Chapter Thirty-Four
Rue
He sat staring at his laptop screen, not seeing the email he’d been reading before he’d gotten the alert for the group chat. His phone sat on the desk, and he breathed out a sigh of frustration at Silas and Laken.
Laken was acting in ways Rue hadn’t witnessed before. Yes, Laken bitched the same as the rest of them, but he’d never had a proper pot-shot at one of their brothers on Rue’s behalf before.
Laken hadn’t been around when he’d packed to come to the ranch, and now he wondered if that was on purpose.
There was most definitely something off, especially if Dad thought Laken was avoiding him, too.
Rue’s guilt sat like a lead ball in his gut, reminding him how wrapped up in his own shit he’d gotten, not paying attention to what was happening with Laken.
Was it a PA thing? They were like falling dominos. Had Laken complained about Isley? Rue couldn’t rightly remember. Was it something else? It was hard to say for sure. He eyed his phone with trepidation at the prospect of searching through the group chat to discover if Laken had given himself away.
Should he just message Laken?
Mention his worry to Dad?
He shook off the notion of asking Dad about Laken when it would be like throwing him under the bus.
He’d hate it if Laken did that to him. Keeping secrets from Popi was hard when he got into pump mode while feeding them their favourite treat.
Dad just got a look that said he wouldn’t take any messing, making it impossible to hold water around him.
None of them wanted to disappoint Dad. If he asked questions, then they knew they were in trouble.
It was why Rue was more than a little relieved when Popi rang, derailing their earlier conversation.
Rue had known it was going to get heavy; he’d seen the way Dad had watched him before Popi and Monty left with Ivo.
Rue knew his fate. The earlier derailing, only temporarily, gave some breathing space to get his thoughts in order.
Being caught so spectacularly, kissing his PA, by his parents, was not how he envisioned he’d introduce his ‘boyfriends’.
It didn’t matter that they already knew something was happening between them.
If he were honest, he kind of had a romantic notion of how he’d do it.
Dang it all, he’d booked a table for dinner housed in the hotel at Vaughn winery, asking for a secluded table, flowers and their best champagne for Thursday evening, Kendrick’s night off.
Now he considered their early arrival, he should have realized they’d pull a stunt like this and come early. Particularly if he’d reflected on the call he’d had with Dad since he’d been on the ranch.
He groaned in frustration and buried his head in his hands. His parents seeing him get down and dirty while he should be working, what was he thinking?
He hadn’t been!
His fingers ran through his hair. He had never gotten caught kissing someone before, it felt weird. Like he was being naughty somehow.
It’s not naughty to kiss our little otter. When are we going to see him in his shifted form? I want to meet him, and our bear.
Otters are tiny compared to us. You don’t want to frighten him off.
Rue felt the eye roll his animal side was pulling. Fear, what nonsense is this? He reamed your ass like a pro. He’s not frightened, you are! And are you forgetting he loves us?
What rubbish.
He loves us, his rhino argued.
I’m not debating that. He wasn’t. Nothing about the confession felt fake. The way Monty had looked at him, like nothing else existed, couldn’t be faked. I’m not frightened.
Then why are you avoiding addressing what’s wrong with Kendrick?
“Still here, good. We can finish our conversation,” said Dad as he came back into the office alone, striding to the desk looking every inch a cowboy.
Great! Aloud he hedged, “Dad, I’ve got a shit ton of work to finish.”
Dad’s silver eyebrows rose while taking the seat opposite him. “I’m sure it can wait when you’re able to take the time to be… distracted.” He lounged in the seat, crossing his denim-clad legs, aiming an affable smile at Rue that didn’t fool him one bit. He was about to be interrogated.
“Dad…”
“Rue, talk to me.”
There was the concern that melted away any resistance he had. “What are we talking ‘bout?”
“The shadows of your past… they’re no longer there in your eyes. Do I have Kendrick, Kendrick and Monty, or Monty to thank for this?”
If someone had used a cattle prod on him, he wasn’t sure he’d have reacted so violently, shooting forward in his seat, mouth hanging open in shock.
“W-what…” he choked out, unable to say more when he’d built himself up to talk, but this? Rue held Dad’s gaze, searching for answers. “You know about my b-brother… don’t you?”
“I do.”
“How?” he croaked out, feeling the need to move but knowing with certainty his legs would not hold him up.
“When you came into my family, I needed to make sure we could protect you, so I used an investigator, and he gathered information.”
They know. They know. “W-why…”
“Why didn’t I say something?” Rue’s nod was stilted, his brain trying to play catch up to why he’d never considered they’d investigate what happened that night.
“I was waiting for you to talk to me about it. When we sent you to the therapist, they advised me to let you come to me. I listened, and I let you down.” Dad ran a shaky hand over his mouth. “I’m sorry for that, son.”
Rue released a shuddery breath, and what struck was the lack of condemnation. Sadness yes, he witnessed that, could hear it, but not condemnation. Same as Monty and Kendrick.
It was the same.
For years he’d held on to the guilt, using it to beat on himself. Had talking to Kendrick and Monty allowed him to stop, to step out of the shadowy, painful past? Because how was it this easy? He didn’t know. Yet here it was, his worst fears exposed, and there was no rejection.
He searched Dad’s expression, seeing nothing but love.
Love he’d given freely and without strings.
The strings attached to it were all Rue’s.
He struggled to blink away the tears gathering in his eyes as he got up and strode to Dad, grabbing his arm to haul him up.
There was a flicker of surprise before Rue pulled him in and gave him a crushing hug.
The air expelled with force out of him when Dad returned the hug just as hard.
Never one to show affection, Rue clung on and gave in to the need. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Dad. I didn’t trust you and Popi.”
Dad squeezed tight and kissed his forehead.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re my son, I love you, and nothing will change that.
What happened to you was a crime. Same to your birth parents and brother.
” Dad eased his hold to be able to look Rue in the eye.
“Through tragedy came a gift to us, you. If I could have given you back what was stolen, I would have. I’d have sold my soul to prevent the trauma you and your family suffered. ”
A sob tore from Rue’s throat. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you and Popi after—”
“If you’re gonna say it’s your fault, I might just have to paddle your ass. Nothing about who you are can justify what the crash did to your family. Nothing!”
The steel in his voice came wrapped in silk, but it was still there.
“I love you, Dad.”
For the first time, Rue witnessed tears in Dad’s eyes. “I love you, too. Never forget that.” Another tender kiss to his forehead, and Rue gave in and rested his head against the solid chest that smelled like home. “Now, shall we talk about Kendrick and Monty?”
“Daddddd!” he groaned, but with some amusement.
“What? It seems you’ve found men who see beyond your walls, and I couldn’t be happier for you.”
Rue tugged back, resigned yet relieved, too. He wanted to talk. “I told them about… everything.”
The smile of approval that lit Dad’s eyes made it hard to swallow. “I figured. They must be very special to you.”
“They are… Monty… he loves me.”
Dad nodded like he expected nothing else. “And Kendrick?”
“Hang on… you knew? About Monty?”
“Let’s just say the omega wasn’t as discrete at hiding his adoration when he was around you.”
Rue frowned. No, he hadn’t missed that, had he? “Huh! Seriously?” It was best not to think too hard on the subject, because otherwise he’d have to consider his brothers could have noticed too!
“Yes, you were just in denial. He’s perfect for you.”
“Honestly, I don’t think I want to have this conversation.”
He didn’t like how Dad laughed, shaking his head at him. “Then we can talk about your alpha, Kendrick.”
Back was Rue’s frown. “I didn’t mention he was an alpha.” As he was watching Dad closely, he didn’t miss the slight wince, and he quickly added up what was going on. “You had him investigated, didn’t you!”
Good God, what if Kendrick found out?
It took a second before he nodded, and Rue let go to take a step back, unsure how to react.
“I have met Kendrick once before, Rue, just to be clear.”
“He never mentioned it.” Rue had to wonder why.
“Maybe he forgot, is it relevant? What is, is that I protect what I love—my family. When you have your own, you’ll understand there is nothing you won’t do to prevent harm coming to them. I needed to know that the man my son is serious about is worthy of him. I won’t apologise for it.”
Rue should be furious. But to have someone want to protect him from harm, how could he be mad about that when it was Dad? Then he considered his brothers’ mates. “Did you do the same to Hollis, Frey, and Ziggy?”
He had to know if it was just him.
“Of course I did.” A sheepish look came and went.
“Oh my God, they don’t know, do they? Silas, Taylin, and Booker? You didn’t tell them.”
Dad shrugged, not looking at all comfortable. “They never asked. If they had, I would have told the truth.”
Rue believed him. “You trust me not to tell them.” It wasn’t a question.
“I do.”
That right there was why he couldn’t find it in himself to be pissed off. Honesty. Dad and Popi never shied away from the hard questions. It just wasn’t who they were. “You’re right. I won’t unless they ask me.”
“I expect nothing less.” He returned to the seat. “Now, when are we officially meeting Kendrick?”
Rue chuckled. “I’ve booked a table for dinner on Thursday. It’s Kendrick’s day off.”
He took two steps back to Silas’s desk, then swung around, giving Dad a serious look. “I don’t want to know what you found out about Kendrick, okay? I trust him.”
“Good.”
That one-word reply said everything, leaving Rue with another idea. One he had been playing around with, looking at possibilities, and it seemed this was the right time to bring it up. “Can we talk about where I need to be based?”
“I see…” Dad’s head tilted, a shrewd look in his eyes. “I hope he realizes how lucky he is.”
Rue grinned widely. “I believe he does.”