by Tl Reeve
Jefferson missed this. Missed watching Charisma and Penelope decorating their home with their mother. Missed holidays because he’d spent them in D.C. trying to finalize some draft of legislation. And for what? Besides the legislation what did he have to show for all his hard work now? Two daughters, he barely saw and grandkids he'd missed milestones with.
He’d been a fool.
“We have a few hours if you want to get showers and change,” Kalkin said.
“Do we offend, Sheriff,” Jochi pouted.
“I can smell your mating,” the Alpha replied. “Are you ready for the questions.”
“Better now than ever,” Jefferson replied. He’d hid their relationship long enough. Sure, he could say it was for selfish reason, but the truth was simple, he worried what his daughters might say. “Are Charisma and Penny Ann here?”
Kalkin grunted. “Of course.”
"Then it's the perfect opportunity to announce it to the whole family, don't you believe?" Jefferson popped open the door to the enforcer before stepping out. The hoarse squeak of Mikey calling his name drew his attention to the little boy who'd been sitting on the porch steps when they'd pulled up. The boy ran at him full tilt, launching himself into Jefferson's arms for a hug. "Whoa there boy, don't knock over an old man."
Mikey giggled. “I’m so glad you’re here. Mommy and Daddy said you were coming.”
Surprised, he stood there staring at Mikey for a moment, at a loss for how to answer him. Charisma and Royce were giving the boy space. They wouldn’t force Mikey to call them mom and dad. Like Jefferson’s daughter said, she’d rather it come from him organically, not out of obligation. It appeared their work had paid off. “Well, I couldn’t miss this play you’re doing. Kalkin says you’ve been practicing.”
Mikey nodded. “I have.” He turned his head. “Who’s that?”
Jefferson followed the boy’s gaze and smiled. “He’s a surprise. His name is Jochi.” He whispered against Mikey’s ear, as though he meant to tell him something important to be kept between them. “He’s a snow leopard.”
The boy gasped. “He is?”
Jefferson nodded. “Yes.”
“Wow.” Mikey wiggled out of Jefferson’s arms then hurried to Jochi’s side. He held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Mikey. It’s good to meet you, Jochi.”
Jochi took his hand and gave him a gracious smile. Warmth bloomed in the middle of Jefferson’s chest, watching his grandson interact with his mate. “It’s good to meet you too, Mikey. We’ve met before though. Do you remember me?”
Jefferson tilted his head. “You did?”
Jochi nodded. “In the hospital.”
The young boy’s eyes widened. “That was you? The-the kitty!”
Jochi laughed. “Yes.”
“Wow.” He turned. “I have to tell Mommy. She thinks I made it up.” Mikey took off for the house at full-tilt.
“What did you do?” Confusion filled Jefferson. He felt like he missed something monumental between his daughter, Jochi, and his grandson.
“I may have visited Mikey in the hospital for a minute or two when no one was looking.” Jochi shrugged. “Might have also been a kitty when I did it.”
“Leave it to you,” Jefferson said shaking his head.
"The boy was terribly ill. I worried." Jochi casually lifted his shoulder.
“Your heart is tender.” He joined his mate. “It’s what I love about you.”
“Daddy?” Charisma came out the door carrying Fern on her hip. Mikey ran ahead of her.
“Look at you,” Jefferson murmured. “Look at my precious little angel in your arms. She’s gotten so big.”
Fern stretched out to him while opening and closing her hands, desperate to get into Jefferson's arms. She was beautiful, like her mother. She had curly dark-brown hair and blue eyes. Her bow-shaped lips were spread wide in an excited, toothy smile as she latched onto Jefferson and snuggled into the crook of his neck.
“Mr. Sloan?” Charisma said, holding out her hand. “It’s good to have you joining us this Thanksgiving. Welcome to our corner of heaven.”
“So formal,” Jochi teased. “Thank you for having me.”
“Where’s Penny Ann?” Jefferson asked, starting for the house.
“Inside helping prep for dinner. The play starts at seven and we still have to get everyone ready.” She walked between him and Jochi while Mikey had taken Jochi’s hand in his. “Is everything okay?”
“More than. I just have something I want to tell you, and I figured I’d do it once instead of a million times.” He realized saying his piece in front of everyone was the chicken shit way out. He knew his daughters would have several questions for him and more importantly, Jochi.
“You’re scaring me, Daddy,” Charisma said.
“Don’t be. All is fine.”
She took a moment to stare at him then frowned. “Did you dye your hair?”
Jefferson laughed. “What a preposterous thing to ask. No, I didn’t dye my hair.”
“Growth hormones?” She tilted her head.
Jochi snickered. “If only.”
“You look healthier and happier than I have seen you in years,” she murmured. “What’s changed.”
“Loaded question kid,” Kalkin said, joining them. “Let’s get inside first.”
She followed them up the stairs onto the porch of Kalkin’s house then inside where the other adults began to congregate. Their animated conversations stopped the minute they spotted Jefferson and Jochi. Several pairs of eyes darted from Jefferson to Jochi then back to him. Damn shifters could smell everything.
Then they stared at Charisma.
“Hello everyone,” Jefferson said with a wave. “It good to see most of you again. It’s been too long.”
“Daddy!” Penelope hurried toward him. “You’re here.” She glanced at Jochi and grinned. “Mr. Sloan. Good to see you again.”
“Likewise.” For the first time since he began working with Jefferson, his mate appeared nervous and out of place. As Jochi, he couldn’t hide behind the masks and names he used regularly.
“His name isn’t Sloan,” Mikey said, confused. “It’s Jochi. He’s a snow leopard. I told you I wasn’t lying. See he’s here!”
“Huh?” Penelope scrunched up her nose.
“So much to explain.” Jefferson sighed.
Kalkin chuckled as he grabbed a couple of beers out of a large cooler sitting on the table in the kitchen. “I don’t think you can get it out in one go.”
“We’ll see, won’t we?” Jefferson accepted the beer Kalkin held out for him after he sat Fern down next to her brother Julius. “I should start at the beginning.” All of the adults already there quieted. There were a few of them missing, but he figured whoever was present could catch the others up later, once everyone had a moment to digest what he was about to say. “My status had changed.”
Charisma narrowed her eyes. “Status. Like on social media?”
Jefferson laughed. “No, as in I’m a mate.”
Charisma’s eyes went wide before a cry of surprise fell from her followed by tears of joy—he hoped. “Oh Daddy, that’s amazing. I hoped... Well, Penny Ann and I both did, that one day you’d find a mate of your own. Who is it? What’s her name? Why isn’t she here with you?”
Jefferson swallowed hard while Kalkin gave him a look of pity. “Well, sweetheart, I know this is going to be hard to understand right now—”
Hard to understand? He snorted to himself. A year into the mating and there were things he didn’t even understand about it. Plus, it seemed the longer he and Jochi were together, the more his body craved certain things. Things Jefferson didn’t feel comfortable sharing with everyone or his mate.
“Mr. Sloan—er—Jochi is his mate,” Penelope said. “Holy shit.”
Jefferson blew out a breath. “Yes. He is my mate. I don’t understand how this all works. A year ago, Jochi made me a promise and I haven’t looked back.”
“Are you happy?”
Penelope hedged while Charisma continued to stare at him.
“Very much so.” He pulled Jochi into his side. “I might not be able to explain any of it, but I won’t trade it for anything. I think your mom would be happy to see me finally moving forward instead of slowly withering away.”
“So, you’re my grandpa too,” Mikey said, looking up at Jochi.
“Yes, xiao hǔzǐ,” Jochi replied.
“What does xiao hǔzǐ mean?” Mikey asked.
Jochi tapped his nose. “It means little tiger.”
“I like it!” Mikey whooped and jumped. “I’m a little tiger-wolf.”
Jochi chuckled.
“Daddy?” The sheer confusion and unsureness on Charisma’s face tore at his heart.
“It’s okay,” Jefferson said. “You have questions. I can see it in your eyes. I will answer all of them.”
Royce came up behind Charisma and wrapped his arm around her while kissing the crown of her head. “Congratulation’s Senator.” He nodded to Jochi. “I should have figured it out. But I thought the reason your scents were so strong was due to your working relationship.”
“Well,” Jochi said. “We do work together, and I only claimed him the night of the raid.”
“Full moon,” Bell murmured, placing her hand to her small protruding belly. “The strongest pull for canines for sure, but it can always twist the insides of a feline exposed to their mate.”
Jochi tapped the end of his nose. “I’d suffered many years in silence, taking every job Jefferson gave me just to be away from the intoxicating pull I felt whenever I was around him. After the night at the zoo, I couldn’t wait any longer.”
"You really were willing to walk away?" Jefferson muttered, stunned by his mate's confession. Sure, Jochi had said it when he offered up the deal, but the realization of it smacked Jefferson hard in the chest.
“I would have.” Jochi wouldn’t look at him. “It might have killed me in the long run, but I’d do anything for you.”
“You okay, oasis?” Royce’s question drew Jefferson’s attention back to Charisma.
She wiped away her tears as her chin trembled. “I’m a mess.”
“You’re perfect,” Royce said, pressing a kiss to her temple.
“Are you really happy, Daddy?” She finally met his gaze with her tear-filled hazel eyes.
“I am, sweetheart. I’m very happy. I loved your mother so much, I felt as if I’d crawled into her coffin and died with her.”
She gasped. “Oh Daddy, no.”
“It’s true. I did. Then, Jochi helped me. The world has color again. I can breathe a little bit more. I can see the sun—feel its heat. I’m free.” Jochi’s arms tightened around him. “I know the juxtaposition of this relationship is jarring, though. I can’t honestly say I’d ever expected a male partner—mate or otherwise.”
“I can admit; you threw me for a loop.” Charisma smiled. “But if you’re truly happy, it’s all I want for you. It doesn’t matter who or why.” She glanced over at Jochi. “Welcome to our family, Father.”
“Now that we got the weepy bull—” Kalkin snarled. “Crap, out of the way, I feel like there is more you need to tell them.”
Jochi laughed. “He does.”
“I’m retiring,” Jefferson said. “We’re staying here. I will only return to D.C. to make final arrangements and make sure PBH can’t hurt anyone else.”
“This all so much. I need to sit down,” Charisma said, taking the first available chair. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. It’s time. I want to be here for you two and my—our grandbabies. I want to slow down with my life. I missed so much. I don’t want to miss anymore. However, before I do that, I have to finish my work.”
“Which reminds me,” Kalkin said. “No talking about business when we’re all together. Family rule.”
“Well, then, we’ll discuss it later,” Jefferson said. “For now, I would like to enjoy my time with all of you, relaxing and getting to know my grandchildren better.”
“Sound wonderful, bèndàn. I too would like to get to know everyone now that the snow leopard is out of the bag.” Jochi winked at him then laughed as his horrible joke.
“Oh God,” Kalkin grunted. “You’re like the others, sickening sweet and full of dad jokes. Gag.”
Jefferson laughed. “S’pose we are.”
The play turned out to be as adorable as he imagined it would be, if not more so. Mikey stood front and center when he said his line, welcoming the pilgrims to the first-ever Thanksgiving. A little girl with red hair and bright blue eyes stared at his grandson like he hung the moon and the stars for her. Jefferson chuckled to himself. The boy had a special spirit. According to the reports he had abilities, what, no one knew. It'd been why he was at the zoo. His sickness prevented his sale or else, who knew where he'd have ended up.
When they left the auditorium, Mickey raced through the crowd of people, the little red-headed girl in tow, her mother, Jefferson suspected, frantically trying to keep up with them while telling Mikey to slow down. The eldest Raferty, Mackenzie, hot on her heels as well. Mikey stopped right in front of Jefferson. His features were full of excitement. Pink tinged his cheeks. The little girl beside him seemed a bit winded and a little pale, but happy.
“Grandpa, this is my friend Abby.” Mikey gave her a little push forward. “She’s new in town with her mom.”
“Hello, Abby.” Jefferson smiled.
“’Lo, Mikey’s Grandpa.” She appeared a bit out of breath and Jefferson could see her heart pounding.
“Mikey,” Mackenzie growled. “You have to be careful with Abby, remember?”
The boy frowned. “Right. Sorry, Abby. Are you okay?”
The girl nodded. “PFA.”
Jefferson narrowed his eyes. “What does that mean?”
“Pretty Freaking Amazing,” she said without missing a beat.
A pink blush covered her mother’s cheeks. “You’ll have to forgive her. She’s a little weird sometimes.”
“Mumsy,” Abby said. “I’m not weird. I’m extraordinary.”
Humor filled Jefferson. “I’ll have to agree with her.”
“Frantic day,” the woman said. “The house was... Alive and I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself. Anyway, I’m Aurora and you’ve met Abigail or Abby for short.”
“It’s good to meet both of you, again,” Jefferson replied. “Any friend of the Rafertys is a friend of mine.”
“Thank you.” She took her daughter’s hand. “Are you ready to go Abby? We have to get your things so you can stay with Mac tonight.”
The little girl nodded. “See you soon, Mr. Wolf.” She glanced at Jefferson. “Bye Mikey’s Grandpa.”
Jefferson waved as the little girl skipped away with her mom and Mackenzie trailed after them. If anyone besides the Rafertys and Dryers recognized Jefferson no one said a word, something he’d been grateful for. Thankfully, when he checked social media earlier, nothing popped on the radar for potential hotspots he might have to put out before returning. Then he wondered for a second if he’d been paranoid about the whole audit. It might have been random after all, however, the niggle at the back of his mind warned otherwise. In thirteen years, nothing ever “popped up,” for Keeley or the orphanage.
“Ready to go home?” Jochi took his hand.
“I am,” he said. “I’m exhausted.”
Jochi’s tittering laughter brought a smile to Jefferson’s face. “I bet you are. I can’t wait to see our house.”
Neither could he, quite frankly. When Kalkin announced they had a home nearby but not so close to overwhelm them, he'd been grateful. The house he and Susanne owned had been destroyed years ago when he first picked up the mantle to help Danielle and Keeley and the apartment in D.C. didn't have the comforts of home. Having a new space to call his and Jochi had been perfect for Jefferson to create a new place to call theirs.
It’d be a new beginning of sorts.
As they exited the building, Kalk
in pulled Jefferson aside. The imposing Alpha appeared a bit tense and a lot worried. Jefferson excused himself and stepped over into the darkened alcove. The minimal light left half of Kalkin’s face in shadow. The intimidating and powerful visage, called to the ball of darkness within him, causing to swirl to life as though recognizing Kalkin for the first time all over again. “What’s the matter?”
“Adrian is coming home,” Kalkin said. “No one is to know who he is. He was your page during the summer, you’ve both kept in touch and you invited him to Thanksgiving due to his family being overseas and out of contact.”
"Understood." Adrian didn't want anyone to know his true identity. He, like Jochi, had several AKAs. His name was legally changed to Samuel Johnson by Kalkin when he found the boy. His real name though, was Adrian Geithner, the heir-apparent to PBH. Last year, when he made an appearance as the last Geithner, Holly brought him into the fold. When he started at Boston college where Royce had been planted, he'd gone by Adrian Kirkpatrick.
Through Holly’s own misguided attempt to salvage what was left of her family’s deranged plans, she’d offered Adrian up to the board of directors for PBH. Since then, Adrian had been working for Jefferson, Vigilante, and the FBI, while also being the head of the most feared agency in the shifter community. The boy fed them all the information he could without being caught. So far, Jefferson along with the FBI and Vigilante had been able to track money, find other syndicate holes where children and adults were kept and put a lid on most of their important transactions.
“We’ll meet in the morning at Vigilante to go over the information Janice sent us and what you’ve brought with you.” Kalkin placed a fob in Jefferson’s hand. “I can’t let you keep it, but for now, until everything is settled, you’ll be protected in the Enforcer. Use it.” He flipped the fob over in Jefferson’s palm. “Touch your thumb to this. It’ll record your biometrics and allow you to start the vehicle.”
“Fancy,” Jefferson muttered.
