Page 73 of Ashes to Ash’s

Chapter Forty

Ash

With all the kills out of the way, and a quick visit to Cal’s parents’ old house, to collect anything he really didn’t want to lose, we finished things Cross family style.

Dad Gray was pissed he couldn’t stay and watch it burn, but it was in a housing estate, and Em had been right, luring them away from here, and all these eyes, was the best way to get away with it.

“I’m just saying, I could be like a concerned passerby,” dad Gray grumbled from the back of the car, as dad Dory sighed.

“With your dick in your hand? Nobody’s buying that, Gray.”

A huffy sigh. “I could have just stroked one off over my pants.”

“Your dads are something else,” Cal whispered to me, his grip on my hand tight and trembling, because despite my dad’s enjoyment of the fire, we’d had to sneak their bodies back in, and burn his childhood home to the ground. Did we do it at four in the morning, when we knew people wouldn’t see us coming or going? Sure. Was the fact that the house was detached in any way relevant to us burning it? Don’t ask.

“Back to ours for breakfast, boys?”

We looked at each other, then Ren, who was practically hanging out the window to watch the fire disappear in the distance. Yep. Definitely a Cross at heart. I mean, even I’d enjoyed the fire, always had enjoyed watching flames, but I never felt like setting them. I enjoyed the grace and power of fire, but it didn’t mean I wanted to feel it. Dad’s scars were a testament to just how fucking deadly flames could be.

“Blaze is probably desperately rubbing one out while he watches the feed on the neighbour’s camera,” I whispered to Cal. Blaze hadn’t been able to join us for this, so the five of us, along with Ethan and Em, had carried out the final steps of the destruction of the real psychos in our midst.

“I could eat,” Ren suddenly piped up, and that was the decision made. I loved going home to eat with the family, and at last I’d be bringing my own family along. My boyfriend, the love of my life, the person I’d die with, and our son. The kid we never saw coming, but had taken under our wings, because he needed the kind of love only our family could provide. Unconditional, limitless, and enabling, I mean, supportive.

Mum was a whirlwind of excitement, hugging everyone, and complaining about the smoky smell of my dads’ clothing. When she saw Ren, she pulled him into a tight hug, calling him our sweet boy, and promising him he’s family now. He looked stunned, blinking rapidly at her, and clenching his fists as he hugged her back just as fiercely. Say what you want about my family, but this is who they are. Loving. Accepting. Open. I mean, they only met him once, but he’s with us, so he’s family.

I expected her to be weird with Cal, but she simply pulled him into a hug too, kissing his cheek.

“Welcome, Callum. I’m so happy to be able to call you family.”

He blinked at her, and frowned at me, and I knew what the problem was because I know my man so well now.

“He prefers to be called Cal, mum.”

He shot me a glare, so whoa, maybe I got that part wrong. Whatever.

“But… what I did…”

Mum hissed in a breath and shook her head.

“If Ash forgives you, then we do.”

“If not, you’ll disappear too,” dad Gray said with a grin, slapping Cal’s back and moving toward the coffee. The place was noisy, busy, and once food was on the table, it was a fucking crapshoot, with everyone reaching for things they wanted, and getting in each other’s way. I fucking loved it. It was exactly what a family dinner should be.

“So what’s next for you boys? You’ve got your own little family now,” dad Dory said, smiling at Ren, who was still staring wide eyed at the family around him. He was closest in age to my twin brothers, Nix and Cole, wait… nope… Pyro, apparently. Something had changed with him for sure. He had always been easygoing and relaxed, but now he was holding a knife in a firm grip, and watching each of us like he expected an attack at any moment. It was freaky. Even for us.

“C… Pyro? You wanna relax? Cal and Ren are family. They’re not threats.”

Dad Gray tutted, and leaned closer to Pyro, whispering something to him, and I swear that look in my brother’s eyes hardened. There was something chilling about that look in his eyes. What the fuck had happened to my little bro?

He and Nix were the calm, quiet ones. Nix was always off in his own little world, wearing skirts, and whatever else appealed to him, and avoiding all the drama in life. He was happy as fuck, and I loved that. But with Pyro, formerly Cole, I have no idea what’s going on. He was always the one we jokingly referred to as ‘the normie’, only he was acting anything but. He was actually acting more unhinged than even Ethan. Fuck. I knew that dickhead was a bad influence.

“So, anyway,” I said, clearing my throat and risking looking away from him, even though I was starting to feel like he’d attack us first. Nix was singing to himself, playing a game on his phone, and that was a perfectly normal state for him. Hey, at least one of the twins was acting like his usual self.

“Yes?”

I grinned at mum. “It’s okay if we stay in the house we’re living in, right? Me, Cal, and Ren? We like it there.”

She glanced at my dads, who were already nodding. “Of course. And if you need help moving your things there, then maybe your brothers can help. Right, Nix? Pyro?”