AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not necessarily.” Andro looked into the fire and stared at the dancing flames. “But I guess we could change those rules a bit. We can do better testing to make sure the suppressants are working, and if a pregnancy slips through, we can let the alpha decide. If they want to release the omega from the harem and get married, they can. If not, we let the omega decide. They can keep the baby and leave or…what we usually do.”
That sounded pretty good. We should have been doing that all along. “Yeah, okay. You think Dad will be okay with it?”
Andro hated when we second-guessed his decisions by bringing up our father. “I’m in charge now. If he doesn’t like it, that’s his problem. I also think we should ask Joey what his thoughts are. He and Connor were handling the management of the omegas. Surely, they have a better idea than we do on what would work.”
I looked at my brother with brand-new eyes. I hadn’t given him the credit he deserved for the changes he was making. “You know, you’re not doing half bad at this head-of-the-family thing.”
He punched me in the shoulder. “Thanks, Brother.” He stood up and slammed back the last of his drink before putting the glass on the table. “Now, let’s go find your family.”
I didn’t realize how important it was to get his approval, but once I had it, everything changed. I followed him back to his suite and found Joey playing a game on the couch. His phone resting on his belly.
I went straight to him. “Do you know where Connor is?”
He put his phone down and looked right at me for a few seconds before glancing at his husband. “Why do you ask?” His gaze bounced between me and Andro. Each movement of his eyes drew his shoulders up tighter around his neck.
Thankfully, Andro spoke up. “That’s a yes. You need to tell us where he’s at. We’re bringing him back.”
Joey was on his feet faster than I’d seen him move in months and was begging Andro to be reasonable. “Please, alpha. He just wants to be left alone. I know there are rules, but he means us no harm. He wants this baby. Just let him be. He has money, and he won’t bother us. Please don’t do this.”
I could see the hurt in my brother’s eyes as he looked down at his mate. “Do you think we’re bringing him back to hurt him or his baby?”
Joey looked from me to him. “Aren’t you?”
“No, sweetheart. Louie figured out there had to be a baby all on his own. You confirmed it. Now Louie just wants to find his family so they can be together. For real.”
“Really?” Joey turned to face me before looking at his husband. “That’s okay? I thought that wasn’t allowed.”
Andro pulled Joey to his chest. “I’ve decided it’s allowed. We’re gonna make some changes around here, starting with this.”
Joey threw his arms around his husband and kissed him hard. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I miss him so much. And I know he’s really lonely. I’m sure he’s doing fine. He sent me a note, but that’s all I’ve heard from him.” He turned to face me, resting his head on Andro’s shoulder. “He really misses you, Louie.”
“Not for long. Tell me where he’s at.”
10
CONNOR
I dragged the loaf of bread across the scanner and bounced a bit when I heard the ding. “Anything else?”
Working at a small market wasn’t exactly a dream job, but it was oddly satisfying. I was hired on the spot on my first day in town and had been working long shifts every day since then.
It was exhausting, but that was the best part.
By the end of the day, I shoved some food down my face and passed out in my little rented room down the street, lulled to sleep by the constant white noise from the tree branches that scraped against my window all night long. Then I woke up the next morning and went back to work.
That was all I did. I worked, ate, and slept—in that order. With the occasional visit to the library for books.
Which kept me from doing what I was doing before I started working…which was thinking about Louie twenty-four hours a day.
Working at the store was better. Exhausting but better.
“That’s all I need, but can I get my change in quarters?” That was a common request with the laundromat next door.
I glanced in the till to make sure I had enough. Her change was $7.49, so it wasn’t too bad. “Sure.” I stuck my hand in my pocket and pulled out a penny then tossed it in the register. It took a minute for me to count out thirty quarters, but she was happy to chat with the other customers while she waited. “There you go, ma’am. Should last for more than a few loads.”
“You’re such an angel.” She glanced down at my belly. My bump wasn’t obvious to most people, but the nonnas could tell. “You know, running away always seems like the right answer, but I hope you’ve exhausted every possibility before trying to do this on your own.”
I put all her stuff in a bag and placed the loaf of bread carefully on top. “I sure did, ma’am. Thank you and have a nice day.” If only the sweet lady who probably never left this little town knew that my baby was fathered by a mafia man. Scandalous.
