37. Soren
“ Y ou sure you’re okay, Zaychik?” I can feel her concern for me from across the state.
“I promise, Ma. It was a run-of-the-mill dinner. Uncle Ivan and David were there, and you know Papa won’t do anything that pisses Uncle Ivan off too much.”
She makes a disbelieving noise, but lets it go. “Well, that should appease him for a little while at least. In his mind, he’s done his parental duties for the next few months. Which is good for you.” I hum in agreement. “Anyway, how’s the new job going?”
I smile. “It’s going great, I love the work and the people.”
“That’s great. I still wish you would have gotten out of that life entirely, but I’m glad you seem to have found your place.”
Doc enters the room and I grin at him, my heart skipping a beat at just the sight of my boy. “I really did, Ma. I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I have.”
She’s quiet for a long moment before saying, “Is there something you want to tell me?”
Inwardly, I groan, knowing her ‘mother’s intuition’ has caught on to what I haven’t said. “I…might have met someone,” I admit.
Doc gives a gentle smile and walks over to where I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, pushing my legs apart and slotting himself in between them. Snaking a hand around his waist, I hold him close, letting him cuddle into me.
“Oh, Sory, that’s great! I knew you were being cagey a few months ago. Tell me everything? How’d you meet him?”
I laugh a little. “I really wasn’t looking for anyone when you asked me before, Ma. It just sort of happened. We fit.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet. What’s his name?”
“Doc… He’s the Head Doctor for the Amatos, and before you say anything, I know what I’m doing. The Boss knows and he’s okay with it. Everyone has been really understanding and accepting.”
“Sory…”
“I know, Ma. I know, okay? I promise, I’m being smart about this. We both tried to fight it at first.” I tighten my hold on Doc at my words. “But sometimes you just know.”
“You’re an adult, Soren. I can’t say I agree with your choices, things could get messy for you, but I want you to be happy. If this Doc makes you happy, well, I guess me and your auntie have to make plans for a trip soon.”
I groan. “No, Ma. No trips. You and Tetya Kat are staying right where you are. Let us get our feet under us before we start doing the whole ‘meet the family’ thing, okay?”
She huffs. “Da, fine. I’ll allow you to get away with it, for now. But I am expecting an invitation sooner rather than later, Sory.”
“Yes, Ma. I promise, once everything is settled here, I’ll fly you and Tetushka out. I know the trips will be happy to see you, too.”
“I’ve missed them. I still think Petrov and Novikov babies would have been adorable. Things are truly over between Nico and David?”
I laugh and shake my head at the ridiculousness of my mother. Doc must be able to hear her because he looks at me with confusion in his eyes. “Later,” I mouth to him, before replying to the crazy woman on the phone. “Yes, Ma, they’re really over. Nico… Nico knows his limitations, and he cares too much about David to stay in a relationship that would end up emotionally killing them both. Which I can respect. I want them both to be happy, too. As much as they respect and care for one another, sometimes love isn’t enough.”
And in this case, love is the problem. Dominic being aromantic is something he’s been navigating since we were teenagers. I know ending things with David killed him, because they are truly good for one another, but that’s why he couldn’t stay with him. David might understand that Dominic doesn’t feel love like other people, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t wear on him.
You can be perfect for one another, and still not be compatible.
Ma sighs. “I know, it’s for the best, for both of them, but I hope this doesn’t scare Nico off relationships.”
“Me too.”
“Anyway, I better go. I’m sure you have more interesting things to do than spending the entire night speaking to your mother.”
Rolling my eyes to Doc, I smile as he grins, clearly enjoying my mother’s dramatics. “You know I like talking to you, Ma. It’s never a bother.”
She sniffs. “Then maybe next week you’ll be the one to call me, hmm?”
Doc laughs and I glare at him, even though I walked right into that trap. “Sure, Ma. I’ll call you soon, okay?”
“You better. Love you, Sory.”
“I love you, too.”
She hangs up and I drop my phone onto the bed next to me. Doc drapes his arms over my shoulders, and I wrap both of mine around his waist.
“I can’t wait to meet your mother,” he says.
I chuckle and bury my face into his abdomen. “Ugh, I love her, but she’s dramatic . And knows exactly how to play me.”
He laughs and moves one hand up to my hair, playing with the strands. “I think good parents are meant to be like that. At least, that’s what I’ve seen with Cristian and Roman over the years.”
I want to ask about his own parents, but something in his voice, the way he gets wistful when talking about the Boss and his son, tells me it’s a sore subject, and I understand that all too well. My mother might be great, but I know all about growing up with a parent who isn’t.
While it doesn’t bother me to talk about my father and the shit he put me through, I’m also not about to discuss it all willy-nilly. So, I won’t ask, but I will wait and listen when Doc’s ready to tell me.
He sighs and tries to move out of my embrace, but I hold tight. “I have something to ask you, but I also have to explain some things.”
“What is it, baby?”
The tension he’s been holding for the last few minutes eases at the endearment, and I clutch him even closer.
“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but the Amatos donate a lot of money to charity; keeping up appearances that they’re nothing more than a wealthy family who cares for certain causes. Roman and Carter even make cookies every year at Christmas and take them down to the soup kitchen. Anyway, one of the charities hosts a dinner every year, and always extends an invite to Cristian… They also send one to me.”
Pulling back, I meet his gaze, brows furrowing in confusion. “To you?”
He takes a shuddering breath and nods. “My full name is Ashby Percival Wescott. I know, it sounds so fucking pretentious, and is one reason why I prefer going by Doc. My family… They’re one of the oldest, wealthiest in the state. And with that comes a lot of expectations, especially from their one and only son.”
“You don’t have to talk about this.”
He tries to smile but it falls flat. “Yes, I do. Because I go to the event every year, and I want you to come as my date, but if you do that, I’ll be subjecting you, not only to some of the wealthy and elite people in the nearby cities, but my parents as well.”
“I’ll support you and do whatever you want. If you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to. I’m happy to stay home and wait for you.”
He clutches my hair in his fingers, pulling tight. “I don’t want that, though, Daddy. I want to bring you with me. I want to show off how good you’ll look in a tux, and I want my parents to see that I can have everything I always dreamt about, while still being who I am.”
“I’m guessing they don’t approve of you being gay then.”
He shakes his head and lets out a bitter laugh. “That’s putting it nicely. Sure, they like to brag that I am the personal doctor to Cristian, because while there are rumors swirling about the actual type of business he’s in, he still has enough money and clout that people ignore the rumors and suspicions. But that for sure doesn’t mean they think I can be such an important person while having my…tendencies. Never mind, it’s well-known that Cristian is married to a man. It’s different for their child, I suppose.”
I hum in agreement. “My father is a homophobic asshole, in all the ways, and looks down on Cristian for that, but that also means I understand. I’m not out to him. Everyone in my life knows, except my father. So, I mean it when I say that you don’t have to introduce me to them.”
“I want to, Daddy. I want everyone to see you and know you’re mine.” He leans down and presses a kiss to my lips, and I hold him close for a long moment. “Anyway, so you’ll meet my parents, but…that’s not all I want to discuss.”
“Okay, we can talk about whatever you want, baby.”
He gives a wobbly smile, and when he goes to pull out of my arms again, this time I let him. Doc takes a seat next to me on the bed and I wrap an arm around him, encouraging him to lean against me. It should be awkward with our size difference, but we fit as if we were made for one another.
“I want to tell you how I became the Amato Doctor.”
“Only if you want to, though I have to admit, I am curious.” Now that I know where he comes from, it seems a bit strange that a rich kid would end up as a mafia associate.
“You know my background. I’m a trust fund baby. I bought this house with money from said trust. The money Cristian pays me…half goes into an account to simply accumulate interest and sit there until I figure out what to do with it, the rest goes to the clinic. Cristian is very generous, and helped me build the place from the ground up, but it’s my baby, which means I take care of it, and the people who work there, as best I can.
“Anyway, I decided to become a doctor mostly because it was my parents’ wish. They wanted something distinguished for me, and so they set it all up and I went through the motions.”
He sighs and I hold him, letting him gather his thoughts, or his courage, content to sit with him as long as he needs. When he speaks again, his voice is soft in a way I’ve never heard before. “I started college at sixteen, did I tell you that?”
I shake my head. “No, never. I’m not surprised though. Under the bratty exterior is intelligence. I can’t imagine Cristian would have hired you if there wasn’t.”
“Yeah… So, I was young and experiencing the world for the first time without my parents hanging over my shoulder…and I started rebelling a bit. Mostly just sleeping around, learning about kink and what I liked, but it was freedom for the first time in my life.” I hold him a little tighter at that, imagining a young Doc going after everything he was forced to deny himself for so long.
“The summer before I started medical school though, I got caught. My boyfriend and I had just finished a scene, and I was dozing in my apartment when my parents showed up. He didn’t know any better, and I don’t blame him for anything, but he answered the door, thinking it was the food he ordered, and well…I’m sure you can imagine the shitstorm that went down.”
I wince, because it’s all too easy to picture. Emotions would have already been high at getting caught by people who wouldn’t tolerate your relationship, never mind the interrupted aftercare… It’s a miracle Doc wasn’t damaged, and is still willing to be so vulnerable when we play together. That just goes to show the trust he has for me.
Especially since our first official scene was in the middle of his family room. Unbeknownst to me at the time, that was the ultimate test and show of trust… Had anyone walked into the room that day, how I reacted and took care of him would have been a make it or break it moment.
He sighs. “So, my parents tried to dictate who I could and could not date. They tried to tell me who I should be , as if it was that easy to simply change something so fundamental about myself. I got reckless after that.”
“What do you mean?” Though I’m honestly not surprised by his words. Doc is a brat through and through, I can imagine it was a trait of his from the very beginning.
“I’d already had all my fun with sex and discovering kink in undergrad. The last thing I needed was to be cut off financially so close to entering medical school—which is what they threatened me with. I had money, but certainly not enough to afford the entire program, not yet at least, and they knew that.
“Despite them pushing me into it, I found I enjoyed what I was learning, and didn’t want it taken away from me. Spoiled rich kid, remember? I couldn’t fathom not having that type of financial backing… So I cooled it with the sex. Besides, I was getting older, and I wanted to find a Dom who was mine . I wanted a relationship, so I was more choosy.” There’s pain in his voice now, and I turn my head to press a kiss to his temple.
I can hear what he’s not saying. The child, who was used as nothing more than a pawn in his parents’ ambition, wanted someone to love him unconditionally. I can sympathize with that.
“So, not quite quitting sex cold turkey, but I reined in my sluttiness.” I snort at that and he laughs a little. “What else could a rich kid do as a form of rebellion?” He lets out a long, deep sigh, as if it comes from his very soul. “I started pushing drugs. I knew where to go to get the in I needed. After all, I might have been a trust fund baby, but not everyone I went to school with was. They had to pay their bills by other means…and they were always looking for other unsuspecting people to recruit.”
“Jesus, Doc.”
He groans and presses his face into my neck. “I know , okay? I know it wasn’t the smartest move, but I was twenty, so ‘young and dumb’ applied greatly to me. I was so mad at my parents for trying to control every single aspect of my life. I had to do something, that was the only thing I could think of. Well, that or becoming a pornstar.”
I laugh and he shakes with his own laughter. “You’re crazy, you know that, right?”
“Yeah… I own up to my faults. But, it turns out, I was good at getting people to buy my shit. It brought me to the attention of the head guy in the area. At the time, I didn’t know how any of that shit worked. All I knew was I picked up the product at a certain time and place, handed over the money I made, and got a percentage of it. I didn’t know anything about the Families in the area, didn’t know that by selling what I was, I was essentially working for the Amatos.”
I can see where this is going and my stomach churns, knowing I won’t like the rest of this story.
“I don’t know how, but the people I was working for somehow found out who I was. They thought I was a joke, that I was some bored rich kid looking to make a quick buck because I simply wasn’t getting enough from Mommy and Daddy—their words. I mean, they were close but so wrong at the same time.
“Anyway, they ended up beating the shit out of me…and if it wasn’t for Cristian and Tennant doing an unexpected inspection—they were having issues with this particular dealer and wanted to surprise him, see if they could catch him doing something…unscrupulous. Don’t ask what that means because I have no idea what they really expected or were looking for.
“But they walked in and put an end to it all. Killed everyone there, and instead of leaving me for dead, they took me home with them.”
Silence permeates the room as we sit with his words. I kiss his head again, unsure how else to show my support, because anything I could say seems so…cheap and not enough.
“I was an idiot who kept my real ID on me, so they knew who I was. The hacker they had on their payroll at that time—not Hollis—found out a lot of stuff about my family, and so they knew everything.
“Don’t ask me why they kept me. I know Tennant was all for killing me. I was weak and half dead anyway, so it made sense in that psychopath’s head, but Cristian didn’t let him. Where Tennant only saw what the others did—a spoiled rich kid playing with things he didn’t fully understand—Cristian…he had other ideas and plans for me. To this day, I couldn’t tell you what he saw in me, but when I was strong and coherent enough to understand what was happening…he made a deal with me. The rest is history.”
I let his words tumble around in my head for a while before asking, “Really, that’s it? They saved your life and offered you a job?”
Doc sits up and we turn to face one another. He shrugs. “Pretty much. Trust me, it’s been twenty-two years and it still baffles me. I’m convinced it was one of Cristian’s last rebellions against his uncle before the fucker died; because shortly after the doc they had gave me the all clear, he died of a ‘heart attack’.”
I snort. “Yeah, sure, I believe that.”
“Right?” He rolls his eyes. “I wasn’t actually in medical school yet, so they had to deal with the medical assistant they had at the time, but when Cristian felt I had enough schooling under my belt, that assistant ‘moved to another state’. Mind you, I’d barely had a year of schooling when that went down.
“I won’t pretend to understand how Cristian’s mind works, even if I consider him one of my closest friends. I just know that without him, I don’t know where I’d be now.”
Giving him a gentle smile, I reach for his hands, squeezing them in mine. “Well, as crazy as it all is, I’m glad for him. We wouldn’t be here without all that. So, as sorry as I am that you had to deal with that, I’m happy to be here with you.”
“Me, too.”
I lean forward and kiss him softly. “Thank you for telling me all that, baby. I’m sorry your parents suck, but that doesn’t change my mind. I still want to go to the charity dinner with you, and we’ll face them together.”
“Thank you, Daddy. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
I brush another kiss against his mouth. “Anything for you, baby.” The I love you is silent, but if the glimmer in his amber eyes is any indication, we both hear it.