The amount of pride Llew was feeling right now was enough for his chest to explode. Damnit. Even Smith Sr. looked proud.
“Now, I’m gonna say it one last time. Get your useless, weak ass off my property before the sheriff gets called on you this time.”
“Okay, okay,” Moss cried. “I just wanted to say that I never meant to hurt you, Llew. I swear. If I could take it back, I would. I think about it every day, every damn day. I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t work. My wife, she, she l-left—”
“You expect someone to feel sorry for you?” Shane cut Moss off, no amount of tears the man shed softening his attack.
“I don’t know you. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I’m just glad he finally has someone to love him like I couldn’t. I really am sorry, please, Llew.” Moss sobbed some more. “Please forgive me, Llew. Please.”
When Moss tried to look around Shane to see if Llew was going to say anything, Llew turned his back on Moss, just like he’d done to him all those years ago.
“That’s all the answer you need, now get the fuck out of here,” Shane said, sounding even angrier. The guys started to join in with Shane, mumbling loudly. The words “coward” and “scared punk” could be heard over all the other murmuring.
Llew didn’t see, but he heard the purr of a luxury car engine start up and the sound of tires departing slowly over gravel. Jack’s loud voice made Llew jump since he’d been unaware of what had actually just happened behind him. “Show’s over. Get it shut down and get on out of here, before I find something more for you to do!”
As the guys departed,a few of them stopped to shake Big Daddy’s hand and to tell him how great a boss Smith Jr. was. Llew was nervous to go back inside that trailer, but it was inevitable. He felt Shane’s presence before he put his hand on his shoulder. “Llewell. If you’re mad, I-I’m sorry. I just. He was here acting like you two were old friends and demanding to see you. It was so fucked up and he… it was like he wanted you back. I couldn’t even think after that. Please don’t be mad. I know I caused a scene but—”
Llew turned around and pulled Shane into his arms, regardless that his dad was somewhere watching. “No one has ever stood up for me like that. Thank you.” Llew rested his head on top of Shane’s. “God. You were wonderful.”
Shane looked up at him with a slow smile spreading on his face. “Yeah?”
Llew chuckled softly, wiping some dirt off Shane’s cheek. “Yeah.”
“I can’t believe you said all that in front of your dad and your crew,” Llew whispered.
“I still apologize. I know you prefer your business to stay your business, but someone needed to put that arrogant prick on blast. Coming here in secret like no one would know. He had no right to try to clear his conscience on the hush, while no one knows that he’d fabricated the entire case against you. We should go to the sheriff. We have witnesses now. He basically admitted it.”
“Hey, hey. Shh.” Llew bent and whispered against Shane’s ear when his man started to get amped up again. “Calm down my little spit-fire, it’s over. I don’t want to relive a trial or sue Moss McGregor. I did the time, it can’t be taken away, and money sure as hell won’t compensate for it or give me back the life I lost. Now I’m ready to move forward, okay? Believe me. Moss will suffer every day for what he did. He already is. Can’t you tell?”
Shane nodded and hugged Llew tight to him. After a few moments, he lifted Shane’s chin so he could look into those soft eyes. “Hey. I love you too.” He leaned in and gave him a couple gentle kisses before ending it far too soon, but they’d put on enough of a show for now. Llew released him and stepped back, helping to right some of his clothes.
“Introduce us, son.” Big Daddy’s stern voice cut into their bubble and Llew straightened, turning to meet one of his lover’s parents.
Shane stepped back and looked his dad in his eye. “Big Daddy, this is Llewellyn Gardner. He doesn’t mind being called Llew. Llewell, this is my father, Shane Smith Sr.”
Llew reached out and shook Big Daddy’s hand. His grip was strong and assertive. He held it there for a moment, looking Llew in his eyes as if he recognized something.
“You got a strong handshake, son. They say a man’s handshake is but an inkling of his soul’s strength.”
“Indeed,” Shane chimed in.
“Thank you, sir. You got a pretty tight grip yourself.” Llew looked Smith Sr. in his eye when he spoke. The man looked pleased with his response, and Llew instantly relaxed upon seeing that his man’s father was not disgusted by what he’d just witnessed. He actually looked damned proud of his son.