Page 102 of Fighting With Light
I chuckle and palm the back of her head, kissing her hard and fast before I jump in the shower.
By the time I’m done, dinner is here, and the nerves creep in. I choke down my food and glance at the clock. I have twenty minutes to get myself together.
“Liam, they’re your family. I’m sure it will be fine.”
I’m not sure it will be, and I’m afraid I’ve poked the bear. I know what we’re doing could change things for us with my father. It could be the best way to nail his coffin shut and push all of his acquaintances into hiding. But it will come at a cost.
This isn’t just a research mission; dig up dirt like I typically do. This could free my family, and it would put the evil awayfor good.
***
I grab a chair for Aelia to sit next to me. They all know who she is. But until today, they didn’t know she waswithme.
“Has your dad tried to contact you?” I ask her.
She hums. “He called four times and I ignored them all.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?” I ask her because the last thing we need is for her father’s goons to find us, which would throw a wrench into everything. We don’t need the additional hurdle.
She ignores me, so I make the call. The screen grays out, waiting for my brothers and mom to answer. Aelia is relaxed, and doesn’t seem the least bit nervous like me. Opening my mouth to ask her how she feels about this, my mom pops up on the screen.
“Liam, darling, how are you?” she asks.
“Hey, Mom, I’m …good,” I say, and glance at Aelia.
I turn the phone a little to my right and watch my mother’s reaction to Aelia. Esmarie Astor-Coldwell is a tough woman. She took no chances with us as boysand is still just as protective despite the fact we are grown men and it’s our turn to protect her. Our mom’s side of the family comes from generational wealth. It’s almost like a strange sort of American royalty. Regardless, my mother, like a queen, is adept at hiding her emotions. She betrays nothing unless she allows it to. It’s one reason she made such a brilliant wife for my father. She knew how to smile and accept criticism from the people my father was pretending to represent. It’s all part of his show.
But this time, as she takes Aelia in, she frowns. It’s quick, but I notice it, and it pisses me off. I don’t think about why. But for the first time in a very long time, I’mangryat my mother.
“Darling, who might this be?” she asks.
I open my mouth to yell, and then Aelia slides her hand over my thigh under the table. I take a deep breath and say, “Mom, this is…Aelia Costa.”
“Hi, Esmarie, it’s nice to meet you,” Aelia says.
I glance between them, and Mom does a regal dip of her head. “And why, Liam, is Ms. Costa sitting next to you…in your room?”
Before I can open my mouth, Emerson and Kai pop onto the screen, and suddenly my whole family is staring at me.
“What the hell is going on?” Kai asks.
Emerson curses and I swear he’s about to pop a blood vessel.
Then Cordelia, Kai’s wife, pops her head into the screen, and Theo is in her arms.
Aelia gasps. “Oh my gosh, he is so cute!” Aelia says.
Cordi smiles and leans forward. “Say hi to your uncles, grandma, and their friend, Theo,” Cordi says.
Aelia smiles and waves at my nephew, and a big smile breaks over his face as an adorable baby giggle pops out of his mouth. Aelia coos at him, and he giggles again. We all watch in awe as Theo takes a liking to Aelia over the screen.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you. He is so precious. Congratulations,” Aelia says to Cordi.
“Oh, thank you. He’s definitely like his father and a major handful, but he’s pretty great.”
Aelia sighs and looks at them, her hand still on my thigh. “I can’t wait to have one of my own,” Aelia says, then snaps her mouth shut like she didn’t mean to say that.
“It’s something you’ll never be prepared enough for, but they are a blessing,” Cordi says and looks down at Kai.
