Page 58 of The Fortunate Ones
I pressed the heel of my hand into my temple, like that would somehow manage to ease the throbbing pain.
“Shit, sorry. Did I wake you up?” It was barely five am. He should still be sleeping for hours.
Matty took a few hesitant steps into my office, like he was afraid he wouldn’t be welcome. My heart twisted. I never wanted him to feel that way. My father had never allowed me into his office, and if he ever caught me, I was punished. I’d fucking hated it. It had always felt like I was being cast aside, not as important as his work, which I hadn’t been, I’d finally accepted. And I didn’t want any of my family to feel like that, Matty included.
I clicked out of the email and smiled at him, hoping it was warm. He returned it tentatively and shuffled a little closer before answering my question.
“No, you didn’t wake me. Everett moves a lot in his sleep.” He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal that he was sleep deprived. “I woke up, decided to get some water, then saw your light on. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
I pushed away from the desk. “You didn’t. Or, well, I don’t mind at all. You’re always welcome in here, Matty. I mean it. If we’re doing something classified, we will let you know; otherwise, consider this office having an open-door policy.”
Some of the tension in Matty’s shoulders eased. I gestured to the couch, not wanting to be too formal and make him sit across from me at the desk. He sank down easily.
His eyes flicked to the computer, but he couldn’t see the screen from where he was sitting, even if I hadn’t closed the email. “Are you okay? You seemed really upset before. Is it Brooks?”
“No. He’s okay, last I heard. Just resting, but he’ll be fine. I promise I’ll let you know when I hear more.”
Matty licked his lips. “Then what’s wrong? I mean, if you can tell me?”
I weighed my options. I wanted to keep this from Matty, but it wasn’t fair to him. He was an adult. He deserved to know.
“Not really. I got an email that upset me, and I was processing when you saw me.”
Matty frowned, looking down at his sleep pants. “About Everett?”
“No.” I cleared my throat. “About you, actually.”
His head jolted up like it was on a string. “Bradley?” He tried to keep his voice steady, but I noticed the slight strain.
“No. It was Lewis’s lawyers. He’s out of jail and currently on house arrest.”
Matty didn’t speak right away. His chest heaved with a deep breath as his hands picked at the fabric of his PJs. “Oh . . . okay. I mean, that’s fine, right? He didn’t want anything to do with me. And I’m eighteen. He can’t take me back. He can’t make me go back.” His voice got stronger, more panicked as he went on.
I didn’t think. I slid out of my chair and to my knees in front of him. I gripped his shoulders, bringing his attention to me.
“It’s okay. You’re okay, Matty. He can’t take you back. You’re right. He has no right to you whatsoever. You’re not going anywhere unless you want to.”
Matty shuddered under my touch. His eyes fluttered before he steadied again. “I don’t want to.” It was barely above a whisper.
“Good. I don’t want you to go anywhere either. You’re part of this family.”
His lip quivered, his eyes wet.
Fuck, I wished I could end the conversation here, but it had to be Matty’s choice. “There is one thing.” Matty tensed under me. “Remember no matter what, you’re not going anywhere. This is your home. No matter what you decide, no matter what happens, okay?”
“O-okay.”
“Lewis’s lawyers said that he is requesting to see you, in person.”
His eyes bugged, but there was more anger there than fear. “What? Why?”
“I don’t know,” I told him honestly. I shifted on my knees, already aching. How the fuck did subs do this for longer than a few seconds? Matty seemed okay now, not on the verge of panic, so I—slowly—climbed to my feet and sat next to him. There, that was better. “They didn’t say,” I continued. “I can ask them if you want.”
He shook his head. “Do I have to talk to him?”
“Absolutely fucking not.”
He covered his mouth as a laugh escaped him. “Sorry, but no, Matty, you don’t need to talk to him. You don’t owe him anything or have to see him ever again.”
