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“You told me he held you down while your father beat Lucas. I know he’s taller than you by a few inches, but he no longer appears to have the strength to overcome you. You had combat training in the military and Kom’s taught you a few fighting techniques, I believe?”
“Yeah. Yeah, he has.” Matt stared at the stills, his brows drawn close together as if attempting to figure something out.
“You’re in excellent shape. Certainly better than Valter. I doubt he could overcome you in present circumstances. He certainly couldn’t stand up to Avir, Masok, or Kom, could he?”
Kom abruptly brought his handheld next to Avir’s com. The picture hovering over the unit was of Matt, healthy and happy in the black outfit Ileg had made him, his guitar slung at his waist. Compared to Valter’s frail image, Matt appeared vital and strong.
Matt’s tone was wondering. “He’s…smaller than I remember. Wasted away compared to how he was before. He’s a little old man.”
“A little old man,” Retel repeated. “Is he someone you should be afraid of? Especially when you’re in the company of this clan?”
Masok discerned a tinge of realization ripple over Matt. Or was it wishful thinking on his part? He so wanted Matt to identify what they did.
Matt glanced up. Met Retel’s gaze. “He’s nothing. He’s small and sickly.”
“Is he someone to fear?”
Matt shook his head, dumbfounded. “No.”
Tension fled Masok. Matt saw. He understood. He knew.
“You identify him as he truly is now. A bitter, angry old man. A man who can’t force you or your clan to do as he wishes.”
Matt examined Valter again. A wondering smile twitched. “He can’t, can he?”
“And neither can your father.”
Matt cringed. His grip on Masok’s fingers turned painful once more.
“Listen to me,” Retel insisted. “It’s been verified Sven is dying. He’s eaten up with an aggressive cancer, which he ignored too long for treatment to be successful unless the doctors take extreme measures. It’s to the point where even the extreme measures have less than a ten percent chance of success. You recognize how insignificant Valter is. Sven is less.”
Matt stared at Valter. “My father’s worse than this?”
“Far worse. Barely there. The monster is a man after all, and the man is dying.”
“You think I should go and see him for myself, don’t you?” This from a man who’d claimed he wasn’t very smart. Masok stared at his beautiful face until tears blurred it.
You are so much more than you give yourself credit for, my wonderful Mattie. Than I’ve given you credit for. I think you can face the monster.
Retel nodded, his expression confident. “Matt, you should confront Sven Larsen so you can appreciate how inconsequential he is. You don’t have to give him the stem cells your uncle demands. You don’t have to speak to him. But you need to stand there in person and recognize him for yourself. It’s the surest path to heal the damage you’ve endured.”
Matt dressed slowly, aware of the clan’s gazes on him as he did so. Retel and Sanderson had agreed he could go home, but Clan Avir was to com Retel if Matt showed signs of returning crisis. The doctor had increased the dosage of his anxiety medication before leaving.
He wanted Matt to visit his father, who’d assumed gargantuan proportions through the years. Having viewed Valter’s picture, Matt had to admit he’d made caricatures of the two men. Sven lay in an end-of-life clinic, with next to no chance of leaving alive.
“Matt?” Avir held his ankle boots out.
“Thanks.” He’d managed to finish dressing on automatic pilot, lacking only his belt and shoes. He sat on the bed to put the boots on.
“We’ll be with you if you decide to go. You won’t have to confront him alone.”
“I know. Thank you.” He gazed at them in turn, gratitude and love filling him. They hadn’t given up on him despite his collapse. He figured if they’d stuck by after he’d completely flipped his lid, they weren’t likely to run off in the near future.
“This isn’t the setting I hoped for, but I can’t put it off another second.” Avir came to him and took his hands. “I realize you’re afraid of being openly gay when it comes to certain people, but maybe an official union will offer you strength. The timing is wrong, but I wish to formally add you to my clan. Is it possible?”
Chapter Fourteen
Matt wasn’t shocked by Avir’s proposal to clan, but his heart sped up. If he said yes, Avir would file their status and it would be a matter of public record. Sven and Valter could easily discover his blatant disregard for their threats.
