“I know what you’re thinking.” Fox looked at his brother, not sure what to say. “Why didn’t I say anything? I was going to confront you with what I found out, but mom stopped me. She said as much as it hurts to know, it was up to you to tell us. We knew how you’d feel if you found out we invaded your privacy. Do you know how hard it is to keep this a secret? It hurt worse knowing you refused a heart transplant. You stopped taking your medications.” His voice cracked but didn’t break, and Fox realized the pain he’d been causing his family.
“Why, Fox? Why wouldn’t you tell us what the doctor said? Do you think we can’t handle hearing bad news? Did you lose your faith in us? We’re your family, not strangers you just met off the street. It killed me to think you might have accepted your death so easily. And when you got us together, we finally thought you would tell us what the doctor told you. But instead, you told us you wanted to get pregnant. When we heard you were in an accident…” Zev looked away from Fox, unable to finish his words.
“I’m sorry,” Fox whispered, unable to hear more.
Listening to Zev, he realized how selfish his actions had been. He couldn’t blame it on the previous owner of his body anymore. The fuck ups Crevan Hannigan made became his burdens the second he’d agreed to live in his place. Fox also understood why Crevan Hannigan didn’t want to tell his family—their worry would compound him, making it harder for him to accept things as they were. Fox finally understood what Nafri meant. If he were to tell the Hannigans he wasn’t their son and brother, it would break their hearts beyond repair.
“I’m a selfish asshole.” Zev went to speak, but Fox stopped him. “Don’t try to coddle me, Zev. Don’t try to make me feel better by saying it’s okay. You’re right. I should have told everyone what the doctor said. Thinking back, I realize my reasons do not justify my actions. I’m so sorry I made you guys worry. I can only ask you guys to forgive me for my past and see me as a better person in the future, and I will never keep something so important from the family again.”
“Are you really my little brother?” Zev asked after a few minutes. “Because the Fox I know wouldn’t have owned up to something like that.” Zev cupped one of his cheeks. “You’ve grown up in just a matter of weeks.”
“Blame Genesis.” Fox smiled. “She’s taught me so many things in a short time.”
“Do you think my son will do the same for me?”
Fox’s eyes widened. “You’re having a boy!”
Zev nodded, smiling.
Fox excitedly wrapped his arms around his big brother, congratulating him. Zev and his mates had kept the baby’s gender a secret from everyone, and no matter how hard he tried, his brother wouldn’t bend. Tears prickled in the corner of Fox’s eyes when he felt Zev’s arms circle his waist. Their relationship had been fractured, but it wasn’t broken. Fox realized he needed to come clean with his parents about his goals and desires if he wanted them to trust him again. He held onto Zev for a bit longer, hoping his brother understood his actions.
Zev kissed the side of his head. “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.”
* * *
Later that day,Fox walked intoHannigan’s Will You Be Wineafter dropping Zev at home, he’d gotten a call from his secretary about something he needed to handle with the company. After their talk they had enjoyed the rest of the day while making the deliveries for the wine store. Realizing he needed to spend some time with his family, Fox sent a message to Alistaire asking if they could meet the following night because he wanted to be with his family for a bit.
Seeing Aria was speaking with Quintus about the expansion of the store, Fox decided to check out what online orders had come in for the day and started working on them. Aria and Barret had exceptional insight on architecture and design. The store looked small on the outside but was quite large on the inside. The lighting and soft music set off a romantic atmosphere.
The wine store was designed to look and feel like a medieval wine cellar with large barrels stacked in at least three corners of the place. There were chairs and tables set up in the center of the store where customers had the opportunity to taste the wine before they purchased it.
The more expensive wines were in the back of the store stacked on specially designed shelves. They employed a wine steward who worked in the store two days a week for a couple of hours. There were also built-in black glass wine refrigerators lining one side of the walls and specialty cheese and snacks on the other.
“What a cutie she is. I’m sure she’s going to break hearts when she gets older.”
A chill ran down Fox’s spine when he heard the person behind him. Fox didn’t know why, but he could have sworn he’d heard that voice before. He slowly turned to see who was behind him and to put some distance between him and the man. Fox wrapped his arms protectively around Genesis, who was resting comfortably in her infant sling that kept her snug against his body when his eyes connected with the stranger.
“Um…thank you.” In front of him, the man was as tall as Alistaire with short black hair and green eyes that didn’t seem to fit him.
The man smiled, and the chill he’d felt came back, making him shiver in fear.Why do I feel uncomfortable around this man?
“Are you chilled?” The man whispered.
“Is there something I can help you with?” Fox asked instead of answering his question.
“Ah yeah, I’m buying a bottle of wine for a friend as a Christmas present, and I was hoping to find the perfect gift for him here.”
“What’s his preference?”
“Why don’t you surprise me,” the man said. “I’m sure anything you choose will be perfect.”
What the fuck, is this dude flirting with me? I’m holding a baby, for crying out loud!
“I’m not sure I’m the expert you think I am. I’m only helping out my folks.”
The man stepped closer to Fox, invading his space. “I think you’re selling yourself short, Crevan. You’re the perfect person to help me.”
Alarm bells went off in his head. “How the fuck do you know my name?”
