8. Tony
Chapter 8
Tony
The glowing jack-o'-lanterns flicker cheerfully along the bar at Trick or Treat, casting warm, inviting shadows, as I prepare for another bustling Friday night. It's been a whirlwind of a week with my little kitty. Every moment we’ve spent together has been filled with laughter, adventure, and those little instances of connection with Kat that make everything feel spectacularly right.
She’s a bright spark that lights up my world, and as I focus on tonight’s events, I can’t help but think how much I’m looking forward to seeing her again.
My anticipation is especially high tonight because her brothers are visiting the bar. I'm hoping to cement the tentative peace we established at the towing company. It’s important that they not only see how much I care about Kat but trust me with her as well.
The bar is alive with the sound of chatter, the clinking of glasses, and the gentle hum of jazz music punctuating the usual bustle. As the evening unfolds, I spot Kat walking in with Elliot and Henry. While the brothers survey the place like it’s a curious museum exhibit, Kat comes over and kisses me.
“Hey, kitten.” I lean my forehead against hers and smile. “I missed you today.”
“I missed you, too.” She wraps her arm around my waist and snuggles close as I turn to greet her brothers with a wave, motioning to seats I saved for them at the bar. “Welcome to Trick or Treat.”
Henry beams, looking intrigued by the place’s festive ambiance, while Elliot maintains a reserved expression. I notice the inner storm brewing in his guarded eyes and wonder what the fuck happened to turn him back into an asshole.
Despite the lively atmosphere, a thread of tension fills the air around us. We exchange brief pleasantries over cold beers before I casually suggest heading to my office, under the pretense of giving them a behind-the-scenes look at the bar.
“Good idea,” Elliot grunts, gesturing to Henry, who follows us curiously as we weave through the throng toward the office at the back. Kat trails behind, her hand brushing reassuringly against mine, grounding me with a touch that feels both familiar and electric.
Once we’re settled in the office, I catch Elliot’s intense gaze, his brow furrowed like he’s about to cross a line of no return.
Before I can fully brace myself, Elliot pivots to face Kat with a serious expression. “Kat, I need to know something.” He pauses, his voice deep with concern as he glares at me over her head. “Did you know Tony used to be in the mafia?”
The words hang in the air like a sudden crack of thunder, jagged and shocking. My heart sinks as I glance at Kat, trying to gauge her reaction. Her eyes widen slightly at the accusation, the revelation landing somewhere between a surprise and a challenge to her trust in me.
After a breathless moment, Kat’s steadying presence soothes my apprehensions. She takes a deep breath and, to my amazement, simply states, “I knew he had questionable things in his past, but it doesn’t matter. What counts is who he is now, not what he did before moving to Midnight Falls.”
Her unwavering support brings a wave of emotions crashing over me, and I feel a powerful urge to clarify things, both for her and for her brothers. Taking a deep breath, I gather my thoughts. This is my chance to clear the fog, to reassure them their sister is safe with me.
“Elliot, Henry, Kat,” I begin, feeling the warmth of their expectant gazes on me. “It's true I once had a different life, where I was tangled up in dealings that were, let’s say, on the darker side of the ledger. But those days are behind me. When I moved here to Midnight Falls, it was about crafting a life I could be proud of. A life where I knew I’d leave past shadows behind.”
I pause, letting the weight of my words settle, and then continue, focusing on Kat, my heart laid bare. “I’m head over heels in love with your sister. She’s incredible. Every day, she makes me want to be better, to grow into who I’ve always aspired to be, and I’m gonna spend the rest of my life making her happy, whether you like it or not.”
Emotion simmers between us, a bubbling kind that feels like truth and hope wrapped into one. Kat reaches for my hand, a silent pledge, her touch both firm and reassuring.
“Not everything is black and white, Elliot,” Kat states quietly, her voice grounded in conviction as she steps closer and wraps her arm around my waist. “I know Tony’s past may seem worrying, but I love him. We love each other, and that’s the thing that counts the most.”
Her admission hangs in the air, delicate and brave, and I feel my chest swell with a fiery warmth. Something shifts within the small office, the lingering tension dissolving as Kat and I exchange a look branded with the intense emotions we feel for each other.
Elliot, on the other hand, remains pensively silent, digesting the reality of the situation. I see him wrestle through layers of protectiveness before he finally exhales, his shoulders slowly relaxing. Henry, meanwhile, simply nods, like something has clicked in place for him.
“Well,” Henry says, breaking the pause with his usual easy grace, “if Tony makes you happy, I’m all for it.” His lightness acts as a balm to the serious undertones, allowing a certain levity to resurface.
Elliot scratches his chin, clearly still working through the changes of the night but manages a faint smile. “Guess I’ll hold off on personally roadside-towing Tony for now.”
Everyone chuckles, and although the tension hasn’t entirely left, it’s laced with acceptance. I know there are hurdles yet to leap, but this feels like the start of genuinely bridging two essential parts of my life.
As we head back out to the bar, I’m ready to show Scared Shotless to Elliot and Henry, but Kat squeezes my hand gently, pulling me aside for a brief second.
“I knew you’d win them over,” she says softly, her eyes sparkling with a mix of pride and love that makes me feel like the luckiest man in the world.
“You’re the only person I was really worried about winning over,” I reply, my voice dipped in humor, “well, you and Walter.”
“Walter is still on the fence, but a few more treats should do the trick.” She chuckles.
“I’m buying stock in the cat treat company,” I mumble as we lead her brothers over to the bookcase that opens to reveal stairs leading to Scared Shotless.