Is it gone?
That would be nice.
“This should go without saying,” Ben continues, breaking into that thought. “But this is Konnor’s business. None of this can leave this room. Konnor, if you want to make arrangements to discuss this further with other parties, then you can, but it should be discussed here, with me first. I can’t stress this enough. Everything I’ve done, all the truths I’ve withheld, have been for you. Promise me you won’t go ruffling feathers. Okay?”
Konnor slowly nods. “Does Nerrock know? Does he know where I am?”
“Yes, of course,” Ben says, his tone mournful. “He knows who you are, Konnor, and where you are. But you’re not in any danger. It’s over. You’re mine. Trust me.”
It’s over?
My stomach knots. “How can you be so sure?”
“Trust me,” he repeats.
Ben rises to his feet and walks over to his son. “Do you? Do you trust me?” He places his hand on Konnor’s shoulder and squeezes tenderly.
Konnor stares at his dad’s hand on him. Distrust blazes in his eyes. Wheels churn in his head. The seconds that pass are long and torturous for everyone. For Ben most of all, I suspect.
Konnor closes his eyes, holding them shut as he says, “I trust you, Dad.”
It’s over.If Konnor trusts him, then so do I. My shoulders drop, an ache flaring through my neck and arms as if I’d been wired in place that entire conversation.
Konnor’s jaw is still set, but his eyes have glazed over, far away and quiet. He repositions his feet, then widens them. Tension has drained from his face, leaving fatigue and something final. Not peace, not yet, but the final exhale that comes after a long fight ends.
The crease between his brows has flattened, and he’s looking at his father’s hand now without the hatred or calculation shifting through his green eyes.
He nods.
Turns.
And we leave.
Jaxon retires quietly to his room. No words are exchanged between the three of us, because they are simply redundant at this point.
We enter Konnor’s bedroom, and I stare at the small bookcase in the corner. There is a book for everything, but I don’t think one exists for this…
Konnor slumps down on the bed, clothes on, forearm over his eyes. I switch off the bedroom light, and the room drops into darkness.
Then I turn on the little lamp beside his bed, bringing a warm spot of light to the mattress where he lies. As I crawl in beside him, he makes space for me without a word.
I peer up at him. "Are you okay?” I whisper, one of those single line questions so heavy it asks so much more than there is energy for.
His arms come around me, pulling me to his chest where his heart evens out. Steady. Strong. Right beside my ear.
I nestle in. The documents are still sprawled across the floor, in the dark parts of his room, and we hold each other in the light part, silent, breathing deeply in unison until we fall asleep inhaling each other's scent.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
deakon
“Deakon? My name is Ben Slater. I’m a friend. Do you mind if I sit with you?” A gentle-looking man stands by the boy’s side, a half-smile on his lips.
I only have one friend.
She is in heaven.
And no one will tell me how to get there.
