&Easton&

"Well, no, that's not how it works."

I smirk at Dominic attempting to help the kids with their homework. Today, the homework is math, so it's a little bit of a crisis. However, I do think he's handling it like a champ.

Aiden is throwing a tantrum, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at his dad. Sebastian is trying to find a way to escape the hospital bed, climbing over anything and anyone. Dominic always picks him up and drags him back.

I bet he regrets lowering his medicine now.

Camilla is the only one really trying. She's trying to teach the others, along with Dominic, while they are pointedly ignoring her. I'm keeping myself offside, since I have no desire in having an argument with them.

"Okay, Aiden, it's only one more exercise! For fudge's sake, Seb, stop moving! Camilla, I love you, but can you just close your mouth for a second? I'm trying to—Easton! Help!"

I look up from my laptop, seeing an exasperated Dominic. Two kids are curled up on his chest while he's flat out on his back, while Aiden has escaped and is throwing his shoes at Dom's face. Maybe I should help the poor man.

"Aiden, why don't you–"

"AHHH," my son shouts, right before going through with his plan on murdering his dad. Only, now that I've stopped him from attacking Dominic, he's choosing another dad to kill.

Me.

His body collides with mine before I, too, am flat on my back. Dominic is luckier than me, though, because he doesn't have to fall on hard ground. I groan, cradling the back of my head that bumped a little too harshly.

Rather displeased, I face the truth. Me and my brother, the fucking Whitlock brothers, have been overthrown by three children who are approximately five.

It's fucking sad.

"Easton, whining about a little headache won't help the fact that I'm being crushed by monsters. Get up and help me." At Dominic's remark, I groan again. Doesn't that man see that I, too, am being attacked by a monster?

Just at that moment, said monster starts jumping on my stomach. I roll over, making him stumble and fall. Though he doesn't deserve it after tormenting me, I save him from dropping on the floor as harshly as I did.

"God damn it, Aiden, how did I ever raise you like this?" I curse, putting him on his ass on a chair and turning to Dominic. All of a sudden, however, the whiner doesn't have to be saved anymore. No, he's nicely napping with the two kids, who are asleep as well.

Asshole.

Little, suppressed sobs fill my ears. It hits me like a truck. Frozen in place, I realize they're truly coming from Aiden. Aiden, my son, who never cries.

I turn around and see him digging his hands into his eyes, pressing against them to stop tears. Holy fuck. This is bad. First of all, I made my son cry. Me. Second, he thinks he can't cry. Did we make him think like this? Of course he can cry. Showing his emotions is good.

Kneeling next to him, I place my hands on the small of his back. "Hey, Aiden. Tears are okay, sweetheart."

I take his hands in mine and pull them away from his face. He chokes down another sob, pressing his eyes closed just to avoid the tears from falling. It breaks my heart, knowing damn well I'm responsible.

"Why don't you tell me what's going on?" I whisper, brushing my thumbs over his soft little hands. He makes another choked noise, close to a gag, and for a moment I think he's sick. Only, he finally lets his tears fall as he looks away from me. "I'm sorry, daddy. I'll be better."

My heart squeezes painfully. I pick him up and hold him tightly to my chest. As I expected, he cries harder. I silently curse myself. I'm such a big moron.

"No, you don't have to be better. Daddy was just a little bit stressed, okay? Maybe don't jump on me next time. Can we that make deal?"

He nods again. I don't see it, but I feel the movement against my shoulder. Hoping very hard Daisy doesn't walk in right now, I go to look in his eyes. He didn't inherit his mother's beautiful eyes, which is rare because Camilla surely did. 

Instead, he has green eyes. They are mesmerizing. His eyes are the color of spring green leafs, the color of a beautiful jade stone and the hint of limes. 

Those green eyes are now glossy with unshed tears. He refuses to let them fall, something that undoubtedly our fault too. Maybe he got our discomfort with showing emotions. 

"Come on, sweetheart, it's okay," I tell him. I then continue to kick myself mentally. Telling him something is okay while it obviously isn't is only going to confuse him. I should know better.

"Nevermind. It may not be okay, but let's make it so, yes? Is there something you want to tell daddy?" I ask, gently putting him down on the chair again. I stay on the same eye level, just so he's reassured.

"I-I want a new encyclopedia," he mumbles, keeping his fists tight to his eyes in case he has to cry again. I try to keep my face gentle, yet I am tempted to scowl. This little kid has me cornered and is going to use everything against me. 

"You do? And what should it be about?" He's found out the plastic chair isn't very comfortable and wrenches back in my arms. I am now sitting on the cold, tile floor with my chest touching his back while he plays with my much bigger fingers. Ever since he was old enough to comprehend things, he's been obsessed with the way both his hands fit in one of mine.

"Maybe not an encyclopedia! I want to learn more about chemistry. The Lewis Dot structure is easy. What about moles and stuff?" He turns in my lap, looking at me with big, expectant eyes. 

Shit.

"But I— fine. You can choose one new book out of the bookstore. Are you feeling better now?" I gently ask, hiding the fact I failed all my chemistry classes. I'll power through it, just for him.

Yet he innocently shakes his head. His bottom lip starts to wobble again. I narrow my eyes. Maybe I should reform my opinion on Camilla: she isn't the biggest manipulator in our family, after all. 

"And candies!" he adds. "I love candies. I'll give three to Seb and one to Camilla, okay? Then everything is for me!"

Daisy is going to murder me.

"What about you give two to Sebastian and two to Camilla? That'd be fair, don't you think?" I ask him. He frowns, then shrugs. "Okay!"

Relief pours off me. Drama successfully avoided. 

"But!" 

Oh no.

With narrowed eyes, I watch my son giggle in excitement. "I want them now! And the book too. Miss Adams says I have a high haiku!"

"It's a high IQ, Aiden. You have a high IQ." Despite him being smart as fuck, he doesn't get all words quite right. Yet he's only five years old; I'm scared for the future, if I'm being honest.

"Yeah, that," he waves my comment away. Jumping up, he pulls me along and out of the room before I can say something. I doubt for a second, but I'm positive Dominic will be okay. Now that he's off the strong medicine, he's way more alert.

Aiden leads me to the big entrance of the hospital, then outside and eventually to my car. It's not a surprise he finds it without much problem, my Nissan is probably the most expensive car among all. 

That, and he memorizes the spot we always park. Excitedly, he jumps up and down while I unlock my car. Not even a second later, he's in the passenger seat, fighting with his buckle. I'm still standing outside, taking a moment to breathe in the crisp air. 

I don't mind supporting Dominic in everything, if all, I do it gladly, but I do miss the outside air. Maybe I need to go on walks with him.

"Boss! Wait!" 

I open my eyes in a snap, irritated I get interrupted in the one moment I have for my own. Michael and two men. When I look closer, I see those two men are Dante and Val. 

They were headed to the hospital, but saw me and are now coming for me. I really need to update my available hours. 

Now that they're closed, Michael pulls in for a high five. Slightly reluctant, I grant him that. But now Dante and Val want one too. Sighing, I give them their high fives too. Sometimes I wonder why I hired men with a childish brain. 

"Aw, your kid is in the car? He's so goddamn cute!" Val gushes, hurrying over to Aiden's side of the car. My son likes him, so he rolls down the window to talk. 

Michael smirks. "Don't mind him, he's having baby fever now that Charlotte is pregnant. It's crazy, really. Just two months ago, he was scrunching his nose whenever Camilla or Aiden got mentioned!"

My light-hearted smile falls into a scowl. Without looking back, I call Val back. Michael winces, but continues to roll his eyes at me. "He changed his opinion, what does it matter now?"

Val heard that last sentence and sighs. "Oh, come on, Mike. Can you never shut up?"

Michael's jaw drops, outraged. A little smile is threatening to curve my lips at their argument. Mike's always so extra.

"Listen, Easton, I apologize for calling your kids annoying. They're actually sweet as fuck. can I now go back to my conversation about the best candy? Yeah? Okay, great."

He turns around again and leaves me stunned. I didn't even get to finish! 

Dante snorts. "My man got humbled. Anyways, Michael, can we go to the point of this, now? I don't like this place." He shudders, looking around him.

I look around too, not knowing what exactly triggers him about this place. Sure, it's a hospital, but the parking lot isn't that bad?

Mike apparently does know. "Oh, I'm sorry. Is your trauma playing games with your head?" He says it in a mocking way, making me question Dante's mental health.

Dante grits his teeth. "No. I just don't like this place."

When Michael sees my confused eyes following their every move, he smirks. "Poor Dante got hit by another driver here when he was seven."

I blink. First of all, that does not make sense. Dante couldn't drive when he was seven. Second, he was in front of a hospital, so I'm sure he got treated right. And third, I believe that is a pretty traumatic experience.

Dante glares at Michael. "Go on. Tell the whole story then, if you must."

Michael snorts. "He crashed with another driver. At seven."

I arch an eyebrow. "A car accident is not something I call funny."

Michael bursts out in laughter while Dante sighs. Keeping his eyes down, he mumbles, "It wasn't a car accident."

I am beyond confused now. "What?"

Mister Laughter wheezes. "It wasn't a car accident. It was- it was a fucking kick scooter accident. This dude got traumatized because he crashed with another kid!"

My chuckle leaves my mouth without a forethought. Dante grumbles. "Great. Now Asher and Dominic will know too. Can we just go straight to the point now?"

Michael nods, wiping the tears, that had formed in his eyes due to the laughing, away. "Right. Easton, what are we supposed to do with Whitlock Senior? He's no in the cell, but we can't just not gibe him food or water and still expect he'll be tough during torture. You know that, right?"

Hm. Dominic is in no good shape for torture yet, but he does want to see Father at his mercy. For real, now. "Give him the bare minimum. I'll make sure the torture is in two weeks, so the cell is free again. He's not worth your discomfort."