While I Breathe: The Veiðimenn Mob, Book One

Twenty-Seven

After they were in the air, Phoenix moved to curl up in Callum’s arms and fall asleep. Although he could feel her eyes watching his every move, he stood to carry their son to the on-board bedroom. As he set the boy down, Phoenix curled onto his side, pulling his stuffed toy closer.

Callum sighed as he pulled the blankets up. For a few minutes, all he could do was stare down in wonder at the miniature version of himself. He reached out to brush a few strands of the boy’s hair back from his bronzed face. Fatherhood was not going to be a smooth ride, but he already loved the little boy. He realized that this must have been how his father felt the first time they met after years of being apart.

Having been asleep most of the time he was with them, he’d missed out on getting to know the kid. Question after question assaulted his mentality, but his doubts vanished as soon as he heard Phoenix say: "Dad, can you stay with me?"

"Yeah, absolutely," he replied. Phoenix snuggled against him, falling to sleep almost immediately. As he stared down at his sleeping child, he knew he would kill anyone who tried to target the little boy.

Four and a half hours later, they were shown to the flat Hans had his people set up for them. She didn’t know why there was an entire floor dedicated to her family, but the gesture was not unwelcomed.

“This is your room,” Hans said as he opened the door to show the boy inside.

He watched anxiously as the child squealed in excitement and bolted into the room. Phoenix was suddenly quiet, dazed as he walked around the room before jumping up onto the bed and lying down on the covers. "This is awesome! This is really mine?”

He sat up as his Grandfather walked over, picking up a small remote from the dresser before sitting beside the child on the bed. “Yes it is. I’m glad you like it.”

“Mom taught me that material stuff is not really important, and that blood doesn’t always make you family. She says it’s often better to let go of what hurts so that you can protect your peace,” the boy replied.

"Well, that only means your mother is a very wise woman. Now, watch this," Hans murmured as he showed Phoenix how to work the projector. Excitement lit Phoenix's eyes as he watched while an array of dragons flew around on the ceiling. Hans looked down at the boy and smiled, "Do you like it?"

Phoenix laughed, throwing himself backwards on the bed, "I love it!"

“I hope you didn’t spend too much money on him, Hans,” Ambrosia said as she watched her son wander around the room.

Hans laughed, yet the sound held a note of nervousness to it. “No, of course not.”

Ambrosia crossed her arms over her chest, here eyes narrowed in disappointment. “Hans, I don't appreciate being lied to.”

“Dad, just tell her,” Callum scowled. He didn't like the fact that his father had probably gone overboard with everything any more than she did.

The older man sighed, “Fine. I got him a full set of encyclopedias, dictionaries, and reference books. I also set him up with a trust fund for a half a million dollars that is to be locked until he graduates high school.”

“Are you kidding me?!” Ambrosia exploded, but a glare from Hans seemed to dampen her fire. Mulling over everything, she understood that the gifts could benefit her son in the long run. “Fine, but I am paying you back for the books.”

“No, you most certainly are not,” Hans replied in an even tone. "They are a gift, and you will accept them."

“I know he’s your grandson, but I'm his mother. I don't want anyone spoiling him,” Ambrosia argued.

Hans growled, his patience growing thinner by the second. “Ms. Reyes, you are treading on thin ice.”

“That’s Doctor Reyes to you,” she shot back. “Now, you listen to me. I’m not afraid of you or anyone else in this place, so you can take your threats and shove them where the sun doesn't shine. Ohh, big scary men with muscles and quite possible just enough brain cells to have a single collective thought of who’s d**k is bigger. Here’s a woman’s perspective: it’s not as big as you think it is."

Ross snorted, trying hard not to join in on the muted laughter coming from Callum, David, and Declan.

"Ambrosia, you might want to rethink that remark." Hans countered. Though he was trying to hold onto his anger, this fiery woman reminded him so much of his own mother that he was actually enjoying their banter.

"You may have power and money, but I don't belong to you. I am not property, and I refuse to be treated with anything less than the respect I deserve," she replied testily. "Nix needs to learn that nothing in life comes easy. Even if you have millions at your disposal, it was someone else's hard work put you there, so respect is a must."

Ross cleared his throat. Seeing the playful light in Hans’ eyes returning for the first time since losing Emily, he was enjoying watching a woman take his friend down a few notches. “Dr. Reyes, if you would follow me I can show you to your bedroom.”

Ambrosia sent a weary glower in Hans direction. “Yeah, whatever. Mark my words, you will hear it again if you’ve splurged on me, too. Don’t go using that old, “but you saved my son” s**t on me, either. I hate that stuff. I didn’t do what I did back then for praise. I did it to save a life that didn’t deserve to be abused so blatantly.”

Waiting until he heard her scream in displeasure after she stomped down the hall, Hans escaped the apartment he signed over to the woman and her son. “I’ll be in my office.”

Callum couldn’t help it as he burst into fit of laughter. He knew that his father had gone all-out on the three rooms. Glancing over at Declan, he asked, "What the hell is up with your sister? Don't get me wrong, I loved how she just ripped my father a new one, but I didn't know she had such an aversion to money."

Declan shook his head. "It runs deeper than you realize."

"Explain it to me, then," Callum said as he walked with Declan down the hall. “I mean, even when we were teens and she knew that I was loaded, she never bothered me for money. It was really confusing.”

“Yeah, that sounds like my sister. You see, it's her personality not to think much of money. She’s always been a simple, easy-to-please person. Honestly, take her out for her fav food, and she’ll be happier than a pig in s**t,” Declan told him.

David laughed, "So, she basically hates it when people try to spoil her? My kind of woman."

Callum scowled, “Declan, the problem here is that my father loves spoiling women and children. I can tell she's not going to let him get away with anything, and it’s going to be interesting to watch them get along.”

Declan smirked, “They’ll learn to compromise eventually. Where’s my room?”

Ross, pale after returning from showing Amber her room, said, “You’re not going to throw a fit too, are you?”

“I’m too jet-lagged to give a damn, and I wasn’t expecting much anyway,” Declan returned with a soft laugh. "I'm the polar opposite of my sister."

Callum had a feeling that he and Declan were going to be good friends if he was always this laid back. Being close to her brother would probably make it easier to get Ambrosia to come around again. “Why weren’t you expecting much?”

“Amber filled me in on everything, Callum. I know what Justin did to you, and how she saved you from him. I knew exactly who you were when I met you because, like you, she never moved on. Too busy raising your semen demon.”

“My what?”

“Sorry man, but Nix is not as innocent as he appears. He can be calm and collected or a firestorm of trouble if anyone hurts his mother. He’s also at the age where he enjoys a good prank now and then. David, you might want to watch your back,” Declan explained as Ross opened his room door.

“Why me?”

“Because you’re an easy target,” Declan countered.

Ross, his brow furrowed in confusion, asked, “Wasn’t he scared of your mother, though?”

“No, he was scared of the thoughts she brings out in him. He told me once that he imagined pushing her down the stairs. It terrified him until his mother told him about you being mob. Then it was like a switch flipped, and he was suddenly okay with his darker thoughts. Hell, he even uses violent video games to assuage his inner beast.” Declan told them.

Leaning against the doorframe, Ross scowled as he slipped deep into thought. He still hadn’t told the younger men that Hans was listening to everything through the phone in his back pocket. “Hey, Declan, did you want to go see the Underground after you rest?”

“Hell yeah! I don’t like working off my aggression around my family, but yes, please,” the man replied.

“How old are you?” Ross asked.

“He’s twenty-six; about to be twenty-seven in three and a half weeks, if I’m not mistaken.” Callum said. He scowled, pulling Declan aside, “He’s using direct questions, meaning he’s got my father listening.”

“Yeah, sure. I mean, this is your territory, man. Thanks, by the way.”

“For what?”

“Everything,” Declan murmured. “Especially my nephew.”