10. Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

I t had been two days, and the snow hadn’t let up. It fell in a thick veil. Enzo had said they’d gotten about a foot so far, but it seemed deeper in some parts of the backyard. Not that Landry had been outside since the shooting, but the wind had been fierce yesterday, blowing it around, so there were big drifts in some places.

Landry drank some sort of fruity herbal tea that tasted like berries. He liked it a lot better than coffee. Once Enzo knew Landry’s preferences, he’d made Landry a cup every morning.

Landry sipped it as he sketched the scene outside. The pine tree was pretty, with its puffs of snow on the branches.

Landry glanced at Enzo, watching him flip eggs. Something about Enzo doing that made Landry stare. Landry hadn’t ever been attracted to anyone before . It was as if Landry’s body was just waking up.

What would happen when he was? He was a little scared to find out. But excited at the same time. If his body was going to wake up for anyone, it would be Enzo with his muscles for days and gentleness.

Landry sighed. Yeah, he was pretty sure he knew why he stared.

Enzo smiled when he caught Landry staring.

Landry knew he blushed. He’d never been the type, but he couldn’t seem to help it with Enzo. So, yeah. His body responded to Enzo in the way he wished it wouldn’t, but at least it did something, even if it was his cheeks going all red. If Landry’s cock got hard, that would either be a disaster or a miracle. Landry wasn’t sure which, since he didn’t get hard for any reason other than the things his body did naturally. Like when it happened in the mornings upon waking.

“Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

“I’m fine. Thanks.”

Enzo’s cellphone rang. It sat beside Landry on the table. Landry glanced at the screen.

Landry met Enzo’s gaze. “It’s Raylee.”

“Will you answer it for me?” Enzo was deep into the cooking process. The entire room smelled like breakfast. It felt cozy.

Landry pressed the talk button. “You ruined our peaceful morning.”

“Why are you answering my dad’s phone?” Raylee sucked in a breath. “Wait. Have you…oh my gods, it’s going well, isn’t it?”

Enzo chuckled. “How’s my favorite son this morning?”

“Am I on speaker?”

“Yes,” Landry answered.

“Is Jazlyn home?”

“No,” Enzo answered.

“Let me get her on the call. Hang on.” Raylee’s end went silent as if he’d put them on hold.

Enzo rolled his eyes. “Here we go.”

“What’s happening?”

“He wants the family Christmas party at your gang’s clubhouse.” Enzo didn’t seem too happy about it. For a guy who corrected other people when they cursed, he could see why he wouldn’t want it. If cursing bothered him, he’d blow a gasket walking into the club.

“Are you going to do it?” Landry wasn’t exactly a joiner and didn’t like parties, even ones with Santa, so he didn’t care one way or another. “If you do, Daruss will make the guys be on their best behavior.”

“There best wouldn’t be up to my sister’s standards. Nobody’s best is.”

Landry smirked. “Sounds like a her problem.”

Enzo sighed. “It is mostly. Except you said yourself they were criminals.”

“I also said other things about my family. Things you seem to want to ignore.” Landry put down his sketch pad and picked up his tea. The phone clicked as if Raylee was back on the line, but Landry didn’t care who heard him. “If you want to pretend as though you’re better than us, then go ahead. But fuck you.”

Someone sucked in a breath through the phone. It sounded feminine.

“Watch your mouth, boy.”

“I’m tired of having this same conversation with you. I don’t have anything to prove. Seems to me that’s you, since you’re being prejudiced against my family and, therefore, me.” Landry wouldn’t say anything more about it. “As soon as I’m better and the snow lets up, I’m leaving.”

Enzo growled. “You’re free to come and go as you please.”

Landry smirked. “I know.”

Enzo plated eggs and bacon and then brought the plates to the table. He sat in front of Landry. “I would like it if you stayed here. With me.”

Landry met his gaze. The fight went out of him. He had a bad habit of biting his lip when he was nervous. “For good?”

“For good, baby.”

“What about my family? If they’re to different, maybe I am too.” That was the real problem. It worried Landry that he wasn’t good enough for someone like Enzo. “I’m just a tattoo artist in a motorcycle gang. And you’re some important doctor. You’re right, we’re not the same.”

Someone cleared their throat through the phone.

Enzo sat next to Landry, but he leaned into his space, never touching him. “Our differences don’t matter.”

“He’s going to say yes to the party,” Raylee whispered as if he were talking to someone else. Maybe Jude or Daruss were nearby.

“Are you going to say yes to the party or not, Dad?” Jazlyn asked.

“Raylee is in charge of making sure Grandma doesn’t have a stroke. And Jazlyn’s in charge of making sure Aunt Tianna doesn’t piss off Daruss and the others.”

“You’ve done a fine job of pissing off Daruss all on your own, Dad. No one needs Aunt Tianna to help.”

“Exactly. And just so we’re clear. The only reason I’m agreeing is to prove to my mate that he belongs with me.” And with that, the conversation was over and they ended the call.

They said their goodbyes and Landry tucked into his food.

“Thanks for having the party at the club. You made Raylee happy.”

“And what about you? Did I make you happy too?”

“I didn’t start that argument because of the party.” He’d stay in his studio the whole time and never come out. Not unless Daruss or Enzo asked him to. “You think we’re too different.”

“You and I aren’t. The rest of the Dragon Skulls, maybe.”

“I’m a Dragon Skull, Enzo. I’ll never not be.”

Enzo sighed. “You help with rescues.”

“So do they.”

“You don’t do all that other stuff.”

Landry met his gaze. “I’ve thought about it. My car broke down, and I live in a shitty apartment. I don’t have a lot of money. Running moonshine would help pay my bills.”

Enzo shook his head. “If you go down that path, you’ll never get off it. It’s dangerous and violent.”

“How do you know what it’s like?”

“Because I’ve saved people who did bad stuff for money. Some of them are dead.” Enzo nodded to the sketchbook. “I’m not going to offer you money. I know you won’t take it. You’re too proud for that. But I have taken a peek at your sketches. They’re good. Better than good. I have an idea on how to sell them online if you’re interested.”

How did the conversation turn into Landry’s money problems? That hadn’t been his point. “I’ll think about it.”

“And you’ll think about staying?”

Landry sighed. “And I’ll think about staying.”

“I can also fix your car.”

Landry snorted. “ I can fix my car. Don’t have the money is all.”

“I’ll loan it to you.”

“Absolutely not. You just said you wouldn’t offer me money. I’ll think about your idea of selling my art. I have some good pieces in my apartment that would work. So I really am considering it.” Landry glanced out the picture window. “We can’t do anything about it, anyway. Between the weather and me needing to heal up some, we’re stuck together for a few more days.”

Enzo smiled. “I want to be stuck with you.”

Landry couldn’t help but return the smile. “Even though I’m a Dragon Skull?”

“I like you. All parts of you. Even the things that make you a Dragon Skull.”

Landry doubted it. But they would put that statement to the test when Landry went after Ellis. That would happen soon. And when it did, would Enzo turn his back on Landry?