Page 135 of Taint My Soul

“Yeah. I just wanted to say a few words as a family.” I set my spoon aside. “I know we rarely come together like this. We are not all fans of our father.” I exhale sharply and look at them. Olivia and Cross both listen to me, whereas Virgil munches on his food and sips from the glass of juice. “And he wouldn’t even listen to the words I’m about to say, but here it goes.” A hot breath escapes me. I never thought speaking about myself in such a vulnerable way would be this difficult. “All my life, like all of you, I have given parts of myself to the family, and I always will. But I want you guys to know. There’s this part of me I’ve always hidden from everyone. Because my father made me believe that being that way makes me a weak man, and I have just realized that’s not true. It took me a long time to see it, but I’m so glad that I did.” I explain. “I’m gay. I have for a really long time, and I tried to change it, but I couldn’t. I just wanted you guys to know this about me because we are family, and I’d love us to always remain family no matter what.” I finally glance at my siblings, pushing through the heavy discomfort squeezing my shoulders. But the way they look at me isn’t different from the way they’ve always looked at me.

“If it helps, I think I might be bisexual too,” Cross announces with a grin. “But this doesn’t change how I see you. You’ll always be my big brother, and I really appreciate that.” He stretches his hand across the table and caresses the back of my palm.

Olivia pushes to her feet and circles over to me. She leans forward and pulls me into an embrace, pressing a kiss on my cheek. “You are always safe with me. You’ll always be.” She promises.

“Thank you.” A tear rolls down my cheek, and she swipes it off with the back of her palm.

Virgil’s loud sigh gets my attention. “Who you sleep with doesn’t change how I see you, brother.” Virgil lays his hand on my shoulder, his eyes brimming with honesty. I chuckle and glance at them all. This is my family. Father might have done a terrible job raising us, but I won’t let him break us apart.

“And I would love to suggest more of this. Family dinner to catch up on all the stuff that’s going on in our lives.”

“I second that.” Virgil raises his hand with a grin.

“Me too.” Olivia and Cross say concomitantly, and we all laugh together. “Saturdays can work for all of us.”

“Totally.” Cross adds.

“I love you, guys.” I announce.

“We love you too.”

After we finish dinner, Cross and I clear the dishes while Virgil and Olivia prepare to leave the penthouse. Mason joins us downstairs when he wakes up, and Cross serves him a full plate of food. He devours the delicious meal in minutes, and then I get him a glass of water so he can take his medication.

“How are you feeling?” Cross asks after he wipes his hand with the kitchen towel.

“So much better. Thanks for getting me to the hospital.”

“I’d do anything for my brother.” Cross looks at me, then at him.

“Thank you.”

“Alright, we are leaving.” Olivia yells from the living room as they head toward the elevator.

“Bye,” I tell them. “Text me when y’all get home.”

CHAPTER FIFTY

MASON

Saint walks to the dining table, and he picks up my plate. While I take my medication, he cleans up the kitchen, and he heads upstairs to take a shower when he’s done. I’m sitting in the living room, watching the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. It brings me some shred of comfort knowing full well that everything related to Vincent and his hard-headed ambition for the Kings has come to an end.

Yet, I still can’t wrap my hand around the brutality that took control of me that night.

Footsteps echo behind me, and I look over my shoulder to see Saint entering the quiet space. My lips lift into a soft smile as he circles the dark leather couch and settles down next to me. I tuck myself into his arms, and he presses a kiss on the base of my skull. He rests his hand on my body while we stay in the silence, and my heart feels less heavy than it was at the hospital. While I’m firmly wrapped in his arms, he relaxes back on the couch, breathing evenly.

“Can you drive me to the docks now?”

“Yeah, let me fetch some clothes.” I sit upright, letting him regain his footing. He strides up the staircase and returns shortly after. He hands me a shirt, and we both dress up.

We head downstairs together, and he drives us out of the premises, leaving the city behind. As we navigate through the traffic, Saint turns on the stereo, and a song comes on, making the silence between us less palpable. “You know I used to play the guitar.”

“Really. I didn’t take you for someone who loves music.”

“Ouch.” I chuckle.

“Do you still know how to play?”

“I’m not sure.” He slows down and takes a turn onto a street lit by the streetlights.