to take such a part in it. I did, though. I wasn’t as big of a rule abiding man as my father and grandfather, but I still took part in many things.
Holding my son, I knew that things wouldn’t have to be the same. He would have as much of a choice as I had when it came to being in the family of more than just a member. He would be protected, just like Avidya and anyone else. We protect our own before anything else. I knew we all would be fine in the end.
