Page 95 of Praying for Thunder

Nerves rattling my organs that weren’t sure whether or not to keel over in shock, I exhaled.

Full of empathy, she asked, “Will you come inside with me?”

When Chubs and Roam took a step forward, she held up a hand. “I’m so sorry. Only him. For now.”

I took a step, but Chubs grabbed my shoulder. “Bullshit,” he growled to Elle and anyone willing to listen. “How do I know he’ll be safe in there?”

Again, no Stallions harshly judged his actions. They simply studied him.

That’s when a large man approached and stood next to Elle.

My heart stuttered at this part of my past. “G-Grims.”

His expression was lost between never thinking this day would come and not willing to let a certain someone be tricked. Eyes locked to mine, he asked, “What is something that happened at the fire that no one else would know?”

My chest tightened thinking of how hard Ani fought to save Moola. “I can’t say because I’m not a bean spiller.”

His mouth fell open. “Thunder.”

My jaw trembled. “Yes, sir.”

I finally got to use my manners and not be punished for it.

Elle stepped aside while saying, “I’ve seen a lot of wrongs in my lifetime, but every time I get to witness one of you young men find your way home, a renewed hope has me believing in this world again.”

Home… My whole body started to shake as I pointed to the tent behind Elle. “Is he in there?”

Men started coughing and looking away as tears began to slide down my face.

My knees threatened to give. It was like every ounce of strength I had to survive the years of abuse was now draining from me, my mind sensing it was almost over.

Grims was shaken up as he nodded. “Yeah—”

The tent door whipped open.

He’d aged. My loss had aged him. His dark eyes were full of so much pain… “My boy.”

All air left my lungs… “Dio.”

I don’t know who moved first. All I know is our bodies met in the middle and crashed into each other. Arms. Thick, familiar arms had me wrapped so tight.

I cried, “Dio.”

He sobbed, tucking his head over mine, as if not able to get enough of me with only his embrace. “My boy.” His arms tightened.

I may have been a Titan Prospect, and trying to be a man, but at this moment, I was nothing but this man’s little boy.

And that truth was crashing down on me. I bawled, “Dio.”

He rocked me. “Shhh. I got ya. I got ya.”

I wept. “She’s dead. She’s dead.”

Not letting me go, he kissed my head and wept with me. “I know, Little Man. I know.”

Dio…

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