Page 39 of Roman

“It doesn’t matter,” he snapped at his brother. “That’s not the point. I choose to believe some part of her knows me. She might not know who I am, exactly, but she knows I love her. Shealwaysknows that much.” He pointed at Gabe. “And she probably knows somewhere deep down that someone else she cares for is missing from her life. So if you’re just trying to make yourself feel better by saying she doesn’t know you’re not there, doesn’t miss you, just know I think you’re wrong.”

Roman’s hand had moved from Danny’s side and was now squeezing his shoulder in support. So this was what it felt like to be backed up by someone. To have someone on his side in a real way. And suddenly Danny felt like he couldn’t stop, that years of resentment were about to burst out in a verbal barrage. “And why are you pulling this protective big brother actat all, Gabe? You left! You left me with Mom. She-She wasn’t well. And I don’t even blame you for that. You were in school, then residency, working toward your future. But you never evennoticed. You barely ever came home, and when you did, you just put your blinders on. I know Dad was your person, I know it broke something in you when he died, but Jesus, Gabe, make a choice. Are you still part of this family or not? You can’t have it both ways. Be my brother at work and a stranger the rest of the time. What did you even move back here for?”

Gabe was looking stricken, and Danny lost some steam then, a little ashamed at having berated his brother in front of two witnesses. Soren was watching them both raptly, a contemplative look on his face.

Danny should have saved it for a time when they were alone, when they could really talk it out.But when the hell would that be?he thought bitterly. Gabe never let them be in that situation anyway, always using work or the crowds in the local bar as buffers.

Danny softened his voice, looking to his brother. “You should—you should come with me this week. To visit her. Just think about it. Please.”

Gabe nodded slowly, avoiding Danny’s eyes. “Yeah, okay. I’ll…think about it. I should go. I-I interrupted.” He walked out of the kitchen without once looking at Danny, and Danny resisted the urge to call him back. Gabe needed time to process, and frankly, Danny needed time to let the resentment simmer down.

The sound of the front door closing echoed moments later.

“Well,” Soren said brightly, back to grinning once more. “Aren’t humansfun, Rome?”

ten

Roman

Whydidhumansinsiston making certain types of buildings so unpleasant to look at?

The one Roman and Danny were entering was drab in that particular way of hospitals, government offices, and correctional facilities: beige-gray walls on the outside, beige walls on the inside, vomit-colored carpeting throughout. But it otherwise seemed pleasant enough, as far as these places went.

It was clean, the furniture and art were of a certain quality, and the staff looked alert and friendly. Roman couldn’t imagine how much money his mate was spending keeping his mother here. He took a mental note to convince Danny as soon as possible to let him foot the bill instead.

Danny had told him after breakfast about his mother. She had a type of dementia called early onset Alzheimer’s. She had been diagnosed when Danny was in nursing school.

Roman placed his sunglasses on top of his head—they kept the demon from getting too irritated on sunny days—and looked over at the boy walking next to him, who’d been tense and nervous the entire car ride there. Roman reached out and took his hand, and Danny looked up and gave him a small, appreciative smile.

Roman was so proud of his mate for standing up to his boorish brother. He’d clearly been shouldering too much alone for too long.

Not anymore, Roman vowed. His demon purred in agreement.

A short, stout woman with a cap of brown hair called out a greeting to them as they approached the main desk. Roman saw her do a small double take at the sight of his and Danny’s joined hands before giving Danny a wide-eyed look and a big smile.

“And who is this?” she gushed.

“This is Roman,” Danny answered shyly. “He’s, uh—”

“I’m Danny’s boyfriend,” Roman cut in. “Boyfriend” felt juvenile compared to his true title:mate. But he wanted some sort of recognizable bond out there for the humans.

Roman wanted everyone to know this man belonged to him.

The woman’s smile grew bigger, if that was possible. “You didn’t tell me you were seeing anybody, Danny,” she chided gently.

“It’s pretty new,” Danny explained. Roman didn’t have to look over to know that his mate was blushing but glanced over anyway, just to enjoy the way the pink stole over Danny’s freckled cheeks.

Danny cleared his throat. “Roman, this is Mary. She’s the backbone of this place.”

“Oh, psh.” Now Mary was blushing. She turned a mock-stern look to Roman. “You better be good to this one. He’s got a lot of people rooting for him.”

“Believe me, I am one of them,” Roman reassured her.

“Oh, I like you.”

“You two can flirt later,” Danny huffed, although he was clearly pleased with Mary’s approval. “How is she today?”

Mary’s face grew more somber. “I’m afraid it isn’t the best day. She hasn’t been feeling up for a lot these past few days. She’s due for a shower this morning, but so far any attempts have made her…unhappy. We’ve gotten her out of bed, but that’s the extent of it.”

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