“What do you mean?” Calder asked, still brushing circles over Zinn’s knee.
“He said having me and Zeller back would be required to stop the gossip. That we needed to show a united front after Jem’s death.”
“For fuck’s sake!” Valentin threw up his arms. “If Zinn does go back, he’s not going to make nice. Fuck that.” He turned to Zinn. “Are you?”
“Absolutely not,” Zinn said staunchly. “They can look for me. They can find me. But I’m not doing anything to smooth their public image. I already decided before Calder and I got together that I wouldn’t expose what they did to me, because that would bring scrutiny I didn’t want. But not seeking retribution is different from helping them. I’ll never do that.”
“You’re nicer than I am,” Valentin said gruffly. “Those fuckers had me locked up for six years. I wouldn’t mind a little justice, a little revenge.”
Assa put his hand on Valentin’s forearm. “Alpha, we have each other and four incredible children. We have our home, the club, the bakery. Friends. A life. I think if Keyes and Deveron find out about all that, that’s your revenge.”
“I think so too,” Zinn agreed. “They’ve lost the only son they truly cared about, the one who was going to carry on their legacy. Seeing me happy with my family—and refusing to assist them—would prove how powerless they truly are. And for Father especially, that’s the worst thing he could be.”
Asher cleared his throat. “Look, little brother, for what it’s worth. I don’t think we should wait for Father and Daddy to find us.”
“You don’t?” Wes asked.
“No. I think we should travel to Warburton together.” Asher looked around the room. “All of us.”
“Why?” Zinn sounded incredulous.
“You know why.”
Asher raised an eyebrow, and Zinn’s hand flew to his mouth. “Oh, no…I’d almost forgotten.”
“What?” Assa asked.
Zinn leaned against Calder. “After I had Ryde, I spent most of my time in my room. Like I said, I barely saw Jem and never thought much about him. When he and his husband began having babies, it was just too painful. I ignored them.” His eyes snapped to Asher. “There were two boys.”
Asher’s expression was grave. “Still just the two. Both omegas.”
“If Father and Daddy get custody, they’ll do to them what they did to me. It might even be worse, with Jem gone.”
“Exactly my thoughts,” Asher said. “Jem’s husband was an only child, and his parents are older than ours. They won’t fight for those boys.”
“We have to do something,” Zinn said.
Assa got up and squeezed himself onto the couch between Zinn and Calder. He pulled Zinn into his arms. “We will,” he assured him. “Those are Ryde and Lachie’s cousins.”
Like Zinn, he saw the urgency of the situation. They weren’t leaving innocent children in the hands of terrible fathers.
“My nephews,” Asher added. “And before I left, I was quite fond of them.”
“Lolo can handle things at Felton’s for a while,” Calder said.
“Xan and Sandi can manage The Cracked Heart.”
“Assa and I can get a few weeks of leave from the university before the semester starts up again.”
“It’s decided,” Assa said, hugging Zinn to his chest. “We’re going to Warburton.” Leaning into Zinn’s ear, he whispered, “You’re going to get your closure, precious, and I’m going to make sure your fathers don’t do anything bad to you.”
Chapter Sixty-Two
Valentin
Valentin’s knees trembled, knocking against the side of the train car. When he’d left Warburton Province three years ago, he initially thought he would have to come back to meet with his parole officer, but Ang had worked some magic to get his parole transferred to Bellwether.
After that, Valentin swore that the only way he’d ever go back to Warburton would be if Zeller brought him there. And in a way, Zeller had.
