Aching for His Discretion (The Discretion Dynasty #1)

Epilogue

Three Years Later

Teegan

C oming home from a long shift at the clinic, I opened the front door and set my belongings down on the counter. As I shut the door, I was immediately tackled by my little Silas, who had been waiting for me by the entrance past his bedtime, as he usually did. Turning around, I smiled brightly at my baby boy, who held his arms up for me to pick him up.

“Mommy, you’re home!” he said happily in his babyish voice, and I smothered his face in kisses as he wrapped his arms around my neck.

“Hi, honey. How was your day?” I asked, and he giggled.

“Good!” He smiled, and immediately he flinched as we heard Levi’s deep voice at the end of the hall.

“Silas,” was all he said, and I smiled as my little boy snuggled more into the crook of my neck. Looking over to my handsome husband, I watched as he walked over with our beautiful daughter Eden as she laid her head on his shoulder, sucking her pacifier. Her eyes looked in a daze, and I could tell he was trying to get her to fall asleep.

Looking down at my baby boy, I brushed the hair from his face. “Did Daddy put you to bed earlier?” I questioned, and he nodded reluctantly. “And did he tell you to stay in bed and get some rest?” I asked, and he shook his head. Levi narrowed his eyes slightly at his little lie, and I tried to hide my smile as Silas immediately spoke in defense.

“B-but I wanted a goodnight kiss before bed,” he reasoned, and I gave him a look.

“But doesn’t Mommy always kiss you goodnight even when she comes home late?” I asked, and he pouted before he nodded softly.

As I walked closer to Levi, I spoke to our son, who was now avoiding all eye contact with his father.

“I think you owe Daddy an apology,” I advised.

Silas looked over to Levi, who was waiting expectantly.

“Sorry, Dad,” he murmured.

I hummed. “Sorry for what reason?”

“For getting out of bed and lying…” he said softly, and Levi leaned in and placed a small kiss on his head before placing a kiss on my lips.

Silas moved into Levi’s hold, and as we made our way to the steps, I had to hide my smile as I watched my husband carry both of our children effortlessly in his arms: the husband who spoiled his daddy’s girl and was only a bit jealous of my mama’s boy.

Especially when said mama’s boy would wait for me by the door every night and be the first to wake me up in the early mornings. Dr. Abbie, being Dr. Abbie, suggested to me that he may be going through his Oedipus complex phase.

As much as I commend the father of psychoanalysis as a doctor myself, imposing the thought that my son may want to kill his father out of competition for his love for me was a bit far-fetched. However it was not entirely too far off when I compared how similar their temperaments were and recalled our rather unfortunate history of killing fathers who were controlling.

Similarly, Levi and Silas were also both jealous and possessive of what they loved. Like father, like son, I suppose.

My sweet little Eden was, however, the light of both of their worlds, and I couldn’t have been more grateful for an overprotective papa bear and older brother when it came to her safety and happiness.

Stopping by Silas’s room first, Levi sat him on the bed and I went over to tuck him in. After kissing him goodnight and walking over to Eden’s room, Grayson entered as well and purred softly against my leg as he too wanted some attention. Levi laid our daughter down for bed and looked over to see me now holding my spoiled kitty. He walked over to us silently and ran his hand over Grayson’s head as he purred happily.

“I don’t want to be too hard on him, you know...” Levi began, and I looked up at him in question as he gazed across the hall to Silas’s room.

“I just see so much of myself in him: the rebelliousness, the attitude, challenging authority. I don’t want to make the same mistakes my father did raising me… I want him to be better than me.”

“You know what I think?” I began, and he looked down at me and listened intently.

“I think our son knows his daddy is the one in charge, and he knows that you only want the best for him. I think his way of challenging you is his way of wanting to be like you. And I think it would be amazing if our little boy could end up just like his father: caring, strong, protective… A little discipline here and there won’t hurt him. It will only make him respect you and your relationship as father and son,” I reassured him.

He sighed as he placed another kiss on my forehead before leaning his against it.

“If he does end up like me, let’s hope he skips the phase of his life where he dissociates and needs therapy to control himself,” he muttered.

I hit his shoulder as a small smile came to his face.

“Don’t even joke like that,” I pouted, and he chuckled as he placed another lingering kiss on my lips.

Walking into the living room, I smiled as Dakota and Declan sat on the sofa, listening to Silas babble. As a family, we were slowly but surely going through the healing process.

After Dakota’s apology and the incident with Declan and my father-in-law, our dynamics had changed. Sure, at times I was more comfortable at times with Micah, Nico and Elliot, however I knew they were trying, Declan especially, to gain my forgiveness and trust.

Dakota seemed to take a liking to Eden, as he would always find an excuse to hold her or rock her to sleep. Declan, on the other hand, had grown a special bond with Silas since that day in the hospital. It warmed my heart to see him so affectionate with him, and it made me even happier when Silas was just as excited to see his uncle.

“I have some snacks for you guys if you’re hungry,” I said softly, and as the word “snack” was heard, Silas quickly came over to see what I’d brought. Placing the tray of fruit and tiny sandwiches on the coffee table, Dakota grinned as Silas immediately grabbed a handful to stuff his face.

“Thank you, Teegan,” Dakota said heartfully as Eden sat on his lap, and Declan simply looked at me, lost in his thoughts.

Nodding, I spoke. “No problem. I’ll be in the other room so you all can finish your playdate,” I joked as I turned and went over to the hall that held my home office.

Hearing slow footsteps behind me, I looked over my shoulder to see Declan walking over a bit dejectedly. Going over to him, I grabbed his hand in mine.

“Are you enjoying your playdate with your niece and nephew?” I asked, redirecting his attention.

“I am,” he mumbled, though I knew he wanted to say more. I had gone through tough times with my brothers, however Declan was making everything harder on himself.

From reprimanding me for not letting him die to consistently reminding me that I saved his life both metaphorically and literally, I knew, under his tough, rugged exterior, that he had gained a rather significant soft spot for me.

A spot that was growing with brotherly love but also tormented by his past actions and beliefs, which influenced our older brother and terrorized me. I knew that even if I did forgive him, he’d never forgive himself—not when he was growing a bond with Silas, the child he didn’t think I should have had before.

With a smile, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a hug. He slowly hugged me back, and I felt him bury his head in the crook of my neck.

“Good. The guys are coming over later with the girls, and we’re going to eat dinner and watch a few movies. You and Dakota are going to stay, and we’re going to have a nice, relaxing afternoon with the kids. Maybe if you’re lucky, Grayson will let you feed him a treat. Does that sound like a plan?” I asked, and he nodded. He pulled me closer, and I let him linger for as much time as he needed.

He pulled away after some time, and I rubbed his cheekbones with my thumbs as he looked partially on the verge of tears.

Shaking my head, I nodded to the front. “In the meantime, go finish your playdate. If I’m correct, I know Silas is about to break the Candyland gameboard if Dakota helps Eden win one more time. Please diffuse the bomb that is going to erupt,” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood, and he nodded before turning away and walking over to the living room as I watched his retreating form.

Feeling a pair of arms wrap around me from the back, I sighed as Levi leaned his head on my shoulder.

“He needs you, you know. We all do,” he muttered as I rubbed his arm.

“And believe it or not… sometimes, Levi, all I need is you. You help me be the best mother, sister, friend, and wife I could possibly be,” I whispered, and he hummed as I turned in his hold.

Placing my hands against his chest, he spoke softly. “And you, Tesoro. You will forever be my everything. My life, my heart, my home... I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t have you in my life,” he responded sincerely, and I placed a small kiss on his lips.

Memories of our past flooded in, and my heart felt full as I remembered every smile, tear, and laugh we’d shared. Pulling away slightly, I gazed up at the man I had the pleasure of calling my husband. The flawed, imperfect man was the air I needed to breathe.

Looking up at him lovingly, I whispered, “And if we never had met, Mr. Amante... I would never know the wonderful feeling of having my heart ache for you.”