Relief floods me, sharp and bright. My throat tightens.
I kiss her shoulder, slow and careful.
“Tomorrow, then,” I say. “I tell my son who he is.”
She nods. Her fingers tighten around mine.
Outside, the night is quiet. The stars shine like they know secrets.
And in this room, in this bed, with her heart beating against mine—I don’t feel like a mobster, or a monster, or a man clawing out of his past.
I feel like a father.
And maybe that’s the bravest thing I’ve ever been.
CHAPTER 47
KAIRO
Ben’s legs swing off the edge of the couch, his socks mismatched—one green with dancing satellites, the other red with faded dinosaurs. He hums under his breath, coloring in a page that’s half-hoverbike, half-dragon. His little brow is furrowed in concentration.
And I—I’m crumbling inside.
My palms sweat as I clutch the compad in my lap. I’ve rehearsed the words over and over in my head. Countless times. But they taste like splinters in my mouth now that the moment is real.
I close my eyes. Breathe.
He deserves the truth.
All of it.
Even if it breaks the soft, untroubled shape of his world.
“Benny?”My voice comes out softer than I intended. I swallow and try again. “Can we talk a second, baby?”
He looks up, big dark eyes blinking. “Did I do something wrong?”
God, my heart. I shake my head fast.
“No, sweetheart. Not at all.” I pat the spot beside me on the couch. “Come sit with me, yeah?”
He hops down, all awkward knees and endless energy, and crawls into my lap like he’s still four. He leans his head on my shoulder. My arms wrap around him instinctively, and I breathe in the scent of crayons and that blue citrus shampoo he loves.
“How come you look sad?” he asks, peering up at me.
I blink back the sting in my eyes and run a hand through his curls. “I’m not sad, baby. Just… nervous.”
He tilts his head, curious.
“There’s something I want to tell you. About your dad.”
He straightens a little. His fingers curl in the hem of his shirt. “Mr. Kuraken?”
My breath catches.
“Yes,” I whisper. “But not just Mr. Kuraken. His name’s Jav. And he’s not just your teacher or my… friend. He’s your father, Ben. Your real dad.”
Silence.
