Chapter 36 Oak
Oak
As Grace and I finally emerge from our room to join the others for dinner Connor comes running from around the corner and barrels into me. I make the effort to look as if his impact has caused me to falter as I stumble a few steps back.
Broadly, he smiles up at me. “Did you hear the news?”
“What’s that, champ?”
His eyes jump over to his sister with glee before rushing to her side. Her arms instantly open and he tucks himself in her side. She ruffles his hair and he feigns a face of annoyance.
“Grace has custody of me,” he says so proudly. The love this boy has for his sister is god damn touching.
“Temporary custody,” she corrects him but his response is a roll of his eyes.
“Either way,” he says smiling, “I’m really proud of her.”
Grace’s eyes glisten like diamonds under brilliant lights. She pulls her brother in a little closer, hugging him a little harder.
“I don’t have tissues,” he mumbles against her.
She rolls her eyes but as she does a tear manages to escape. I collect the tear with my thumb before it has the chance to fall down her face. She mouths, thank you, before ruffling her brother’s hair again. This time he doesn’t even bother to feign annoyance.
“Alright champ, go wash your hands before dinner, okay?”
“Okay,” he agrees easily and goes behind the bar to wash his hands.
At the table everyone is here, including my sister Nora and Daniella.
Catching my eyes she breaks away from Dani. Taking Grace’s hand in mine we meet Nora halfway. Grace lets go of my hand to envelope Nora in a warm embrace. And it warms my heart to see Nora so receptive of her touch.
“Do you think I could talk to my brother for a moment?” I hear Nora ask of Grace.
Grace nods her head. “Of course. Promise to give him back?” She teases with a cheeky smile.
Nora laughs softly, glancing between the two of us with mirth in her eyes. “I don’t think I’ll be able to keep him away for too long.”
“I’ll see you in a few,” I say to Grace. Taking her hand I pull her towards me. Leaning down and with her reaching up on the tips of her toes I press a kiss to her lips that promises so much more.
She leaves me then with a dazed expression and I watch after her in a trance.
“You don’t know how happy it makes me to see you in love, Ethan,” Nora tells me warmly.
My eyes finally let go of Grace as I give my attention to Nora. “She’s my world, Nor.”
“You deserve to be happy.”
“So do you.”
Her lips twitch, a touch of distance and longing in her eyes. As if true happiness is just right out of her grasp. “I’ll get there, I promise.”
It’s a conversation we will have at another time. She’s already come so far and I don’t want to push her harder than necessary. Ever since coming here she’s made such tremendous progress.
I raise a brow at her. “How are you doing? Really?”
“I’m doing. . .okay.” She shifts uneasily on her feet. “It’s always rough around this time of year, but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“But you know that you can,” I tell her. “You can talk to me, Nor. Always.”
She nods her head, her glasses moving slightly down the bridge of her nose. “I know and I love you for it, but I wanted to talk about you.”
“Me?”
“I know you talked to Crow. And I know what they want to pin you for. And I feel responsible for that-”
My eyes widen and I feel the immediate response to comfort her and vehemently deny her of any blame. “You have nothing to feel responsible for,” I strongly say.
She swallows, the action rough. “But you wouldn’t be in this predicament at all if-”
I place both of my hands on her shoulders. “Nora, what happened wasn’t your fault. What he did, wasn’t your fault. What I did in response wasn’t your fault. Do you understand?”
Her eyes avert mine and I hate the little pieces of doubt I see in them. “I know,” she sighs heavily, as if the weight of the world is upon her shoulders. “Just promise me you won’t confess.”
I quickly assure her. “I promise, Nor. I’m not going to confess.”
She lets out a little breath of relief but it doesn’t erase the concern in her eyes. I know her concern won’t fully go away until the feds leave town.
“I need you to trust me,” I ask of her.
Her lips pull upwards at an attempt of a smile. “I’ll always trust you.”
“Good because whatever happens I need you to keep trusting me.”
She nods her head. “I can do that.” I smile at her, hoping it will ease her mind. Then, I pull her in for a hug that she reciprocates. “I love you, bro.”
“Love you more.”
As we walk over to the dining table she bumps her shoulder into me. I raise a brow at her. “Crow tells me you guys made amends.”
“Crow has a big fucking mouth.”
We reach the table and everyone is here. I take a seat beside Grace, kissing the top of her head before I sit down. Nora sits across from me next to Daniella and Stella.
“Does this mean he’s finally welcomed around here?” Nora innocently asks.
“Is who welcomed here?” Dex looks between the two of us.
“Crow,” she answers.
“Have we finally matured?” Pax pipes in and I send him a glare that has him leaning back further in his seat. Stella pats him lightly on the chest with a warning look in her eyes but he doesn’t heed. “Crow was never our enemy.”
Dex points a finger at him. “Pax has a point. He has always been on our side.”
“And he helped save my life,” Slater reminds us all.
“Kept my woman and I from facing time behind bars,” Snake throws in. I flip him off and he smiles widely while flipping me back. Fucker.
“Just because we made amends doesn’t mean the fucker is my friend,” I tell all of them, wanting to settle the score.
Sticks hums thoughtfully. “But he’s not our enemy.”
I nod my head. “He’s not our enemy.”
Sticks looks at me proudly and I have to admit it hits me straight in the heart. Sticks is the closest thing I have to a father. So seeing him proud of me feels like I’m doing something right. Like I’m finally on the path of growing into the man he’s always wanted me to be.
Alice and Rosa come out from the kitchen shortly after. Knowing there’s more food to be served I get up and so does Snake. He follows behind me, humming a little tune as he does.
We grab the rest of the food and make our way back out, Snake still humming that damn tune of his.
With all of us in our respected seats we all begin to serve ourselves and eat.
Halfway through the meal I comment on how great the food is.
Alice blushes from the compliment while Rosa continues to praise her.
And it doesn’t help either when Snake whispers something in her ear.
I can only imagine what the fucker said but based on her reaction I know it wasn’t anything about the food.
“Rosa, Alice,” I address the both of them, “thank you both for the meal. Since you both cooked I’ll clean.”
Rosa smiles at me. “Thank you, honey.” She then winks at Grace. “You got yourself a good one right there.”
“Believe me, I know,” Grace replies softly, her eyes shinning and a warm expression on her face.
God, I fucking love this woman.
Compelled by her, and not able to keep my hands off of her I drag her chair close to mine and drape my arm over her shoulder, tucking her in my side. My nose skims along the top of her head, jasmine filling my nostrils. God, she’s so fucking intoxicating.
Her hand lays on my thigh as she nestles against me.
And it’s the most comforting feeling in the world to know that she finds peace in my arms. That I, a person who has been at war with himself for so long, can offer peace to someone else.
Lowering my voice for her ears only I say, “I love you.”
She turns her head, looking up at me through her long lashes. Her voice is as soft as a feather, yet the impact is powerful. “I love you.”
My head descends the same time hers ascends. Our lips coming to meet to say everything we can’t.
Just as our lips come to touch a loud pounding on the steel door at the entrance happens.
“FBI, open up!”