Chapter 46

Waking up, the sun filtered through the cracks in the blinds, casting stripes of warm light across the bedroom—and on our skin, which was covered in hickeys. I chuckled to myself, glancing at Haiden beside me, his tousled hair falling over his forehead, an amused smile playing on his lips. Together we were chaos and sweetness, two halves of a beautifully flawed whole.

Haiden stretched lazily, his limbs tangling with mine as he pulled me close. "So, uh, about last night..." he began, his voice teasing yet tender. "I think our rendezvous was a bit more...enthusiastic than planned."

I snorted, feeling a warm flush creep up my neck. Every kiss, every grazing touch from last night was still fresh in my memory. "What, you mean you don't leave a trail of love bites in your wake with everyone?" I teased back, running my fingers over a particularly vivid mark just beneath his collarbone.

"Only for you, Christian," he responded, his tone turning serious for a moment, before adding, "You do look cute with them, though."

"Like a walking billboard for romance," I shot back, shoving his shoulder playfully.

As we rolled out of bed, the air was thick with an electric tension, the kind that surged between us when we shared a secret laugh or a fleeting glance. We padded over to the living room, where Xan was already sipping on coffee, the mafia boss and our best friend. He looked up, his eyebrows shooting into his hairline, eyes widening at the sight of our matching hickeys.

"Wow." Xan chuckled, a satisfied smirk plastered on his face. "You two took 'getting close' to a whole new level."

"You're one to talk," I shot back, grabbing a mug from the cupboard and pouring myself some coffee. "How many girlfriends did you have last month?"

"Touché." He took a hearty sip, savoring the moment while we all exchanged knowing glances.

As the playfulness dissipated, reality set in. The business meetings loomed large on our agenda, each one a step deeper into the dark world we navigated as mafia bosses. Our lives weren't just sugar-coated moments of sweetness; they were steeped in danger and loaded decisions.

Halfway through my coffee, my phone buzzed on the table, slicing through the remaining lightness of the room. The name lighting up my screen made my heart stumble: Dad.

I hadn't heard that word in over a decade, a memory drowned in darkness. The last time we spoke was when I was just five, hanging on to fractured memories of a man I had always wanted to know but was abandoned.

"Are you going to answer that?" Haiden asked softly, his hand resting over mine, squeezing it gently.

I swallowed, feeling the heat of Xan's gaze as he quietly observed. "Yeah, I guess I should."

The call connected with a hollow ring, and my heart raced.

"Christian?" My father's voice was grating, a blend of genuine concern and practiced indifference.

"Yeah." My voice was steadier than I felt.

Silence stretched between us for a fraction of eternity, before he continued, "How are you...handling things? Business, I mean. I hear you've made quite a name for yourself."

I was taken aback. Was this what he called to inquire about? "It's what I do. I have a team," I replied, irritation creeping into my tone.

"Good to hear. A family business needs strong leadership," he said, as if the irony of that statement hadn't just hit us both. I exchanged glances with Haiden, who was wrapping an arm around my shoulder, grounding me in this unexpected confrontation.

"Is that why you called?" I snapped, my anger rising like a tide. "To check on how I'm handling the family business?"

I could hear him inhale on the other end. "No." His voice softened, revealing a glimmer of vulnerability I hadn't expected. "I wanted to know if you were okay. It's been a long time, and—I should have been there."

It felt surreal, these words coming from the man who chose to walk away. Yet, standing next to Haiden, I realized something shifted in me. I was no longer that scared five-year-old boy waiting for his dad to come home. I was a man, both loved—and protected—by the person who mattered.

"I'm fine," I muttered before I hung up, a weight lifting off my shoulders like a cloud passing the sun.

Silence engulfed the room, and I felt Haiden's gaze on me, a comforting embrace that soothed my anger. Xan leaned forward, breaking the thick tension. "Well, that was...certainly a thing to wake up to."

I couldn't help the corner of my lips curling into a smile. "Yeah," I breathed. "But I have you guys, and that's all that matters."

Haiden flashed me a sweet smile, one that promised lightness amid the darkness we all faced. I knew whatever came next, we would face it together—as a family forged in chaos and loyalty, united in love.