“Yes, she knows, I’ve never kept anything from your mother,” Asher defended. “And, no, I don’t have any other secrets. What happened between Helen and me shouldn’t have happened.”
“May I say something?” Seth spoke up for the first time since Asher walked into the room. Lucas turned to look at Seth and raised an eyebrow, pretty much telling him to speak up now. “He had no idea that I was alive, my mother told him she lost the baby.”
“As fucked up as this situation is, we have another situation that we need to deal with first,” Tyler said to the entire room.
“Wh—” Lucas started but was cut off by Tucker. “You’re letting things go just like that!”
“I agree with Tyler. Once we find Gianni, we will deal with the family drama with everyone in the same room.”
“Always the rational one,” Lucas snapped at his husband. His emotions were high and he wanted—no needed—Tucker to be by his side on this.
“Yes,” Tucker said to him not backing down. “Because right now, you want everything out on the table and it’s not so simple.”
“You’re right, that’s because I want to know,” he exploded letting all his anger out. “I’ve worshipped the ground he walked on all my life, and you’re telling me that I need to simply forgive him.”
“Did I say that? No. All I’m saying is put your anger aside for right now,” Tucker roared, and it took Lucas’ breath away. He’d never heard him raise his voice, it was strong and sounded as if thunder cracked in the air. They both turned their heads when they heard Zoi crying.
Her crying lessened some of his anger, and it made him realize that this was his and Tucker’s first disagreement. He was angry and directing his anger towards everyone, especially his husband, when he should direct his anger at his father. Not saying a word, he backed out of the room and up the stairs. He needed to get away from everyone even if it seemed as if he was running away.
* * *
“I shouldn’t be here,”Seth said and went to leave.
“Yeah, you should be,” Tyler said stopping him. “It seems you are a part of this family now.”
“Aren’t you angry?” Seth asked.
Tyler looked at his father and then at his new brother. He was fucking livid, but unlike Lucas, he knew how to hold onto his anger, but he also wanted to hear his dad’s explanation as to what happened. “Yeah, I am, but you are not who I’m mad at. Look, give Lucas some time. He’ll calm down in a bit and you’ll find out that he doesn’t hold on to his anger for long. He’ll be back to being the sarcastic and funny asshole we all know and love.”
Seth nodded, but Tyler could tell he didn’t believe him, and truthfully, he didn’t either. He’d seen his brother angry before, but there was more hurt than anger behind his words. Tyler loved and adored his father but he knew the man was not a superhero, everyone is prone to mistakes. But Lucas had always put Asher on a pedestal and to know that his father could be knocked off his feet so easily hurt.
Gods, this was so fucked up beyond all repair, who knows if we will be able to get back to the family we used to be.
“Go up and talk to him, we can have Seth fill us in,” Tyler said to Tucker.
“Yeah, and thanks.” He went to leave but stopped. “I have a friend stopping by, Erich Meadow, don’t give him a heart attack with all the family drama. Just stick to the case.”
“Will do,” Tyler answered.
Tucker nodded and went up the stairs. Tyler turned to look at his family. “Let’s get to work.”
* * *
Tucker walkedinto Zoi’s room, closing the door quietly. Lucas looked over his shoulder, putting a finger to his lips telling him to be quiet. He nodded, moving closer to his husband and placing his hands on his shoulders. Lucas tensed then relaxed when he kissed him on the crown of his head. Looking over at Zoi, she had gone back to sleep and was none the wiser as to what was going on with the adults around her. Lucas leaned down and kissed her on her cheek then got off the bed, but before he could go anywhere, Tucker pulled him into his arms. Lucas was a proud and independent man, and even with him sometimes.
“It’s okay to be angry,” Tucker said.
He nodded and wrapped his arms around Tucker’s waist. “When did you figure it out?”
Tucker sighed and held him close. “When I walked downstairs and saw you both in a staring match.”
“You know what happened between his mother and Dad, don’t you?”
“I do, he gave me a brief explanation.” He leaned back and cupped Lucas’ cheeks. “I hate to say this, but he’s innocent in all of this. He knew who you, Tyler, and Christen were and from what I gather, he had no intention of coming forward but . . .”
“Gianni happened,” Lucas finished for him.
“Yeah,” Tucker said with a smile. “I know you’re angry at your dad, and I don’t blame you, I would be too. But right now, let’s focus on Gianni. Let’s put him back behind bars and then you can yell at your dad all you want, and I will stand right beside you.”
