42. Blesk #2
Konnor breathes out hard. “So you two had planned my adoption? Before they even found me? That’s such crap.”
Cassidy hums. “That makes zero sense. This sounds like fricking bs, Dad. When kids go missing, and they aren’t found for four fricking years, don’t people just, kind of—” She looks around, regretful. “Assume they’re dead?”
Ben thinks, then says, “No, Madeline never gave up hope, not for a second. I don’t know if she'd suspected foul play, because she never told me. We very rarely spoke, Konnor. We never discussed the adoption. I received a letter in the mail one day. It just said that I was entrusted to make sure you'd receive the money if you were found or that it went to her charity if you weren’t.” His eyes drop to the desk.
An unmistakable sadness flashes across his face.
“It was from a lawyer. She hadn't even sent it to me herself.”
Then the look is gone, whatever that was, it was full of despair, long and lost and never to be found.
Ben continues, “I’m not sure if you have heard about this, but Madeline started a charity for you.
Nerrock Missing and Beyond. It is for lost children and their families.
This is your legacy, Konnor. If you were never found.
If you were just... gone. All the money would have been donated in your name.
That was Madeline’s wish. Well, that was what the letter said. ”
“You never tried to talk to her?” Konnor says shrugging. To him, stalking the woman you love is the only rational thing to do. “Face to face?”
“Of course I did.” Ben sighs. “I was completely disconnected from her. No one would let me speak to her.”
No one?
Who is no one?
“Did she know?” Konnor asks. “Did she know Dustin had something to do with my disappearance?”
Ben holds his hands up. “Slow down. Firstly, we don’t know he did for sure.
We are just speculating here, and only because you came in, guns blazing.
But since we are, I can admit it crossed my mind.
It was very peculiar that months after the rumours of your legitimacy as a Nerrock began, you went missing. ”
Konnor huffs. “She stayed with him anyway?”
“Even if she did suspect him, you don’t divorce people like Dustin Nerrock. It’s too... dangerous.”
He drops that word.
Dangerous.
Konnor shrugs. “I don’t understand.”
Ben clasps his hands behind his head, leaning back.
The leather of the chair creaks beneath his shifting weight.
“I know you don’t.” He straightens again.
“Because I have worked very hard to keep you kids out of that world.
The District's streets are run by The Families. The whole structure is corrupt. They are just dangerous company to keep, and even more so to marry into.”
“So, what, like the mob?” Jaxon asks, reminding me he is present. I almost forgot. I still need to be very careful what I say, what Konnor says.
“Something like that,” Ben answers.
“And Nerrock is involved?” I ask.
“Well, he would deny it,” Ben says, “They are just businessmen, Blesk.”
Konnor takes a few steps closer to Ben, his tone dropping as he says, “Are you involved with them?”
“God, no!” Ben defends.
My breath catches. “Is my—” I stop. “The man who took Konnor. Was he involved?” I ask, not really considering my question before the words escape my lips.
He was…
I know he was.
“I don’t know, Blesk,” Ben replies, looking around the room, trying to read each of us.
“Woah, this is a bit intense. Konnor, you’re a mafia kid,” Jaxon says in an almost naive awe.
“No, I’m not! I’m a Slater!”
Cassidy steps forward and looks at her father, keeping her eyes carefully away from Konnor. “Is Butcher one of them?”
Konnor stiffens, eyes narrowing on Cassidy. “Cassidy, why? Why would it matter?”
She avoids his locked glare, focusing on a point somewhere over his shoulder. “Just wondering. Flick hangs out with them a lot now.”
Konnor closes the distance between them until they stand almost toe to toe, forcing her to arch her neck to maintain eye contact. “You’re lying.” His gaze doesn’t waver. “Why do you care about The Butcher Boys? Why is that name even coming up?”
She lifts her chin higher, holding his stare. “They are our friends, Konnor. That’s all.”
“Oh.” His eyebrows shoot up. “So now they’re our friends? Not just Flick’s friends anymore?”
“Konnor,” I say, touching his arm.
“Son, what is your qualm with them?” Ben asks, but his tone feels flat and pacifying. “Do you know something I don’t?”
Konnor’s face tightens. “Don’t like them, that’s all. I don’t want Cassidy hanging out with them.”
Cassidy scoffs. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I’m not five anymore and can do what I fricking like.”
“Cassidy, calm down,” Ben says, looking between his two children. “Your brother just worries."
“Great, now I have a restriction on friends."
“You’re acting like a brat, Cassidy,” Konnor snaps.
“I’m acting like an eighteen-year-old girl who is being interrogated by her brother because she has boys who are friends. Can you be more of a cliché? I bet you wish I were gay like Flick.”
“Not boys, Cassidy. Butcher boys,” Konnor says the name with utter disdain.
“We are digressing,” Ben says. “These aren’t conversations we should be having nor are they necessary. Luca Butcher’s sons are not the issue here, and you’re not in any kind of danger.”
I peer at Konnor. His eyes cut quickly to me, and I can see the same thought in his eyes.
I’m in witness protection for this exact reason; he’s the estranged son of a potential mob boss; we have a bucket list that isn’t about experiences before we die but ticking off trauma roadblocks—danger has already come and gone for us.
Is it gone?
That would be nice.
“This should go without saying,” Ben continues, breaking into that thought.
“But this is Konnor’s business. None of this can leave this room.
Konnor, if you want to make arrangements to discuss this further with other parties, then you can, but it should be discussed here, with me first. I can’t stress this enough.
Everything I’ve done, all the truths I’ve withheld, have been for you.
Promise me you won’t go ruffling feathers. Okay?”
Konnor slowly nods. “Does Nerrock know? Does he know where I am?”
“Yes, of course,” Ben says, his tone mournful. “He knows who you are, Konnor, and where you are. But you’re not in any danger. It’s over. You’re mine. Trust me.”
It’s over?
My stomach knots. “How can you be so sure?”
“Trust me,” he repeats.
Ben rises to his feet and walks over to his son. “Do you? Do you trust me?” He places his hand on Konnor’s shoulder and squeezes tenderly.
Konnor stares at his dad’s hand on him. Distrust blazes in his eyes. Wheels churn in his head. The seconds that pass are long and torturous for everyone. For Ben most of all, I suspect.
Konnor closes his eyes, holding them shut as he says, “I trust you, Dad.”
It’s over. If Konnor trusts him, then so do I. My shoulders drop, an ache flaring through my neck and arms as if I’d been wired in place that entire conversation.
Konnor’s jaw is still set, but his eyes have glazed over, far away and quiet. He repositions his feet, then widens them. Tension has drained from his face, leaving fatigue and something final. Not peace, not yet, but the final exhale that comes after a long fight ends.
The crease between his brows has flattened, and he’s looking at his father’s hand now without the hatred or calculation shifting through his green eyes.
He nods.
Turns.
And we leave.
Jaxon retires quietly to his room. No words are exchanged between the three of us, because they are simply redundant at this point.
We enter Konnor’s bedroom, and I stare at the small bookcase in the corner. There is a book for everything, but I don’t think one exists for this…
Konnor slumps down on the bed, clothes on, forearm over his eyes. I switch off the bedroom light, and the room drops into darkness.
Then I turn on the little lamp beside his bed, bringing a warm spot of light to the mattress where he lies. As I crawl in beside him, he makes space for me without a word.
I peer up at him. "Are you okay?” I whisper, one of those single line questions so heavy it asks so much more than there is energy for.
His arms come around me, pulling me to his chest where his heart evens out. Steady. Strong. Right beside my ear.
I nestle in. The documents are still sprawled across the floor, in the dark parts of his room, and we hold each other in the light part, silent, breathing deeply in unison until we fall asleep inhaling each other's scent.