Rialto

by Drake, Jocelynn

  Tucked against his father’s chest, Stefan was comfortably sleeping through all the noise. Everyone had teased Lucas that his son didn’t resemble him besides the dark hair, but it looked as if the little guy was already developing his biological father’s stern frowns.

  “Welcome to the chaos,” Andrei greeted in a low voice so as not to disturb Stefan.

  Before Ian could reply, Daciana was whispering something loudly to her father, but Ian didn’t catch a word of it. Definitely not English. Andrei smiled and replied in Romanian.

  “No one warned me that we were going to need subtitles,” Hollis teased.

  “Sorry about that,” Andrei murmured. “We encourage her to speak Romanian at home, but we’re still working on not speaking it around people who can’t understand her.” He then turned his attention to the boys and smiled. “And who did you bring to join our special day?”

  “This is Tyler,” Ian said, placing his hand on the head of the little one clinging to him. “And Hollis is holding his brother, Thomas.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Tyler and Thomas. We’ve set up a playroom off the kitchen and built a huge blanket fort. Would you like to go see it?”

  Tyler and Thomas looked at each other and gave small nods but didn’t yet release either Hollis or Ian.

  “We’ll help get them settled,” Ian said as he worked to take off Tyler’s coat and then his own.

  “I’ll take them to the playroom if you want to get situated in the kitchen,” Hollis offered, holding out his and Thomas’s coats.

  Ian smirked and accepted the garments. “I promised that I wasn’t going to spend all my time cooking this year.”

  “Uh-huh…keep tellin’ yourself that, baby,” Hollis teased as he took Tyler by the hand and started to walk toward the area Andrei had indicated while Daciana ran ahead of them.

  “Where are Rowe and Noah? I was going to send them out to fetch the food I brought.”

  “In the pool. Last we heard was something about skinny dipping. Snow went down to get them.” Ian groaned and shook his head. “But I think Max and Jude are handy.”

  “Good. That will give me a chance to hold this one,” Ian said, extending his hands toward Stefan.

  Andrei chuckled and carefully shifted the sleeping baby so that he was now snuggled against Ian’s chest. The warm and delicate weight had Ian’s heart melting. They were already talking about adopting Tyler and Thomas, but Ian could understand the allure of surrogacy. Holding a tiny one like this, knowing that it was your own flesh and blood.

  Ian laughed when he caught sight of Andrei’s shirt and then winced, afraid he’d woken Stefan.

  “Don’t worry about waking him. He’s due for a feeding.”

  “Nice shirt.”

  Andrei snorted and looked down at where it said, “Call Me Big Poppa.”

  “Rowe brought them for us. He got Stefan one that said, ‘Future Ward Security Bodyguard’ but Stefan already spit up on it. Wait until you see Lucas’s.”

  They walked to the great room, where several people were relaxing. From there, he could see Sonja and Lucas’s sister, Nicole, working on the food in the kitchen. Hugs were given out and Andrei quickly directed Jude and Max to Ian’s car for the rest of the food. The air was thick with the scent of turkey, yeasty rolls, and other wonderful spices.

  There was a part of Ian that ached to head straight into the kitchen and take over. Thanksgiving was his jam. He loved making all the food for the holiday and then listening to everyone exclaim how wonderful it was. But he held back. It was clear that Sonja and Nicole had everything under control, and there was a bigger part of him that wanted to hang out with family for a while before wandering over to the playroom to spend time with Thomas and Tyler.

  Lucas appeared from an adjoining room and Ian took a step back as he laughed. The always perfectly dressed Lucas was wearing a pair of comfortable jeans and a black T-shirt with white writing. It said, “Call Me Big Daddy.”

  “Rowe strikes again,” Lucas muttered, but he was smiling as he pulled Ian into a careful hug. As he stepped away, he brushed a loving finger across Stefan’s cheek.

  “It’s a good look for you.”

  “I’d say fatherhood looks good on both of us,” Lucas replied. He nodded toward the room he’d just come from. “I just saw Hollis with the twins. They’re adorable.”

  “You met them?”

  Lucas made a face. “From a distance. They didn’t want to stop playing with Daciana in the fort.”

  Stefan shifted against Ian’s chest and gave a big yawn before letting out a soft cry.

  “Mine!” Milos, Lucas’s father-in-law, shouted as he jumped to his feet. The older man hurried across the room and carefully lifted Stefan from Ian’s chest. “I was promised this feeding.”

  “His bottle is prepared—” Andrei started, but Milos was already waving his free hand at his son as he walked toward the kitchen.

  “I know what I’m doing. I fed you plenty of times. And our little Daci. Go away.”

  Lucas chuckled and Andrei rolled his eyes.

  “There’s no shortage of help during the day,” Lucas said.

  “Yeah, just try finding some help when it’s three a.m.,” Andrei grumbled.

  “Does this mean you’re going to slow down now?”

  Andrei and Lucas looked at each other, slow guilty smiles spreading across their faces.

  Ian gasped. “You’re not pregnant again, are you?”

  Andrei placed both hands on his flat stomach and looked down. “I don’t look pregnant, do I?”

  “Be serious!”

  “No, we’re not pregnant,” Lucas said evenly.

  “Do you have a surrogate?”

  “Not officially, though we have someone we’re considering.”

  “Word has gotten out regarding how well Lucas pays,” Andrei mumbled.

  “But we are also looking into adoption,” Lucas added.

  “That’s wonderful.” Ian threw his arms around Lucas, hugging him tightly.

  “It’s still a ways off. We want to wait until Stefan is at least two before we add another child to our family.”

  The volume of noise in the great room jumped as Snow, Rowe, and Noah entered. All three had wet hair. Rowe and Noah looked to be in their usual street clothes, but Snow was wearing a pair of sweat pants and a soft, gray sweater that Ian knew belonged to Lucas. Apparently getting a naked Rowe and Noah out of the pool had meant that Snow went into the pool. Probably fully dressed.

  Ian walked over to the newcomers and gave out hugs, complimenting Rowe and Noah on their gifts to the Vallois family. Snow grumbled at Rowe and Noah, promising to get them back for the dunking, which they just laughed off.

  Snow dropped onto the couch and Ian joined him.

  “Not running to the kitchen?” Snow asked in surprise.

  “Nope. Relaxing this year.”

  Snow wrapped an arm around Ian’s shoulders and pulled him in closer. “It’s about time.”

  Ian had to agree. This was nice. In all the years since he’d come into this family, he’d never had this on Thanksgiving. He was always in the kitchen, worrying about the food being prepared just right or worrying about the place settings, or a hundred other little things. There had never been time to sit and talk with his family. That always came after dinner when they were stuffed and in danger of falling into a food coma.

  Looking over at his friend, Ian caught sight of the gold band on Snow’s left hand. Something he’d been sure he’d never see in his lifetime, but Jude changed a lot of things for the grumpy surgeon. “Anna forgiven you yet?”

  After nearly a year of indecision, they’d each gotten a call late one night from Snow and Jude, informing the family that they’d hopped on a plane for Hawaii and were now married. They’d freaking eloped. Ian had been a little sad that he’d not been there for Snow’s big moment, but if he was honest with himself, he wasn’t really surprised. Snow and Jude weren’t into big, flashy events or being
the center of attention. They’d wanted something just for them.

  There were only a few pictures, but they were gorgeous. Just the two of them with an official saying their vows on the beach with a beautiful backdrop of blue skies and gentle waves. A perfect peaceful moment.

  Snow groaned and dropped his head against the sofa. “Yes and no. She says that she has, but she wants to throw a big party this spring for the entire family.”

  Ian giggled at the idea of Snow surrounded by all of Jude’s family. But after the life that Snow had before Jude, Ian was sure that Snow could use all the love he could get from those loud and boisterous people.

  And Anna was the mother he needed whether Snow was willing to admit it or not. That woman adored him and babied him as much as she did her own sons.

  “What about your house? Adjusted to the little ones yet?” Snow asked.

  Ian shrugged. “We’re getting there. Every time I think we’ve got it all covered, they cook up something new to surprise us. I love it!”

  “I’m assuming those were the voices I heard in the fort with Daci…”

  Ian nodded.

  Jude laughed as he approached them. “I have a feeling that they’re going to be eating dinner in that monstrous thing.” He then looked over at Ian. “All your food has been handed over to Sonja and Nicole. They said to tell you that they’ve got it under control.” Jude dropped down on the sofa next to Snow and threaded his fingers through Snow’s. Both of them looked tired after spending the afternoon with Jude’s family.

  A few minutes later, Sonja and Nicole announced that dinner was ready. Ian jumped up and helped Hollis prepare plates for Thomas and Tyler. They managed to get them to the table, but seating had to be rearranged so that Daciana was next to the twins. Stefan was tucked in his nearby Pack ’n Play and asleep again with a full belly and clean diaper.

  With his own plate piled full of food in front of him, Ian stopped and looked down the long table at the family spread around him. More than a decade ago, he’d had his first Thanksgiving with this family. Then it had just been him, Snow, Lucas, and Rowe around a small table loaded with food he’d cooked.

  Now there were so many of them smiling and laughing. His family had grown so much over the years, and he’d never expected this. Hoped, maybe, but never really thought it was possible.

  Across the table, he caught Hollis staring at him with a knowing smile. Ian lifted his glass and his smile grew to see the others do the same as if they’d expected it from him.

  “To family.”

  Author’s Note

  Thank you so much for reading Rialto, and we hope that you’ve enjoyed the Unbreakable Bonds series. We have loved every second of writing these stories. Lucas, Snow, Rowe, Ian, and their significant others will always have a very special place in our hearts. While we will miss them greatly, we’re excited to have them all happily settled in life.

  As a special surprise, we have a deleted chapter that we’d like to share with readers. Apparently, Hollis was able to sneak away for a “No Boyfriends Allowed” night with Jude, Andrei, and Noah. You can read the fun chapter here: DrakeandElliott.com/free-short-story/

  We’ve got some exciting new plans and so many books planned for 2020. We hope that you’ll continue to follow us into the next adventure. If you’ve enjoyed this story and want to keep up with all our books, please sign up for our newsletter at http://drakeandelliott.com/newsletter/.

  Happy reading!

  Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott

  About the Author

  Jocelynn Drake

  It started with a battered notebook. Jocelynn Drake wrote her first story when she was 12 years old. Her retelling of Robin Hood now included a kickass female who could keep up with all the boys and be more than just a love interest. From there, she explored space, talked to dragons, and fell in love again and again and again.

  When she’s not hammering away at her keyboard or curled up with a book, she can be found cuddling with her cat, walking her dog, or playing a video game. She is completely enamored of Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, and fast cars.

  She is the author of the urban fantasy series: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. She has also completed a gay romantic suspense series called The Exit Strategy. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.

  Rinda Elliott

  Rinda Elliott is an author who loves unusual stories and credits growing up in a family of curious life-lovers who moved all over the country. Books and movies full of fantasy, science fiction, and romance kept them amused, especially in some of the stranger places. For years, she tried to separate her darker side with her humorous and romantic one.

  She published short fiction, but things really started happening when she gave in and mixed it up.

  When not lost in fiction, she loves making wine, collecting music, gaming, and spending time with her husband and two children.

  She is the author of the Beri O’Dell urban fantasy series, the YA Sister of Fate Trilogy, and the MM romance, Remote Access.

  She can be found at www.RindaElliott.com.

  Also by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott

  The Unbreakable Bonds Series

  Shiver

  Shatter

  Torch

  Devour

  Blaze

  Fracture

  Ignite

  Rialto

  Unbreakable Bonds Short Story Collection

  Unbreakable Stories: Lucas

  Unbreakable Stories: Snow

  Unbreakable Stories: Rowe

  Unbreakable Stories: Ian

  Ward Security

  Psycho Romeo

  Dantès Unglued

  Deadly Dorian

  Jackson (a novella)

  Sadistic Sherlock

  King of Romance (short story collection)

  Killer Bond

  Pineapple Grove

  Something About Jace

  Drew & Mr. Grumpy (a novella)

  All for Wesley

  Also by Jocelynn Drake

  Lords of Discord

  Claiming Marcus

  Exit Strategy

  Deadly Lover

  Lover Calling (a novella)

  Vengeful Lover

  Final Lover

  Ice and Snow Christmas

  Walking on Thin Ice

  Ice, Snow, & Mistletoe

  Snowball’s Chance

  Defrosting Jack

  The Dark Days Series

  Bound to Me

  The Dead, the Damned and the Forgotten

  Nightwalker

  Dayhunter

  Dawnbreaker

  Pray for Dawn

  Wait for Dusk

  Burn the Night

  The Lost Nights Series

  Stefan

  The Asylum Tales

  The Asylum Interviews: Bronx

  The Asylum Interviews: Trixie

  Angel’s Ink

  Dead Man’s Deal

  Demon’s Vengeance

  Also by Rinda Elliott

  Thick as Thieves

  Remote Access

  Stand-Alone Novella

  Noble

  Beri O’Dell Series

  Dweller on the Threshold

  Blood of an Ancient

  The Brothers Bernaux

  Raisonne Curse

  Sisters of Fate

  Foretold

  Forecast

  Foresworn

  The Kithran Regenesis Series

  Kithra

  Replicant

  Catalyst

  Origin

  Crux Survivors Series

  After the Crux

  Sole Survivors

 

 

 
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