"I think... I think I was so in love with the idea of saving myself that I didn't realize I was letting myself drown. "

"And now?"

"And now you're my lifeboat."


It was only meant to be a favour. Only meant to be for a few weeks. 

Yet when Stryker Odello finds himself a Daddy for a scarred little boy, he finds the darkness that swamped his life cracking and splits of light shining through.

High functioning alcoholic at best, meeting the needs of the little proved more challenging than he first anticipated. 

Broken and distrustful, getting through to Jamie Sinclair was a hard feat.

Both damaged from the past, hurt and cautious, could they learn to let go and figure out how to love again? 

Or was life's only joy to direct a tragedy?

His Little Boy

/"Yeah, buddy,/" Stryker tried to reassure. He had spoken to them over the phone but after the way his day had gone, he hadn't ended up going over to check up on them as a good friend should have done. /"We'll go and see them now, okay?/"

Jamie nodded. Even as Stryker drove, he could feel the heavy force of his stare.

/"Are you sure you're okay?/" he asked quietly once Stryker pulled up outside of Kernal's house.

/"Yes./" Stryker forced a smile and leaned over the seat so he could kiss Jamie.

As soon as his lips made contact, he felt so fucking ashamed that he ended up pulling away. Hurt flashed in the boy's eyes but Stryker played it off.

/"Merrick is still a little upset and scared,/" Stryker told Jamie once they reached the door, just before he let himself in. /"So he might not be his usual self, okay?/"

Chapter44