Chapter Forty-One #2
“He played on my weaknesses to get what he wanted, and frankly, I don’t blame him.
I was an easy target. I was a mess … I still am.
But through all of the uncertainty, the resentment and disguising myself with darkness, there was one thing that, right from the start, felt good and honest … And that was Byron.”
I glance down at him, and I’m chuffed to find him gazing up at me, a purely gorgeous, timid smile on his perfect mouth.
“I was instantly infatuated,” I go on. “How could I not be? He’s fantastic .
And I’ll be brutally honest… I thought you all were bonkers for keeping him in the shadows the way you had.
” Many of their faces fall with some visible remorse.
Especially Ren. “Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all your fault.
He certainly enjoyed being there.” I smirk at Byron, and he chuckles.
“But he didn’t belong in the dark, and it drove me mad to see him feeling so unimportant.
Because he’s the most important person I’ve ever met.
He deserves to be the star of the show, and now he is.
And I’m just the late addition to the cast who gets to watch him shine. ”
Lifting Byron’s hand in mine, I kiss his knuckles. “I know I fucked up along the way… A lot. And trust me when I say, I would take a million more beatings from you to prove that this is real. That I’m real, and we’re real, and I’m never going to hide again.”
Byron pouts, eyes shimmering as he touches the cut on my lip. “I do feel bad about that…”
I chuckle. “It’s alright, Raph. I thought it was hot.”
“Me too,” Ren hums.
“Definitely scary, but in a secret boner kinda way,” Dash adds.
“Not now, Luscious.” Kemper covers Dash’s mouth with his hand.
“Cards on the table, that wasn’t the first time I’ve kicked his ass.” Byron grins. “It happens way more often than it probably should.”
“Show me a relationship on this island that isn’t at least a little unhinged.” I give them all a pointed look.
No one has a word of argument about that.
“Yea… I get it now.” Byron sighs, specifically to Luthor and Ren. “Whether it’s toxic or not, you can’t fight chemistry.”
“I love when he has to admit he’s wrong,” Ren whispers to Luthor.
“I’m sorry for what I said to you on the phone, Luthor,” I address him sheepishly. “I was manic and truly despising myself… Quite literally the worst moment for you to call.” I pinch the back of my neck.
Luthor blinks at me, then at Byron, observing the hopefulness in his friend’s eyes. His lips twist. “It’s okay. If it weren’t for that ominous conversation, we wouldn’t have come back. So I’d say it worked out for the best.”
“Yea, thanks for luring us into extreme danger that we risked our lives to escape,” Ren mutters sarcastically. “Much appreciated.”
Luthor smacks him playfully.
I turn to my doctor and his fiancé, prepared to monologue to them next. But before I can even go there, Felix holds his hand up.
“Don’t worry about us. We’ve been through worse.” He grins at Lemuel, who kisses his tousled brown hair.
“The point is that I’m sorry to anyone who was run-through by Hurricane Trevel,” I murmur. “But the only person I need mercy from is my Shadowman.” My eyes linger on Byron’s shy smile before I peek at Lemuel and whisper, “I get it now.”
He grins, the first genuine smile I’ve ever gotten from the robotic doctor who’s helped me so much over the years. I wouldn’t be here without Lemuel Love, that’s for certain. But this sentence turned out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I cup Byron’s jaw in my hands while he holds my waist. “I love you, warrior. Thank you for fighting for me when I didn’t.”
And this time, he isn’t afraid. He kisses me, in front of people . No holds barred.
“I love you, prison husband.” He beams, and I laugh into his mouth.
“Never thought I’d see the day,” Joy snorts.
“Really??” Rook scoffs. “I never doubted it for a second. This island’s number one export is codependent relationships.”
“Okay, listen.” Velle claps his hands together. “It tickles my balls that you two fuckin’ weirdos found each other. And I promise there’ll be plenty of time for us to rub our dicks together after we win this thing, but right now, we need to focus.”
Byron and I pull apart just enough to give him our attention.
“While you were outside, I got into the servers,” Luthor tells Byron.
His brows jump. “So… we have the prisoners?”
Velle nods. “Everyone’s locked and loaded. Peters is gathering up the troops, and they’ll be ready to back us up. Because you were right…” He steps closer to me, intimidating in his size and stature. “He’s coming for us. So I’m gonna need that bargaining chip. Now. ”
I swallow hard and straighten. Playtime is over. “Yes, sir.”
“It better be a smoking fucking gun,” he rumbles, still eyeing me in a way that doesn’t exactly scream trust.
But it’s alright. I’m about to make him very happy.
I kiss Byron quickly, then jaunt toward the doors.
“Hang on…” He rushes after me. “If you’re going back out there, I’m coming with you.”
I can’t stop the utter delight from overpowering my face. I have an honest to God boyfriend … It’s almost unbelievable.
Bollocks… I hope I don’t fuck this up.
“Oh, trust me, sweet fury,” I croon as Joy unhooks the latch and carefully opens the door. “You’re stuck with me now.”
Byron relaxes, giving her and Rook some space to assess the immediate area for any threats while I peer in between the trees.
Ren rests his chin on Byron’s shoulder from behind. “I can’t believe you’re in love! And with the British Chalamet, no less.” He sneers, and Byron rolls his eyes.
“I can. He’s hot,” Dash hums, patting Byron on the back. “Nice work, kid.”
“He’s Byron’s man, okay?” Luthor’s arms circle Ren’s waist. “Which means he’s family now too.”
“I’m sure I’ll learn to love my future brother-in-law,” Ren jeers, then motions between Byron and Felix. “I mean, if these two could squash their beef, anything’s possible.”
“What’s a little bloodshed between friends, right?” Felix winks at Byron.
Byron grins, shifting awkwardly as he glances at Felix and Lemuel. “I should probably let you know… if we’re burying the hatchet and all,” he pauses, peeking at me. “We kinda sorta… had sex in your bed.”
I freeze while Felix’s face drops. Ren snorts. Luthor gasps.
Lemuel perks up. “Excuse me??”
“You… had sex… in our bed?” Felix mumbles.
Byron clears his throat. “And put… cum in your lube.”
“Oh my God, that’s fucking awesome!” Ren cackles.
In fact, everyone is laughing… Except Felix and Lem. They’re standing there looking dumbfounded.
They turn to me, and I shrug. “Our bad…?”
Ren whispers to Felix, “Did you use it??”
Based on how red his cheeks are, I think we have our answer.
“No comment,” Lem growls, leering at me.
“Yea, so… Now we’re even,” Byron gulps.
Felix blinks as Dash steps over, plucking the knife from between his fingers. “We’ll just… hang onto that for right now.”
“It’s fine,” Felix says after a breath. “Sorry, I’m just… replaying a few things in my head.”
Byron snorts, attempting to cover it. Then the others join in, and eventually, Felix grins. Lemuel still looks a bit disturbed, but he’ll get over it. After all, we know he’s a freak.
“You feel those little emo boys swimming around in there?” Ren sneers at Felix, and Luthor slaps him.
But they’re all laughing, and I’m grinning to myself. They seem so happy to be back together. It has my heart soaring for my sweet fury and his found family as Joy gives me the all clear .
Zoning back in on the task at hand, I whistle. “You can come on out, love. It’s safe.”
Byron steps over, his face serious once more. “Who…?”
But his question is cut off when we hear tentative footsteps approaching. Everyone has stopped what they’re doing, gathering around as the lithe creature emerges from behind a tree. He looks nervous, and I get it. This is kind of crazy, and I’m sure he doesn’t know what to expect.
Stepping forward, I grab his hand and pull him inside. His big eyes shift about the room, focused mainly on the guns in the hands of all these strangers. The guards lower their weapons, every face but mine etched in perplexity, aimed at the quiet beauty.
“Who’s this?” Joy asks softly.
Velle’s gaze narrows, head cocking to the side. “You look familiar… Where do I know you from?”
The lad’s full lips part, but then he snaps them shut. There’s a blush to his cheeks as he observes them all. But he doesn’t say a word, like a shy animal you need to let sniff you before it feels comfortable.
I nudge him gently. “Go on, then. Tell them who you are.”
His long lashes flutter, sparkling eyes taking in the faces staring back at him. Then he straightens.
“My name is Angel Alvarez.”