Phoenix Rising: The Veiðimenn Mob, Book Two

Fifteen

Letting out a breath, David picked the lock on his son's door and let himself into the room.

As usual, the place was spotless. Even Jaxon's collection of books and model cars was in immaculate order. The books were ordered by author, then publication year, and the models he’d put together with his best friend were alphabetically placed on the shelf with the date and time they were completed written on a note card. The monitors were perfectly aligned to face the revolving chair. Not a single cord was dragging or tangled with anything.

On the bed, curled into a ball, was Jaxon. Sobs wracked his lean body, and it tore a little more at David's emotional heartstrings. He quietly shut the door and closed the distance between him and the bed in four light strides. Reaching out, he placed a hand on the teen's arm as he called his name.

Jaxon jumped slightly, twisting to face his father. With his torso propped on his elbows and his eyes wide, he wrestled for control over his ragged breathing.

"Don't let your mind control you. You are far stronger than your anxiety, and you know it." David said softly. Reaching out, he soothed the boy calmly as he smoothed back the deep, brownish-black locks of his son’s hair. “Keep breathing; in, and out. In. And out. Good. You’re doing great, Jaxon. Keep going; you’ve got this.”

Slowly, the boy's breathing evened out, and his mind quieted enough to form a coherent sentence. Blinking at the man with him, he felt a flood of resignation hit him square in the chest. For the first time in his life since he was adopted, he’d snapped. He’d yelled at the man who chose him out of more than two dozen other children, and the regret burned inside him like an ember that hadn’t quite gone out. "I'm sorry I yelled, Dad."

"I'm not worried about that right now, Jaxon. I'm worried about you. Why would you think I'd disown you?" David whispered. He watched as the teen lowered his eyes to stare at the bedspread. "What would possibly make you think that I would turn you out? Jaxon, who do you think had to kick Trace's ass to get him to accept that Mark was gay? Admittedly, I'm a little disappointed, though. That could have been handled a little better than it was, but I know that it can’t have been easy to openly tell me about that part of yourself."

More tears spilled out as Jaxon sobbed heavily. "I didn't know how to tell you. I was trying for months, but the timing never seemed right. The more I thought about how to do this, the sicker I got, and… and… I just...”

Nodding, David moved from the floor to sit on the bed beside the distraught teen. “So, you spent months agonizing over a decision that had no bearing on my love for you, Jaxon. You put yourself through hell for nothing, but I assure you I understand why you felt that way. So, your sister told me the team knew? I guess you really trust them with your life, don’t you?”

Turning slightly red from embarrassment, Jaxon bit his lip. “Yeah, all my friends know, and they accepted me as I am. Sky tried to help me today, but I couldn't help where my thoughts went, and I don't know why I always think of the worst possible outcomes. It just… happens. It was really bad for me because I always felt like if I did anything wrong or got in the way, I’d be sent back to the orphanage and lose the people I love all over again.”

"Ouch,” his father muttered. “I wouldn’t do that to you, Jax. I can be a cold-blooded killer, sure, but I don’t have the heart to hurt my kids. One of the basic rules that was shovelled down Hans’s subordinate’s throats was that children were to be protected at all costs. No exceptions. He was a man of morals and integrity, which was why I had no qualms working with him after he plucked my ass off the streets.”

Swallowing, Jaxon licked his lips before speaking again, "So, you're not mad at me? For being, you know, into guys instead of girls?"

"What? No, not at all," David admitted. "I mean, it would have been nice if you had let me speak before assuming the worst, but it is what it is and you are who you are. I don’t need to know what goes on behind closed doors unless its to help kill off anyone who hurts my kids. So, are you okay now?"

Jaxon shifted his weight on the bed, pulling his knees up to his chest. "I am. I was… I was just so scared of your reaction that I may have, well, overreacted ahead of time."

"I know. That's why you're not grounded right now. Next time you need to talk to me, write it down. You never were good at confrontation, which is why I was surprised when Nix claimed you for his team."

Rolling his eyes, the teen gestured to the system lining the corner. "Hello! I'm a tech genius, Dad. Nix needs me and Luke for our skills and our friendship.”

"Smartass," David laughed huskily. "Your food is going to get colder than Declan's Fortnite kill count if you don't eat it soon."

Jaxon giggled, "That sounds like an interesting story."

"Come on, I'll play a round of Mortal Kombat with you before I head to work. I won't be back until late, so don't wait up for me, okay?" David said as he left the room.

Breathing a little easier, Jaxon followed his father out to the living room, grabbing his supper on the way.

"I hope you don't mind if I grill you about something, Jax," David smirked as they sat down. "I want to know how Russell is around your sister. Does he treat her well, or is he acting?"

"He's not acting," Jaxon replied. "He lacks the skill to pull off that kind of deceit. Sky likes him, too, and he treats her really well."

David scowled. "I didn't want her to like him."

"Dad, are you whining?"

"Shut up, Jaxon," his father snapped playfully. "I'm allowed to. She's my only daughter, and she's interested in a guy that once tried to ruin our Mafia. He got off too easily for my taste."

Eyeing the man beside him, Jaxon shook his head, "Yeah, we heard about that from him, actually. He told us the whole story a long time ago. That was about the time Kennedy wanted to know why he was still breathing and tried to off him for unwittingly putting Nix in danger."

David cursed under his breath, "That damn girl can't let me have any fun for myself, can she? Eight damn years, and it's still a competition to see who can do what for the boss. Little brat's had it in for my job since I met her."

"Dad, you know that's not true."

"Really? Would you like to know what she told her sister when she was asked why she doesn't get scared while on missions?" David challenged with a frown. "She said: Don't worry, sis. I'm not a bullet magnet like David. How demeaning is that s**t? I mean, I didn't deserve that."

Jaxon choked on his drink as he listened to his grown man of a father whine about a seventeen-year-old girl. "A bullet magnet? Seriously? I thought Declan was joking!"

"Son of a b***h, not him, too," David exclaimed as he started the fight between their characters.

"Dad," Jaxon squealed in shock.

Shrugging, David grinned at him, "What? You've never had the displeasure of meeting Hannah Reyes. The woman was more evil than that witch from The Wizard of Oz.

"Wow. Was she really that bad?" Jaxon asked.

Someone coughed, and he looked at the door where Phoenix, Memphis, Markus, and Lukas were standing. Judging by the look on Phoenix's face, he wasn't pleased to hear the name of his maternal grandmother. "She was more of a frigid old cow than anything else. All she ever wanted was for things to be her way or the highway."

Memphis looked between his friend and David, "We came to keep him company for the night."

"Perfect," David replied. He rose to his feet and stretched out his aching muscles. "At least I know he's protected with you guys nearby. Jaxon, don't stay up too late."

When he was gone, Markus sat down on the couch and sighed. "I take it you didn't tell him."

"You owe Nix fifty bucks, Mark," Jaxon retorted with a grin. "I was all worked up over nothing."

Groaning, Markus pulled out his wallet and handed over the cash. He leaned over a little closer as he reached, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips as his hand brushed the younger teen's thigh.

Jaxon jumped, blushing hard.

Laughing, Phoenix, waved off the money, "Take Jax out to dinner this weekend, and we'll call it even."

The smirk turned into a grin just before he grabbed the Asian teen and kissed him. Phoenix gagged at the PDA, but Memphis was laughing too hard to care. Breathing in the woodsy scent of Markus’ cologne, Jaxon melted into the kiss. That was when he heard Lukas coughing through his laughter. As Markus pulled back, Jaxon felt his face begin to burn hot with embarrassment.

“About time you two got together,” Lukas muttered as they sat down to take turns playing the game.