“I don’t know… sometimes, I wish we hadn’t been found. I was happy with you.”
“Was?”
“You know what I mean.”
Damian scooted closer, pulling him against his body. His eyes in his eyes. “We are happy. And as soon as we’re back to life and all legal, I am going to marry you. Properly. Like it’s due in this civilized, bullshit world.”
Gabe’s eyes played. “So sure of yourself… that I’ll say ‘yes’?”
“Not sure I’ll give you a choice…” His voice had dropped, a soft heat radiating from his skin.
Gabe swallowed at the light in his eyes. “Make me, big boss guy…” Feeling his arms close around him tighter, his fingers digging into his flesh.
“You… little fuck…”
“Make me…”
They went up to their suite early in the morning and Damian ordered breakfast, a slight ache in his stomach, his eyes darting to the door leading to Cassie’s room. Stressed like never before at the idea of her meeting Gabe. He walked next to Gabe, looking outside, the view clear here, that milky light blue sky stretching to the horizon, and he wished he would be a bird, just open that window and fly away, restless in these confined, hard spaces, that artificial air everywhere. The windows had been welded shut. For safety. A bitter smile, and his hand went to Gabe’s shoulder, both silent, trying to find some trees in that grey jungle of concrete and glass.
They looked at the door opening, at Cassie’s wide smile, walking straight to them. She hugged Gabe, not leaving him time to do anything, and he gave it back, light, a bit moved. Looking at her when she’d let go, trying to tie her to that little girl Damian had spoken of sometimes. Scarce words, too quickly swallowed in that bitter twist of his mouth.
She smiled at him. “I’m Cassie. I guess you know. And you’re Gabe. It’s nice meeting you, finally.” She grinned, her eyes flashing at Damian. “Dad could not shut up about you. He’s head over heels.”
Damian flushed deep red, his lips parting, but she just skipped to him, planting a light kiss on those flaming cheeks. “Breakfast? I’m starving. Then, I’m off to the gym, they have one and there’s a pole room, I checked. I need to train.”
“Sure… breakfast is on the way.”
They sat to chat, and their breakfast arrived in the meantime, whatever Damian had ordered, that trolley so full, Cassie’s eyes went wide a bit. “All this food?”
He shrugged, embarrassed. “I just told them random stuff…”
“Coffee?” She took the pitcher, and they both froze, hesitating. “What’s wrong?”
Gabe took two mugs. “Nothing… it’s just… we didn’t have coffee there.” His eyes darted to Damian, asking, and he just nodded, stuffing some fruits in his mouth.
She poured that steaming black liquid, its scent filling the room, and Damian moaned, reaching for his mug. “Mhm… smells divine…” He poured some cream in it, but left the sugar, sipping, closing his eyes at the taste with a small smile. “Too good…” That light mood almost lighting up the room bathing in that morning glow. “I just remembered… we could go to grandma and grandpa; we are not far with the jet. Shit, I haven’t even called them, at all… You have their number?” His voice dying at the light in Cassie’s eyes, at her putting her toast down.
Her voice, soft. “Harold hasn’t told you?”
Damian’s face fell, knowing what he would hear, but it seemed unreal, like a halo floating around him, shutting out the sounds. Gabe’s hand on his hand, holding tight.
Her eyes drowned. “They died, Dad. Years ago. I am sorry. I thought you knew.”
Damian just breathed against that sudden tightness in his chest, his thoughts not making sense.Died.Somehow, this hurt more than anything, more than Kevin’s words, more than drifting in this world which had become foreign.
He found his voice, his lips numb. “How?”
She pulled a small face. “Grandma never got over your… death… she died a year after, almost… just let herself go… and grandpa followed. He held two years…” Her eyes went to his drawn face, his wide eyes, her tears blurring her vision. “He left a note, and a will… they found him in his office. He did it with his hunting gun.”
Her tears rushed out as Damian closed his eyes, his own heart drumming in his ears. Clinging to Gabe’s warm touch, those strong fingers curled on his hand, holding him tight.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He opened his eyes at Cassie’s voice, exhaling hard.
“The house got sold, and his fortune divided between Kevin and me. He made sure that it got put on separate accounts which we could only access at twenty-one. That’s soon for me… and Kevin, well, he’s not your son, so… that’s a bit complicated. Harold said your lawyer might just claim it back…”
Damian forced his voice out. “No… he has my name… he…”
Cassie shook her head, her heart breaking for him. “Not anymore… He took Peter’s name as soon as it could be arranged.”
His lips curled up, but he just blew a breath. “Ok. Still, he was his grandson, and this is what he wanted. I’ll make sure he gets that money.”
