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Rian wasn’t really keen on the idea at first, but as he takes Bran out of his car seat and they start walking toward the small black-and-yellow tourist train, even he can’t hide his excitement.
The gimmicky ride drops them off at the aquarium.
Bran is squealing and babbling the whole time, pointing at the tanks and colorful fish. He is just about to turn one and is fidgety and eager for independence, leaning on for support and lunging at things, trying to break free from his daddy’s hold. He hasn’t taken his first independent steps yet, but he has been cruising and supporting himself on the furniture. Ty beams with pride at how strong his little boy is.
He's mine too,he thinks to himself, as he looks at Rian beaming back at him.
Ty hasn’t voiced these particular thoughts just yet. Everything they have been through is so overwhelming, that he’s figured this discussion can wait for now. But one day soon, he will most certainly ask Rian if he can legally become Bran’s guardian.
His father.
“Ish! Ish!” Bran hollers as they enter a small area, with shallow pools where there are shellfish and starfish that children can actually touch. It’s hilarious because he still can’t figure out his “f’s”, but he is so excited. Ty takes him from Ri and drops to his knees, supporting the little boy under his arms as he curiously peers through the thick glass of the aquarium.
“Wow, did you see that, little man? That was a stingray!” Ty points over to the deep murky waters where the stingray has swum to. Bran places his chubby palms on the thick glass, smooshing his nose to see better.
The stingray makes another appearance and Bran squeals, “Papaaa! Ray, Ray!” He is bouncing up and down stumbling then landing safely in Tayida’s arms.
“Yes, buddy, he’s back!”
The quiet moment they share is perfect. It almost breaks Ty’s heart that it isn’t entirely real.
Not yet.
He looks at Rian, who mirrors his feelings, biting his lower lip and trying to hide his emotions. This only spurs Ty on. He will do everything in his power to fucking make itreal. This is them. Their family. Their life. Their future. He won’t stop trying until he’s given the two most important people in his life the peace and safety they deserve.
* * *
On the thirty-first of October,it finally happens. They have been found. A piercing cry jolts them out of their slumber and horrified, they find themselves surrounded by a small army of SWAT officers aiming automatic weapons at them. Rian jolts out of bed, running in the direction of the scream, snatching Bran from one of the men who has picked him up from his crib.
The officers, brandishing their guns at Ty bark out, “Get on the ground!”
Others shout, “Hands behind your neck!”
Ty is apparently taking too long to comply, as he is roughly dragged out of the bed and shoved onto the floor. “Move, motherfucker! Don’t test me!” one of the masked SWAT team members screams.
Ty throws one desperate look at Rian, who is holding Bran, frozen in horror in the hallway.
Out of all the events unfolding at this moment, he hates the most that Bran is crying and he can’t hold him. He hates that he has let his guard down and Rian is in danger again.
He gets on the ground, still naked, and kneels, hands behind his neck.
His stomach flips when Harris Kelly rushes inside the villa moments later, feigning deep relief at the sight of Rian and Bran.
“Darling, you’re safe!” he mutters leaning into Ri’s space. Rian tries to take a step back, but Harris grabs his arm. Ty can see the way his fingers dig into the flesh of his lover, and he grits his teeth. Bran cries out and Harris pulls his hand away quickly.
Ty is so furious at the way Harris is cooing and pretending to be happy to see Rian and Bran.Fuck him, fake motherfucker.
“Don’t touch him!” Ty growls from the floor. Moments later, a heavy boot lands in his gut, knocking the air out of him. He folds over, but quickly recovers, refusing to look away from Ri.
Rian screams, “No! Stop that. He isn’t resisting! We didn’t do anything wrong!”
Harris pulls him aside and hisses something in his ear. Ty can see Rian shaking his head, tears running down his cheeks.
Ty starts screaming, “I did this. I kidnapped Rian and Bran. I forced him to follow me here. I blackmailed Harris Kelly to pay for his return. He didn’t do anything wrong. I did this!”
“Ty…” Rian tries to go to him, but Harris is holding him back and little Bran is crying in his arms, deeply unsettled by the chaos of the unfolding situation.
For a split second Tayida’s thinking,Fuck this shit! Bran and Rian need me.
