Forsaken (The Protectors 4)

“Okay, open them,” Matty said gleefully.

I opened them to find Matty sitting on his knees, his fingers clasped in front of him. I reached up to feel what was on my head. I knew what it was even before I carefully pulled it off and I couldn’t help the sting of tears that burned my eyes as I studied the carefully colored paper crown with my name on it.

“Oh wow,” I whispered and I didn’t even have to pretend that I was choked up.

“Do you like it?” Matty asked. “I colored it myself.”

I nodded, needing a minute to get myself together. “I love it,” I managed to get out before I reached out to wrap my arms around him. He hugged me as hard as he could and then took the crown from me and put it back on my head.

“Don’t tell Seth,” he whispered, even though Seth wasn’t in the room. “He might get sad. I’m going to let him win tomorrow,” Matty added.

I nodded. “I won’t tell him.” I glanced at Mav who was still watching me with the same look of pleasure on his face. I noticed Dante over his shoulder. The young man was standing in the doorway of the room, but his eyes weren’t on me or Matty. I followed his dark gaze to Magnus who had returned to his chair. I didn’t miss how the older man shifted uncomfortably at Dante’s intense look, but kept stealing glances his way.

I didn’t have much time to dwell on the interesting turn of events because Dante quickly slipped back out of the room and a few moments later, Tate, Hawke and an older woman with long red hair entered. Mav immediately stood and moved out of the way so Matty’s fathers could reach his side. I also stood and walked around the bed to give them space. Concern went through me at the sight of Tate’s puffy red eyes, but when he kept smiling at the woman who was clutching his hand in hers and who had equally puffy eyes, I realized whatever was happening was a good thing and not a bad one. I went to Mav’s side and took his hand when he held it out.

“Bye, Matty,” I said as I gave him a wave.

“Bye, Eli,” he returned as he reached out to hug Tate.

As Mav led me from the room, I heard Tate say, “Buddy, I have someone really special I’d like you to meet, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy,” Matty said with absolute trust.

Mav and I passed Dante, but the young man didn’t look at us as he scanned the hallway. In all the times I’d interacted with Dante, albeit briefly, he’d always had an easy smile on his face…like he didn’t have a care in the world. There was no smile today and as I glanced over my shoulder, I saw Magnus leaving the room. His and Dante’s eyes met for a long moment, and I could practically see the air sizzling with electricity around them. But then Magnus hardened his jaw and began walking the opposite direction and he didn’t once look back at Dante.

I returned my attention to Mav as he led me towards the parking garage. “Do you know who that was with Tate and Hawke?” I asked. I loved that he had yet to release my hand. Many of the nurses and doctors I had met in the weeks since I’d started volunteering at the hospital murmured greetings as they passed us, but none looked at me and Mav with judgement or disdain. Several actually even ventured a smile when their eyes lit on Mav’s and my joined hands.

“Tate’s mom, Layla.”

“His mom?” I asked in surprise.

Mav nodded. “Tate’s father kidnapped him and his older brother when Tate was really little. He never knew about her until Hawke and Ronan found her a couple months ago. They’ve been talking on the phone a lot, but Tate was scared to meet her until now. He and Hawke met her this morning at the airport and were planning to bring her to meet Matty if everything went well.”

“Why was he afraid to meet her?”

Mav’s hand tightened on mine as he said, “Tate’s been rejected by everyone who was supposed to love him. I think he thought she’d do the same thing.”

“You guys remind me of Dom and his brothers,” I murmured.

Mav looked at me. “How so?”

“You guys are making a family for Matty. For yourselves,” I said. I glanced up to see that Mav’s expression had fallen and I pulled him to a stop just before the door leading to the stairwell. “What?” I asked.

“Nothing,” Mav said and tried to tug me forward, but I held my ground.

“No, tell me. Please.”

“I’m not part of that,” he finally said after a long, drawn out silence.

“Part of what?”