Where We Left Off - Romeo Alexander Page 0,58
remove this man from my room. He’s disturbing my rest and I’m quite through here,” Nate said evenly, eyes on the nurse.
The nurse looked between both Dane and Tyler. For a moment, he hesitated, unsure which Nate meant. When he spotted the resemblance between Dane and Nate, or perhaps knowing his mayor for who he was, the nurse advanced toward Tyler, hand outstretched.
“Not him,” Nate corrected softly.
Dane’s expression couldn’t have been any more dumbfounded than if Nate had struck him. “Nathaniel?”
Nate looked at the nurse. “Please remove my father from the room. I don’t think I’ll be needing him here any longer.”
“Nathaniel. Enough of this,” Dane snapped.
“Feel free to call security if necessary,” Nate told the nurse. His eyes locked on his father’s and went cold. “I’m sure the press would love to see the mayor dragged out of his son’s room, kicking and screaming.”
For a moment, Dane ballooned, swelling with such indignation and rage that Tyler thought he might explode. He wasn’t surprised, though disappointed, when the politician turned and strode out of the room, adjusting his coat. He shot a look of deadly promise at the two of them before disappearing out into the hall.
“My apologies, Ethan,” Nate said to the nurse. “I shouldn’t have dragged you into the mess.”
“Uh, no worries, Mr. Carter. Can I get you anything else?”
“A water would be lovely.”
“Coming right up.”
“Thank you.”
Tyler gaped down at Nate, not believing what he had just witnessed. Nate, meanwhile, barely noticed him, adjusting his blanket and settling back into his pillow. It was only after that he looked up and caught Tyler’s stunned expression.
“What is it?” Nate asked softly.
Tyler sat down on the edge of the bed, still clinging to Nate’s hand. “That...was amazing.”
Nate gave him a pained smile. “I suppose it only makes sense that I would discover the truth after being nearly killed a few times. Despite everything that happened, he cared only that the family didn’t look bad, that he didn’t look bad.”
Tyler sneered. “Bastard.”
“Indeed. And when you showed up, I realized he would once again start in on you as he had done before, and that wasn’t happening, not while I was present. I knew I was willing to tolerate whatever he had to throw at me, but I wasn’t willing to see him do the same to you.”
“You shouldn’t…” Tyler began.
Nate interrupted him, smiling. “And I won’t. I’ve seen how willing people are to put themselves in danger for those they care about. You, Clay, Elliot, all put yourselves at risk for me. My father can’t even be bothered to risk the idea of something bad happening for my sake.”
“You gave up everything,” Tyler said, awed.
Nate winked at him. “Not everything. My name still counts for a lot, and my father risks a great deal if he wants to smear my name. Not to mention, there are trusts, things he can’t touch, that go straight to me. I no longer have the family I thought I had before, and I don’t have quite the expense account I did, but I have something infinitely better.”
“You have us,” Tyler whispered hoarsely.
“If you’ll have me,” Nate said.
Tyler bent down without hesitation, kissing Nate soundly. It was hard to put everything he felt swelling in his chest, threatening to choke him, into that kiss, but he tried. He held tight to Nate’s hand, pressing their foreheads together once the kiss was done.
“I’ll always have you, always,” Tyler promised.
“Then I’m in capable hands,” Nate told him.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Stumbling through the front door, Tyler awkwardly twisted to kick the door shut behind him. The door slid to the last couple of inches and then stopped. Sighing, he dropped his luggage to the ground in a harsh clatter and gave the door a firmer push. He looked up and realized that the same strange hinge at the top was stuck. Rolling his eyes, he left the door for someone else, probably Elliot, to deal with and dragged his stuff further into the house.
“I’m home!” he called, voice echoing down the long hallway.
He had just stepped into the living room when a movement to his left had him spinning around. With a surprised shout, he caught Nate as the man flew through the air. He stumbled back from the sudden impact, forced to sit on the back of the couch as Nate kissed him fiercely.
“Well, hi,” Tyler muttered around his lips.
“Hello to you as well,” Nate all but purred, legs tightening around Tyler’s waist and holding himself in place. “I