Page 51 of Boss and Brat

Carter stepped close enough to put a hand on Ethan’s back, steady and warm. Ethan froze, then leaned into it like he couldn’t help himself.

“I don’t look at you like they do,” Carter said. “And I’m not going to.”

Ethan’s eyes shone, but he blinked the wetness away fast, embarrassed.

Carter squeezed gently. “You’re staying here. End of story.”

Ethan nodded like he didn’t trust his voice.

Carter let his hand fall but stayed close. “Now go wash up. We’re eating dinner. And after that, we’re talking about how you’re gonna handle things from now on.”

Ethan nodded again, but this time there was something steadier in it. Something like relief. He headed toward the bathroom, shoulders a little less tense, steps a little less heavy.

And for the first time since Duarte knocked on the door, the knot in his chest loosened.

He wasn’t giving up on the kid.

Dinner was quiet—too quiet for two people who’d just dragged a grown man into retracting a complaint. Carter set the plates back on the table, reheated but still good. The steaks glistened, the potatoes steaming again, the salad crisp. He’d cooked it with the hope of a normal night. Now it felt like a peace offering.

Ethan sat across from him, shoulders still tight, fork barely scraping the plate. He kept his eyes down, pushing a piece of steak around like it might bite him back.

Carter studied him for a moment. He looked like he’d been wrung dry. The anger Carter had felt earlier had burned off, leaving something heavier behind. Something protective. Something that made him want to drag Ethan into a hug and shake him at the same time.

He took a slow bite, chewed, and swallowed. “Eat, Ethan.”

Ethan nodded and took a tiny bite, like he was waiting for permission to breathe.

The silence stretched, but it wasn’t sharp anymore. More like a blanket that needed shaking out.

Halfway through the meal, Ethan spoke. “Thanks for… you know. Back there.”

Carter didn’t look up. That earned Ethan a tiny, almost invisible smile. It eased something in Carter’s chest.

When they finished, Carter leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. Time for the part he knew Ethan wouldn’t like.

“Alright,” he said. “We need to talk about rules.”

Ethan froze. His whole body went stiff, like Carter had just told him he was being shipped off somewhere.

Carter sighed. “Relax. I’m not punishing you. I’m making sure this shit doesn’t happen again.”

Ethan gave a nod, though the clenching of his jaw.

Carter continued, “First rule: you tell me everything. And I mean everything. If someone threatens you, if someone shows up, if something happened before you got here—I need to know.”

Ethan’s eyes flicked up, wary. “I didn’t want to bother you.”

“It’s not bothering me,” Carter said. “It’s keeping you safe.”

Ethan swallowed hard. “Okay.”

“Second rule,” Carter said, leaning forward. “No more handling things on your own. You’re not out there fighting every battle by yourself. You come to me first.”

Ethan’s brows pulled together. “I’m not used to that.”

“I know,” Carter said. “But you’re gonna learn.”

Ethan looked down at his hands, twisting his napkin. “I’ll try.”