Page 88 of Unfettered

“Of course. Maybe now you’ll believe me when I say you’re mine. Here, take her.”

He cradles the kitten to his chest, talking sweetly to her, even as she tries to climb onto his shoulder. “You’re going to be an adventurous one, aren’t you? Yes, you are.”

Javi meets my eyes as he plays with his new friend. “Thank you, Jude.”

“It’s the least I’ll do for you, Paperotto.”

Color spreads across his cheeks, but he kneels up and kisses me firmly, the kitten between us.

I can’t fix what happened to his cousin, but I can give him this—a safe place to land, a reminder that he’s not alone, and hopefully, the chance of a new life with the Council.

Javi may not fully understand what my claim means yet, but he will in time. For now, it’s enough to know he trusts me and willingly lets down some of his walls. Because despite what he might think, he needs that. If we have any hope of making the Senator pay for what he’s done to us, we need all hands on deck with clear heads, and I’ll make sure Javi has that, so he can take his revenge. Then I’ll cuddle him and shower him in kisses afterwards, making sure he knows he’s not alone.

And he never will be again.

The stress I thought left me in the kitchen slowly starts to pile on again the closer I get to Brannigan’s office. If it weren’t for the promises I made, I’m not sure I’d have the strength to face this time after time. Therapy… Fuck. It seems as if every session merely uncovers another truth—and yet more pain.

I knock on the door, patiently waiting for Brannigan to let me in. Instead of calling for me to enter, however, he opens the door himself. His bodyguard leaves the room with a nod toward me. It’s honestly the friendliest a guard has been in a while, and I almost stumble in shock.

Though I shake it off and gather myself, entering the den of pain, aka the therapist’s office. It doesn’t escape my notice that Brannigan’s cheeks are slightly flushed. I briefly wonder if the bodyguard did or said something, but it’s not my call to interfere. Not anymore. I’m…me. Though, really, I have no fucking idea what that means.

“Come in, please. Take a seat.”

He waves me toward the sitting area and I go easily, used to this by now. When he hands me a bottle of water, I take it with a nod of appreciation. He sits down opposite of me, clasping his hands in his lap as he studies me with serious eyes.

“Thank you for seeing me,” I croak out, my palms sweaty as anxiety starts to twist its vines around me.

His gaze softens, and a small smile graces his lips. It makes him far more approachable, and the tight bands around my chest loosen slightly—enough for me to breathe, at least.

“It’s what I’m here for. How have you been doing? Is there anything you’d like to focus on during this session?”

“Things have been…hectic. I’m not really sure where to begin.”

He nods, his hands unclasping so he can stroke his chin. I note the stubble that's grown in, and I wonder if he’s not getting enough sleep. Still, it’s not my problem to solve.

“The beginning is usually the best place. But pick wherever you’re comfortable and we can go from there.”

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes, trying to untangle the mess of emotions and thoughts inside. Without giving myself time to second guess, I whisper, “Do you think my entire life can be based on a lie?”

The silence is absolute, and I force myself to look at Brannigan. I’m not surprised to see the shock in his eyes, though he covers it quickly. Tilting his head, he gently asks, “What do you mean?”

I clench my hands into fists, trying to keep myself from falling apart as I crack myself open for him. “It turns out…I have family. Family who cares about me. That…I never expected. I mean, I knew they existed, but I never recognized that they actually wanted to know me.

“My father was a cold-hearted bastard who did everything he could to turn me into a perfect replica. Hell, my mother was in some ways worse, though she at least killed him eventually, even if it wasn’t to protect me. No, she’d rather I was dead too. But…it turns out, my grandmother’s family, despite what my grandfather did, actually cares about me. How do you rectify that?”

“What do you mean? What did your grandfather do?”

I shake my head, forcing myself to slow down. Of course, he doesn’t know the details. That’s the only problem with Javi’s empire. Even the ones slightly touched by darkness… They’re still pure. At least, in comparison.

I briefly describe the partial fuckery of the familial sins that haunt me to this day. And then I try to make Brannigan understand what I don’t. “We were at the restaurant that Aldo runs, although it technically still belongs to me, and…”

“And, what?” Brannigan asks gently, leaning forward.

I take a shuddering breath. “Fuck, I just realized, I don’t even know how to refer to Aldo. Is he my cousin? All I know is that he’s my paternal grandmother’s family. And they always ask after me. That I join them. And sure, I go to the restaurant fairly regularly, wanting to make sure they have whatever they need, because they refuse to let me just sign the damn thing over to them… But I was there, having dinner with Tennant. It’s the first time I’ve brought a man with me.

“And Aldo… He gets all excited. For me. Enough to bring out a dessert to celebrate our ‘date’. It hit me. All at once. That this man actually cares. This whole time, I thought I only came from people too cold to even have feelings. But I don’t, do I?”

He makes a noncommittal noise, his gaze sharpening on me, and I struggle to breathe. Because once I say the next part aloud, I have to face it. And fuck, I’m not sure I’m ready. Then again, when will I ever be…