Page 172 of Remi's War (Four Dark Horsemen 2)

Chicago, Illinois

Ten years later

Remi

The scent of freshly baked cookies penetrates my nostrils as I enter my house, giggles echoing in the air followed by loud squeals.

“Add some chocolate, Grandma!”

“And sugar!”

“She always adds sugar, duh!”

“Sometimes she doesn’t!”

“You just don’t feel it, because you have a sweet tooth!”

“Do not!”

“Do too!”

A smile curves my lips at the sound of my seven-year-old sons bickering. Throwing my jacket on the couch, I walk through the hallway to the kitchen where my mother stands by the counter and sprinkles some chocolate into the bowl before blending everything together, creating a brown mass.

My sons stand on each side of her, watching her with concentration while holding the sugar and chocolate, awaiting the shining moment to pour them in. Their identical features are striking; even their cheeks sport a dimple on the right side. Rarely can anyone tell them apart. It doesn’t help they prefer to wear identical clothes as well, and today they opted for black jeans and blue shirts.

Blond hair, and green eyes that seem to know more than they let on, their features stand out among our dark-haired family, and people love to joke that they look like Florian.

Needless to say, I hardly appreciate those and mostly growl at anyone who doubts my parental status to them.

They are mine, just like my wife.

Character-wise, though, they are very different; one is silent and brooding, preferring to watch people from afar and read books, and he despises loud voices. The other loves company and thrives on all the attention, becoming fast friends with anyone he sees.

Despite that, they are best friends and a tight unit who love each other dearly and can silently communicate with each other, which amuses my wife.

Aegeus notices me first, his eyes flashing in happiness, and he shouts, “Dad’s home!” He races to me, smacking against my hip and tilting his head back. “Hi, Dad!” He grins widely, and my heart pangs painfully at him calling me that, softening under his trusting gaze.

It’s a word I never expected anyone to call me, because I considered myself unworthy of the title. And I thought it impossible to build a family.

And yet despite all the odds, it’s my reality now.

My mother grins. Flour smears her cheeks and the black dress that’s in bad need of an apron. “Honey!” Her entire face lights up with joy, and she looks younger than ever.

Sometimes, I think she got her youth back when she found me, as if she finally switched from merely existing to living to her full potential. She went back to get her landscaping degree and now creates art with nature, loving every minute of it. She moved closer to us a few years back, mainly so the kids could stay over longer, and they use any opportunity they have to indulge in her kindness. She lets them get away with everything, not that we mind. We never got to experience what it was like to have loving grandparents, so we love that our children will have such precious memories.

Although our initial reunion was very emotional, and we spoke for hours, as she didn’t want to let go of me even for a second, our relationship at the very beginning was strained.

We didn’t know how to act around each other or how to fit each other into our worlds. Explanations to everyone seemed daunting too, but slowly we navigated through those hardships and found our ground where we could finally form the mother-son bond that will last forever.

Mom motions with her hand for me. “Odysseus, pass me the soda please.” She refuses to call me Remi, and in a way, I get it.

For her, it’s the name given to me by people who stole me. So, to her, it’s a constant reminder she didn’t raise me. I’m glad at least she dropped the whole subject of me changing my family name to Carrington to keep the dynasty going.

Yeah, fuck that. Thankfully, her extended family took all the millions after I eliminated their company, and they rarely reach out to us.

Grabbing the can, I walk to her in two short strides, giving it to her. She quickly hugs me. “So glad to see you. Don’t you have an important merger coming up soon? I didn’t expect to see you until next week.”

Merger, right.

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