After a few moments spent taking deep breaths, I rolled my head to the side so it was situated on Austin's shoulder. Austin curled an arm around my waist, and we both sat in a content-but loaded silence.

The disapproval I knew my father would have tried to creep into, and ruin this moment. But I pushed it away. The man wasn't going to ruin my life anymore. Not with Austin here to protect me.

My attention flashed to Austin as he tangled his hand with my gloved one. I couldn't stop staring at our joined hands. It was a reminder of a large barrier I still managed to hold through all of Austin's chipping.

But I wanted it gone.

Austin gazed down at me though glorious eye lashes. A question sat there, as well as a promise of no judgement or condemnation. Only...dare I hope? Love. I had thought love to be a useless emotion. But now, I craved it with every fiber of my being.

I was exhausted with trying to rebuild that wall. Safe and in the arms of my lover, words started to spill out of my mouth before I even realized.

"My father was a mean old bastard. Felix Stone never got his own hands dirty, he was too conceited for that. He didn't inspire loyalty to himself on any front. What he inspired was loyalty to his almighty dollar, and loyalty to his wrath. People feared him. More often than not, he left bodies most places he went. My father sat at the top, on a throne covered in blood. So it's no surprise he wasn't father of the year."

With a deep breath, I regretfully pulled away from Austin's warmth. But I needed space to get through this whole story. I couldn't bear to look him in the eye as I tore apart the chains and padlock hiding my pain from the world around me. I didn't want him to see me as weak as I knew I would be when this old wound was exposed.

I kept my gaze on my actions as I carefully slid the leather glove off my damaged hand.

Maddox's downturned hand trembled faintly, and he refused to meet my eyes. I could see nothing worth covering with the glove, which meant he was still hiding whatever it was he was so ashamed of.

Gently, I laid my own hand on his before carefully turning his palm up. A sharp gasp escaped my lips at the brand seared into the flesh.

A large 'S' sat in a circle, clearly old as it had scarred over. But it obviously would have been extremely painful when it was applied and during the healing process.

I ran a finger almost reverently over the raised skin, but snatched it back at Maddox's flinch. He finally met my eyes, the depth of pain seemed bottomless in those green eyes. Not just physical pain, either. Carefully I reached a hand out again towards the mark, but this time instead of flinching, Maddox grasped my hand like a lifeline.

His tongue darted out to wet his lips, and I had the urge to lean over and kiss him. But I knew that wasn't what he needed right now.

After clearing his throat, Maddox continued speaking. "I never knew my mother. She ran away when I was about a month old. Part of me wants to blame her, but I also realize why she did. I wonder more about what she saw in my father in the first place.

"I had nannies and tutors, but never a parent. I had no contact with other kids, I very rarely was allowed off the estate property. I was nothing more than an heir to my father. A body to take over his legacy, not a son he was supposed to love. I was something he could mold into a cold, unfeeling monster such as himself."

Sadness welled inside me for the young boy denied a family, a childhood, love.

"When I would step out of line, he'd often take his belt to me until I couldn't walk. One day when I was 12, I tried running away, like my mother had. But his men caught me. So he branded me like cattle," Maddox gave a bitter laugh. "As a lesson that I was nothing. I was insignificant. Nothing more than property."

With the pad of my thumb, I wiped away a tear tracking itself down his stubbled cheek.

"You're not insignificant. And you're not a monster," I stated vehemently.

Maddox snorted derisively. "How can you say that after what I did to you?"

I cupped his cheeks with my hands, forcing his gaze to stay on mine. "You went about it the wrong way, but what you did was save me from an endless cycle of working myself to the bone, and never enjoying life. You made sure Tj is safe and cared for, and that's all I've ever wanted. You've given me more than I ever dreamed possible."

Maddox smirked wanly. "You know, I would have most people's fingers cut off for daring to touch me so."

I gave a suggestive smirk back. "I think I prefer a different kind of punishment. Just maybe wait a few days for the soreness to abate before you add onto it."

A genuine smile crossed Maddox's lips, and I leaned forward so our foreheads were pressed together. I expected Maddox to lean back, but all he did was give a brief, but sweet, kiss to my lips.

"Boss?" At the voice we startled apart.