Easton

Easton sighed. “I didn’t know she was pregnant with you.”

“If you’d known, would you have come and found us?”

“I’d have done everything in my power to come and find you. Protect you.” He opened his arms, and his son walked into them.

He was growing up so fast, and the fact he still hugged him meant a lot to Easton.

“I’m never going away again. You’ve got me for life, sweetheart. All the time. I won’t ever let you go. Not ever.” He pulled back and held his son’s arms, giving them a squeeze. “Are you bulking up?”

Junior laughed before stifling a yawn.

“You need to go to bed.”

When he’d arrived downstairs a few hours ago, Junior was still doing his homework. Easton had sat and watched as Scar and Junior worked through each item. He’d been shocked by how much was set, only Junior liked to work, and he saw the passion for answers.

There was a time he’d been just as passionate to find answers only to have them squashed by his father.

He stopped trying to find an answer for everything and simply enjoyed his life without questioning what was happening. This had been his error and one he didn’t intend to make again.

Easton made his way toward the bed, pulled back the sheets, and Junior climbed in.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“I am, too. I’m glad you’re giving me a chance to get to know you.”

“Mom said you’re part of the Four Kings. Does that mean I’m a prince?”

Easton chuckled. “I wish. No, my life is not that glamorous.” He sat on the edge of the bed, explaining to his son the Four Kings Empire, and where it came from.

“But what if you made more friends? Will you change it?”

“For a long time, it has only been the four of us.”

“What about me?” Junior asked. “I can be your friend, and so can my other dad. He’s so cool and smart, and funny. He’s also super clever.”

Easton smiled. “It looks like I’ll have to talk to my guys about improving the name.”

“I’d like that. Will I get to meet them? Your friends? I bet they’re cool.”

“Way cool and bossy. Believe me. They are all super bossy. I’m the coolest.”

Junior laughed. “Night, Dad.”

“Night, son.” He leaned down kissing his son’s head. “I know, I know, I won’t be able to do that for some time, but give me a few things to enjoy.”

“Okay.”

He got up and walked toward the door. He switched off the light, and Junior turned on the nightlight.

He took one last lingering look before closing the bedroom door. Being a dad was everything to Easton. He’d missed so much.

Easton didn’t go to his room but headed downstairs. He found Liam in his office, on a call.

“I’ve got to take this. Scarlett’s gone for a swim,” Liam said.

He nodded and made his way into the kitchen. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, he decided to go and check out the pool. Last time he’d been with Scar, she’d not been able to swim all that well.

Liam had given him the full tour downstairs as Scar and Junior did the dishes.

Entering the swimming pool room, he paused, watching Scar as she swam from one end of the pool to the other. She stopped at the opposite side of the pool, dipped under the water, and pushed her hair off her face.

“Hey,” he said. “I see you’ve gotten stronger.”

She turned toward him. “Easton. Where’s Liam?” she asked.

“Making a call. He said you were here. I figure I could see if you’d gotten stronger.”

“As you can see, I have.”

He kicked off his shoes, rolled up his pants, and sat on the edge of the pool, pushing his feet into the water.

It wasn’t exactly paddling or an ocean, but the water felt good on his feet. “Junior’s in bed.”

“He’s probably not,” she said.

“He yawned, and I put him to bed.”

“I’m not saying you put him to bed wrong. He’s probably reading one of his comic books or something on the science world. He’ll read for a short time and pass out. I go in before bed, and close whatever he’s sneaked into his room.”

“Wow, and here I was thinking I’d done a good job.”

“You have. You just got to know Junior to know he’s a sneaky little rascal. All in good fun though. I love him so much.”

“You’ve done a good job with him.”

“Thank you.”

“Was it always easy?” he asked.

“Why do you ask?”

“I’ve only just met you again after all this time, and I’m curious. There’s so much about you and Junior, and even Liam, I don’t know.”

She swam to the middle of the pool, and he was able to see her clearly.

“No, it wasn’t easy. After I got pregnant, my family, when I told them but refused to name the father, they kicked me out. I was called a slut and whore and disowned within an hour. I became homeless. I had a small amount of money from working, so I was able to rent a place, far, far away from them.”