Page 100 of Praying for Thunder

His eyes faded… to hazel.

The color for Ani, now for me.

Drowning in tears, I smiled. “I’m strong… because of you and my Ani.”

His tears dripped to the ground… “My boy.”

It was tragic, but one of the most amazing moments of my life. “Your boy. I swear it, Dio.”

The tent flap opened. Justice rushed back in, pulling a man with her.

From the ground, I peered up… and into blue eyes identical to mine.

⚡⚡⚡

Dio was the strong force that kept Ani and I glued together when she was falling apart. Had she run with me when I was four, I can only imagine what would’ve happened to us—who I would’ve grown to be. Even in the dark times with Onus, it was obvious I had a stubborn streak. Would I have flexed that stubbornness with Ani? I hope not, but chances are, the teenage boy in me would have challenged her like no other.

On this evening, I was pushing against Dio. Not disrespectfully, but I was the one who had to make the right decision. Make the painful call and face Hell, alone, once again.

There is no blame. He was a very young man when I entered his life. He was only in his late twenties tonight. He still had much to learn. About himself and life.

It was going to take a Hell of an alpha to handle the man I was becoming.

And he had arrived.

The older man with greying hair lifted his chin. “Get up, Pup.”

I knew who he was, and he knew who I was.

That’s why my nostrils flared as I stood. “This won’t be a good start to whoever we may be, if you begin with ordering me around.”

He smirked at a man standing next to him. “Yeah, he’s mine alright.”

I double-looked at the man he was talking to. His vest read Lynx. Oh, shit. Steel Stallions’ President. I set my shoulders back. “Thank you, sir, for helping Dio and me.”

He dipped his head. “It seems you are blood to some men very dear to me.”

Lynx’s energy matched the sperm donor’s. Between the two, I felt there was no room for me in the tent.

My biological father chuckled, “Oh, he does have manners.”

Determined, I said, “His Old Lady was very nice to me.” To him, I shook my head and pointed to Dio. “I’m his.”

The smirk grew. “How about you stop pretendin’ your heart ain’t big enough for another man in your life, and I won’t pretend to have any intentions on ever trying to replace that man on the floor. Comprende-o?”

To show a little more of my stubborn streak, I spoke the language better than him. “Your Spanish sucks, old man.”

“So I’ve been told.” He lit a cigarette. Blowing smoke above his head, he said, “And this old man can teach you a thing or two, so watch your mouth.”

My jaw locked and I stared him in the eyes.

He exhaled more smoke. “Why won’t you read my cut?”

I begged my voice not to crack as my throat tightened. “My connection to clubs is becoming tiresome.”

“Then why you a Prospect?”

The anger I had for him was shocking and confusing to me. “Not my choice.”