Page 27 of Finding Shelter
Fucking sunglasses. They weren’t doing their job now. He felt the tears roll down his cheeks. Valon sniffed. “Am I paying you that good?”
A smile exploded across Kash’s face. “You’re not paying me at all. I called Steel and had myself dropped from the payroll and the entire contract moved to auto-pay from my account. I’m taking care of Ledger’s protection.”
Valon stood and gathered his towel. “Damn, Kash. Seriously, how are you affording all this?”
“I’m an enforcer for a drug lord.”
A loud laugh burst from Valon. Kash was one of the funniest and greatest people he had ever known. He really missed having Kash’s friendship, especially since he needed it now more than ever.
If there wasn’t a hole in the floor yet, there would be in about two more turns of pacing. He had checked Kash’s location a million times, sohe knew Kash was almost home. Valon’s location had stopped showing almost four hours earlier. Either Valon broke the last connection he had by stopping his sharing on the family app or he had turned off his phone. Either way, there was no way that was a good sign. Kash should have let Ledger handle this. Valon was his son. He needed to be the one trying to save them.
By the time Kash came through the door, Ledger was ready to fight him. He opened his mouth to blast Kash. Ledger gave no shits Marc was there. But then Valon dragged a suitcase through the door right behind Kash and Ledger’s brain froze.
“You’re here.”
Valon looked up from the chore of getting his suitcase’s wheels unstuck fromthe small lip right inside the doorway. “Hey. Yeah. I’ve come to visit for a little while, if that’s okay?” His expression turned unsure, as if he should have called before he came. “I have someone coming with my car tomorrow, so you don’t have to taxi me around or anything like that.”
Ledger crossed the room and hugged Valon. He couldn’t believe how much Valon honestly believed he was a burden to Ledger. The truth dripped from every sad note. “You never have to ask permission. As long as I live, any place I live is your home too. I’m your dad.”
To his surprise, Valon hugged him back as if he needed Ledger’s love. “Thanks.”
Ledger fought a wave of unexpected tears. He couldn’t let them fall. “You never have tothank me either.”
“Sure I do. I was raised to say please and thank you.”
With a chuckle, Ledger helped Valon get his suitcase inside. He chanced a glance Kash’s way. Kash was busy talking to Marc about them getting together tomorrow about some job opportunity. Meanwhile, Ledger desperately wanted to know how Kash had done this. Then again, maybe Valon still didn’t know about them. There was a slim possibility Valon hadn’t heard, especially if Valon ignored Ry’s calls the same way he did Ledger’s.
“Let me just stick this thing in my room, and I’ll be back.”
There was a room he considered his. Ledger’s heart melted. He nodded and watched Valonhead down the hall. The moment he was out of view and earshot, Ledger looked Kash’s way and stage whispered, “How did you do this?”
Kash winked. “I told him to grab his shit and get in the car.”
Ledger shook his head.
Valon reappeared before Ledger could get any more information. “What’s for dinner? I feel like I haven’t eaten in ages.”
Ledger headed straight for the fridge. “Well, let’s figure it out.”
As they hovered together inside the open refrigerator, Valon slipped beneath his arm and held his waist the way he used to do when he was little. Ledger’s eyes stung. It was as if a switch flipped inside him. Their biggest problem wasn’t Valon’s behavior as much as it was Ledger’sinability to let go. There hadn’t been a smooth transition from child to adult. It felt like Valon had been ripped from him in one fast move.
Ledger pressed his lips to Valon’s temple. “Have I told you lately how proud I am that you’re my son?”
“I’m sure you have, but I always love hearing it.”
Ledger chuckled. “Tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll make it happen.”
Valon looked like the kid he remembered when he smiled. “Oooh. Do you know that spicy hamburger soup thing you used to make?”
“Yep.”
“Let’s do that.”
Ledger backed away. “I’m on it. Likely, I’ll have to get a rush grocery delivery, but it still won’t take long.” As he pulled his phone from his back pocket to do exactly what he claimed, a text appeared.
Kash:He knows everything and is completely fine with it. But I think he’s going through something else, and he needs his dad.
Before Ledger could react, another text rolled in.
