Jaxon shakes his head. “Where we live isn’t anything you need to concern yourself over. You’ll let us have our lives. You’ll stay out of it. Because I know where all the bodies are buried.”
A spark of cold lightning flashes through my stomach.
He’s just threatened his mother. The crime lord that has been possessed since she was a teenager.
From the reaction of Blake, who stands instantly, his hand going to the gun strapped at his hip, to his sister who shakes her head with her own level of coldness, I know this is serious.
“Sit down,” Vivian says sharply. The command is directed at her eldest son, though she doesn’t look away from her youngest.
Blake hesitates for a moment, glaring death at his brother. But finally, he sinks back into his seat at the table.
I realize now that I’m gripping Jaxon’s hand so hard, my fingernails have made half-moon indents into his skin.
"I'm not walking away forever," Jaxon moves on. "But you will let us have our life."
Vivian continues staring at her son, and I'd give anything to know what's really going through her head right now.
"You never did get to choose before," she says calmly. "You were born into this life. I tried to give you a good life. One that I hoped you would be proud of. But you're right, I have to let you have your own choice in this. So long as you don't forget where you came from, I will let you live your lives."
There's something in her tone and the way she says it that makes me think there is a for now attached to that.
But it's something. It's far more than I ever expected.
Jaxon nods, but he doesn't say thank you.
"I'm sorry for all the dramatics," Vivian says as her eyes shift over to me. "Our lives here are never boring, but usually we are a semi-pleasant crowd to be around. We are your new family, I hope we can all try to get along."
"I hope so too," I say evenly. I hold confidence and calm in my voice. I don't want a single member of the Gray family thinking that I am intimidated by them. "We are family, after all."
Vivian gives a small smile. It's not very genuine, but at least she's trying. She rises from her chair and comes to sit on the couch next to the one Jaxon and I are sitting on. She extends a hand toward me. "May I at least see if my son did me proud when it comes to the ring?"
I'm realizing that I'm starting to like this part. Showing off the ring Jaxon picked out for me. I don't hesitate as I extend my hand toward Vivian.
She holds it up, closely inspecting the ring. Jaxon was absolutely right when he said that every member of his family would know if the diamond was fake. "Salt-and-pepper diamond, as unique as the two of you are. Eighteen karat white gold. It's certainly a unique piece. Just as unique as the ink that is on my son’s skin."
"That was his idea," I say as I look over at him. "I was thinking platinum. The ink was all him."
Jaxon leans into me, his nose only 2 inches from mine. "Just wanted to make sure you understood that I'm in this for the long haul. Till death do us part, remember?"
Dread and anxiety surge in my stomach. Because it could be till death do us part. Or until I outlive him. Or until the gate opens, and I have to make a choice. Here, or home.
But what is home? Is home a place? Somewhere like this penthouse, or a tunnel in the desert?
Or is it a person? The one that you always want to be with?
Everything I thought I once knew and felt is shifting, ever since this man stepped in to keep me from killing that creep at the club.
I forget that we are surrounded by his family members on all sides. Gently, I place my hand on the side of his face and lean in, pressing my lips to his.
"I am envious," Vivian says. "The circumstances might seem extreme to the rest of us, but it's obvious. You love my son, Serena. It's exceptionally obvious to me that my son loves you, as well."
My eyes stay fixed on Jaxon. We might have only said the words to each other for the first time a little over an hour ago, but the truth of them weighs heavy as the moon in my body.
"I do," I find myself saying.
From the look in his eyes, I know that Jaxon is thinking the same thing I am. He's thinking of the ring on my finger. He's thinking of the tattoo on his own. "I do," he repeats.
"Disgusting," Blake says from the table. "The physical part, yes. But this? The goo and the longing eyes?" He shakes his head.
"You really want him to be the miserable, moping mess he was for the first year after he and Carly broke up?" Chantel asks. "No thanks."
It's not acceptance from his siblings. But do I really need that? No. At least this feels like a bit of a truce.
"Well, I am excited to throw your wedding party," Vivian says. She attempts to give a smile, but there's something…off about it. I guess that's what happens when you have embraced the dusk. "We have quite the guest list building. I've had the grand ballroom on hold for the past two weeks. My bank account will be pleased that it's finally happening. I hope you two are ready for a multitude of congratulations."
I always imagined the life of a criminal family to be an isolated, lonely one. I'm realizing that maybe I was wrong about that.
"We look forward to it," Jaxon says. He rises from the couch, reaches his hand down for me and helps me to my feet. "We'll be back later for dinner, okay?"
Vivian stands and nods. "We will get the whole family together. I know they are all anxious to get to know their sister-in-law better."
Jaxon nods, and suddenly I'm nervous. "We'll be back at six."
Just then, the door to the penthouse slams open. The room gets even fuller as Griff, Scarlett, and Aaron come barreling inside.
It all happens again.
Jaxon's eyes widen with rage and panic. His hands flash brilliantly hot. Everything in his body stiffens.
"We found them," Griff says. His voice is filled with adrenaline. "The guy that killed AJ."
"We have to go now," Scarlett says. "He's at home, and he's asleep. If we wait, it might take us another month to find him again."
Jaxon is burning. I look down and find light splintering over his hand again. I step closer, trying to block out the view of it. But thankfully, the attention has finally shifted away from Jaxon.
It's kind of beautiful actually, the unspoken and immediate call to arms. Blake and Chantel, and Vivian all rise and go to the closet just behind the front door. They pull it open, and there, I see an entire arsenal.
They load up. They strap guns to their bodies. They tuck knives into their belts.
I look at Jaxon again. His pupils are huge, his eyes wide open.
This isn't about Vivian. He had gained control. And then he lost it the second three of his other siblings walked in the door.
Vivian is not the only member in his family that is possessed.
He didn't react to Scarlett when we met her at the elevator. So, it has to be either Griff or Aaron.
Great.
"Jaxon!" Blake barks. "You can't get out of this one. AJ was with you when it happened. Don't you dare step out on us at a time like this."
Jaxon stands there on the balls of his feet. This is complicated in more ways than one. It's not simply about him reining in control when he’s surrounded by two family members that are possessed. This is about him remaking himself. This is about not being controlled by the choices of his mother, and the life she has built around them all.