“We were both little when mom decided she didn’t want married life. She walked away, joined a commune, and spiritually married five guys. I think they say collective now, but that’s kind of new still,” he tries to make light of it, but I see it.
The pain.
“I wasn’t even two,” his voice cracks.
My arms slide around his neck and I hold him. He buries his face in my hair, and I think over what this means. This is the reason the mayor came after us.
As if he can read my mind, his words come out muffled, “It was never about you and your friends. It was always about her. He never let it go. It was toomuch of a hit to his ego. The way he talked about her,” he shudders and I run my hands over his back, wrapping myself around him tighter as if to shield him, protect him.
Someone fucking needs to.
His father didn’t; he was the one who never cared about the weapons he wielded.
His mother didn’t; she chose to find another life and leave the past behind.
At what cost?
“I’m sorry, Aiden.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t remember her. I don’t think York does either.” He sighs. “Everything was transactional growing up, even love. If you made the cut, dad was proud of you, and it felt good. If you didn’t, you never heard the end of it. The pressure was,” he shudders.
“I can’t imagine,” I murmur. “It’s clear he’s all about optics, but I hoped there was something more behind closed doors. I’m sorry there wasn’t.”
With a kiss to my neck, he pulls back enough to look into my eyes. We’re so close and it wouldn’t take much to close the distance. But I have a feeling he has more to say.
“I never used my badge to help him,” he starts, an apology in his gaze, “but I never used it to stop him either.”
“He didn’t step over those lines.” Aiden’s eyebrows pull together and I chuckle under my breath. “If you don’t think Mayer has been collecting all the evidence and seeing where every I is dotted and T is crossed then you should think again.”
The smile that lights up his face eases some of my worry. He still looks wrecked, but I’ll take a little moment of sunshine breaking through the clouds.
“I should have realized, darlin’,” he drawls. “Apologies,” he teases and kisses my temple.
“As you should,” I huff, my indignance all for show.
It earns me a rough chuckle. I’ll take it.
“What happened when you went to see your dad?” My question is soft, but his shoulders still slump and defeat fills his eyes.
“I told him it was enough. That he crossed a line to do something that could have a long-term detrimental ripple effect. Those grades mean something, and they should.”
The conviction in his voice is doing something to me. Something far too naughty for a conversation about his father, that’s for damn sure. When I wiggle on his lap, he lets out a groan and his hand finds my hip under the blanket. He holds me in place and his green eyes flash with a warning.
“Behave,” he grunts.
But he doesn’t let go of me. No, he pulls me just a little tighter against his chest.
“I’m going to guess Mayor Simmons didn’t react well to your critique of his involvement,” I scrunch up my face as I ask, and Aiden huffs out a small laugh.
“That would be an understatement. I called him out on the fact that it was all about mom and him not being able to get over it. He didn’t like that even more.”
My lips press together and I have so many questions, but I force myself to stay still and be quiet.
“By the end of it, I told him I’m in love with you and will no longer be allowing anyone or anything to stop me from making you mine. And I’m talking for the rest of our lives when I say making you mine,” the words tumble out of him, but he holds my gaze the entire time, the truth in every word clear to see.
“Holy shit,” I breathe out and one side of his mouth twitches. I replay his words in my head and I shriek, “You told him you love me?”
“Yes.”
