Maybe he’d known Misael would never agree to meet with him on his own. So he had agreed to come to Nathaniel’s house, had decided to do this in front of everyone.
“How?”
Misael’s voice was barely more than a rasp. He looked like he had turned to stone, his body was held so stiff and still.
For the first time since he’d started down this path, Claudio glanced toward Nathaniel, probably wondering if he would be allowed to continue. Nathaniel gave a minute nod, but his eyes were narrowed, his expression wary.
Claudio turned back to Misael, speaking quickly, as if he was worried he would be cut off before he was allowed to get everything out.
“When I was younger, not much older than you are now, I started working for a man named Jackson Mohan. He’s since died, but he was my introduction to this world.” He drew in a deep breath, keeping his gaze focused on Misael. “A few years after that, I met Maria. She wasn’t like anyone I’d ever met before, and I… I fell in love with her. She loved me too.”
Misael’s face was still like stone. He was normally the most expressive of the Lost Boys, but at the moment, I couldn’t read his thoughts at all. My own thoughts were a jumble as Claudio continued.
“We were together, your mother and I. It was the happiest I’d ever been. But I was involved in some bad shit by that point. Jackson Mahon was a dangerous man with dangerous enemies, and—” A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Your mother was almost killed because of me. She was my weak spot, my vulnerability, and people who wanted to get to me tried to do it through her. I saved her, but I couldn’t let anything like that happen ever again.”
My lungs burned, and I realized with a start that I had stopped breathing as I listened to him speak. No one made a sound as he paused to organize his thoughts.
“I was determined to keep Maria safe. So I left.” Claudio spoke simply, but I could hear the pain buried in his voice. “If she was no longer a part of my life, no one would have any reason to hurt her. I kept my distance from her for years, and in that time, Jackson Mahon died. With his enemies off my back, I began working for myself. My life stabilized. My power and resources grew. And all that time, I never stopped thinking of Maria. I went back for her, nearly seven years after I left her behind.” His lips pressed together, and his hands clenched into fists. “But she was dead.”
Misael nodded. It was the first movement I’d seen him make since Claudio had begun his story. “She died when I was six.”
“I didn’t know.” Claudio sounded pained. “When I found out she was dead, it nearly killed me too. I wish I had stayed with her, no matter the risk. I wish I had been by her side to fight for her and protect her. To care for her. The greatest regret of my life was leaving her behind.”
Then he shook his head, his dark irises churning.
“Or at least it was. Until I realized I also left behind a son.”
Fourteen
The silence that fell was so complete that it was like someone had switched off the volume on the world.
Misael stared at Claudio with unblinking eyes, his nostrils flaring as he breathed hard. Then, without warning, he shoved back his chair so violently it almost tipped over. Turning on his heel, he stalked from the room.
My heart was beating so hard and fast it felt like it was about to trip over itself. I couldn’t tell quite what Misael was feeling, so I didn’t know quite what I was feeling. All I knew was that I wanted to be there for him, to help him in any way I could.
I shot a glance at Claudio, who was staring after Misael with a pained look on his face. Then I shifted my gaze to Nathaniel, asking permission just like Claudio had. We were all still under Nathaniel’s roof, after all, and I’d been a part of this world long enough to know that his word was law here.
He nodded slightly, giving
me permission to leave the table, and as soon as I got the go-ahead, I stood up almost as fast as Misael had. I brushed my fingertips over Kace and Bishop’s shoulders as I turned to leave. I could feel the tension in their bodies even through that small touch, and I had a feeling they wanted to kick the shit out of Claudio right now. I kind of wanted to punch him too, honestly.
Neither of the boys had stood when I did, so I left them to deal with Claudio while I headed out of the room in search of Misael. I was sure he didn’t want all of us coming after him right now anyway. Truth be told, I wasn’t even sure he would speak to me. But I was sure as hell gonna try.
I wandered the first floor of the house for a few minutes, searching for Misael. I finally found him in a long hallway leading toward the back of the house. He was sitting on the floor, his elbows braced on his knees and his back against the wall, head down and hair falling over his eyes.
Keeping my footsteps light, as if I was afraid he would run, I approached slowly and sank down beside him. He didn’t look up, but I could feel the shift in his body as he registered my presence.
I didn’t want to push him too hard, but I couldn’t help myself—the need to be close to him was overwhelming. I scooted closer, until our arms were pressed together, and the heat from his body soothed me, even though I was supposed to be the one offering comfort to him.
We sat in silence for a few moments, then I murmured, “I’m sorry, Misael. This is so much to take in. Are you okay?”
He let out a low noise that was part laugh, part grunt. “I don’t fuckin’ know. I don’t know that man, Coralee. I’ve only met him twice in my life.”
“I know.”
“My mom always told me my father was a fuckin’ asshole.”
My stomach clenched, and I leaned my head over to rest it on Misael’s shoulder. I could feel the heavy thud of his heart as it reverberated through his whole chest.