Five weeks passed in an oddly comforting blur for Liam. He and Isa had fallen into a wonderful routine of weekday evenings: Liam cooked, and Isa helped with Layne. Isa’s sons frequently stopped by, and during those evenings, they remained very hands-off in terms of casual touches and holding hands. Those things, they saved for when they were alone. And weekends. Demir was spending more time with his friends, and also studying with Aven, as secondary school was nearing its end. Tarius would graduate in a few short weeks, too.

Layne was also growing like a weed. Already six weeks old, Liam felt like the boy had doubled in size, even though Isa teased him that Layne had only gained a few pounds. Every new day with Layne was a gift, and he was getting onto a slightly more regular sleep and nap schedule.

Slightly.

His relationship with Isa remained one of platonic love and support, and Liam was forever grateful for the man’s infinite patience. They shared tender kisses and long hugs, but nothing else, and Liam couldn’t imagine the restraint necessary for a mature alpha who’d previously had a mate. But every time Liam thought he might be ready to do more, his body froze up, and he couldn’t.

His visits with the other omegas helped, and he saw Brogan regularly. They frequently went for walks with their sons, as long as they had an escort, usually one of Brogan’s foster betas. So far, Senior Iverson had stayed quiet in his home, but no one was taking any unnecessary risks until he was locked up in an actual prison.

Brogan had gone into heat three weeks after the Iverson news, and his beta hosts had helped him through it, with assistance from Liam and Braun’s beta nurse friend Serge Freel. It had come almost three months exactly after giving birth, so Liam had hope his body would hold out, despite living in close proximity to his bondmate. Perhaps their physical restraint with each other was helping fend it off.

But real life caught up with the quiet new one he was building with Isa, and he woke up the morning of Dent’s trial with a host of butterflies in his stomach. He hadn’t slept well at all, and Layne seemed to sense his distress, because he stayed up crying more than usual. The prosecutor had their sworn testimony as evidence, and none of the omegas were being called to testify, but Awless said that by showing up, they’d play on the sympathies of the jury. More than faces in photographs, they were young men with children. Real people whose lives had been affected by the actions of Esom Dent and his associates.

None of them wanted to go, but they’d agreed as a group that they would the first day. They’d sit in the gallery with their sons and watch Prosecutor Awless put Dent behind bars.

Isa helped him with Layne that morning, because Liam was a mess. Brogan called him near-tears, and they gave each other a proper pep talk before hanging up. Liam ate toast and jam, because he didn’t trust his stomach with anything else. He hadn’t set eyes on Dent since the last shake he’d brought the morning of Liam’s rescue. Since Liam discovered why he was there, being groomed, in the first place.

Demir gave him a hug before he left for school. Once they were alone, Liam launched himself at Isa and melted into his warm, muscled arms.

“You don’t have to be strong today,” Isa said. “Let me be strong for you. I’ll be there beside you, I promise.”

Liam pulled back far enough to look up. “You took the day off?”

“I did. I’ll be called to testify in the afternoon, but I took the whole day in case you needed me. It’ll be hard seeing Dent again.”

“Yeah. Not as hard on me as on the others—”

“No, don’t do that. Do not diminish your own pain. Feel how you feel.”

Liam pressed his face into Isa’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, little one.” Isa tilted his chin up and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

Curious and maybe a bit emotional, Liam slipped a hand behind Isa’s neck and held him there. Isa was the only man he’d ever kissed, and today Liam wanted to know more. He parted his lips and moved them over Isa’s. Isa shivered, his own mouth going soft. Reacting without directing, and that was everything. It gave Liam the courage to ask for more.

He stroked the tip of his tongue across Isa’s lips, and Isa moaned. The sound went straight to Liam’s dick, and that was a dangerous thing when they had to be in court soon. But Liam didn’t want to stop yet. He loved Isa, felt safe with him, and he wanted to know more. Liam licked at his lips again, until they parted, giving Liam new access. A burst of flavor hit his tongue, and Liam made an odd, soft sound of pleasure. Isa’s unique taste. On his tongue. Like his warm cedar scent but twenty times better.

Isa gently pulled back, his eyes glimmering with lust. “We keep doing this, little one, and we won’t make it to court.”

“I like how you taste.” Liam blushed, but didn’t take the statement back. He truly enjoyed kissing Isa like that.

“And I’m eager to taste more of you myself. But you’re in a fragile place right now, and I don’t want you doing something you’ll regret later.”

Liam grabbed Isa’s hip. “What’s one more regret on top of the others?”

Isa cupped his cheek with a warm palm. “Let me rephrase that. I don’t want you ever regretting what we do together, especially sex. As much as I want you, I’m willing to wait until you know you’re ready. You’re worth that and more, little one.”

If he could melt into goo, Liam would have. He rested his cheek against Isa’s chest and sighed. “How did I luck into you?”

“I think we lucked into each other.”

They stood like that a while longer, until Layne’s squalling made it necessary to part. Liam changed his diaper one more time, before they had to leave for court.

Their group took up the entire front row of seating behind the prosecutor’s table in the courtroom’s gallery, and a small team of patrolmen kept the media at bay so they could all sit without any hassle. The sight of so many omegas and four babies under the age of one definitely caused heads to turn, and Kell was already kind of famous from his own trial. Liam sat between Isa and Brogan, and he stared straight ahead at the empty judge’s bench, ignoring the conversations all around him, and the questions still being tossed at them from the corralled press.

Prosecutor Don Awless arrived and started arranging paperwork at his table, and a minute later, so did Dent’s defense attorney. Liam couldn’t remember his name, but he looked sleazy, with his slicked-back hair and fancy suit. When Dent was escorted into the courtroom by patrolmen, Liam stiffened. Next to him, Brogan shivered.

Dent kept his gaze on his lawyer, not looking in their direction once, and Liam was glad for that. He hated the man on general principle, and he hoped Awless got him the maximum sentence possible. Judge Mendes arrived, the all-beta jury filed in, and the trial officially began.

Awless used his opening remarks to point out their row of omegas, telling the jury in the simplest terms possible what had been done to them: kidnapping, human trafficking, wrongful imprisonment, assault, coercion, and rape. Hearing those things spoken out loud made Liam sick to his stomach—not only for what he’d endured, but for the worse things his friends had gone through.

He pressed his shoulder against Isa’s, needing that grounding touch. Isa pressed back.

Liam used the first recess as an excuse to nurse Layne, and he wasn’t making a statement. He was feeding his son, but a few flashbulbs went off nearby, and that got Isa on his feet, bullying the reporters away.

Listening to the trial, as Awless used testimony and witnesses to paint a picture of the fight ring, was painful and heartbreaking, especially as parts of their statements were read out loud. Horrifying stories from Jax, Reid, Jaysan, Brogan and Laine. The worst were from Laine, knowing he’d died as an indirect result of his treatment by Dent and Udall.

At lunch, Jaysan and Reid said they were leaving. They simply couldn’t handle any more, and Liam couldn’t fault them for that. Liam wanted to go, too, but Isa’s testimony was set for the afternoon, and Liam wanted to be present for it. When court resumed, Karter testified as to his involvement in the discovery of the ring through tracking down Jax as a possible burglary suspect.

The defense attorney tried to frame Karter’s personal involvement with Jax as a witch hunt against his client, but Judge Mendes wasn’t having it, and he sustained a lot of Awless’s objections. The constabulary had been careful to keep Karter out of the investigation into Mad Dog Productions, the front created to help the fight ring move money around, so there was no chance of any evidence being thrown out.

When Isa was finally called, Layne started getting fussy, so Liam had to excuse himself. A patrolman went with him, mostly to act as a shield against nosy reporters. Liam hid in the bathroom so he could change Layne’s diaper, and then feed him a bottle. He slipped back into the courtroom as Isa was detailing the discovery of the kidnapped omegas that fateful morning four months ago.

The day ended after Isa’s testimony, and Liam was grateful to leave the courts building. They’d agreed to go through this nonsense again when Udall’s trial began. Isa explained they were being tried separately, because Dent partially cooperated with the investigation, and because Udall had additional charges of kidnapping and the attempted murder of a peace officer.

They stopped for takeout on the way home, and Liam had never been so happy to see a sofa in his life. He sank into it with Layne’s carrier on the cushion beside him, the infant fast asleep after the car ride. Isa sat on his other side and drew Liam into a hug.

“Today sucked,” Liam said.

“I know. But it’s over for now. All you have to do is trust the court to handle Dent.”

“I think I do.”

“We have an air-tight case, Liam. The only thing Dent’s lawyer can try to do in his defense is push the blame onto Udall. Try to make Dent seem like a victim, too, rather than a willing accomplice.”

“Do you think he will?”

“Even if they manage to play on the jury’s sympathy, the jury still has specific guidelines to use in order to determine if Dent’s actions fit the charge he’s accused of. And those charges have guidelines for Judge Mendes to use in his sentencing. Dent is going to prison. The only question is for how long.”

Liam grunted. “Better be for life, the son of a fucker.”

“Agreed.” He kissed Liam’s temple, and he kind of wished Isa would kiss his mouth. “How about I set the table and get dinner ready. It’s just us three tonight.”

“Demir is staying out?”

“Apparently more tutoring. He’s determined to ace his final in a few weeks. Also? Someone here forgot to tell me it was his birthday, and I planned a treat for you.”

Liam startled. With everything going on, he’d forgotten the date. “Crap, it is my birthday. Sucky way to spend it, huh?”

“We’ll have to enjoy our evening then.”

Isa gave him a meaningful smile, then went into the kitchen to put dinner on the table. Liam waited in the living room, curious what Isa had planned. Turning nineteen didn’t feel like that big of a deal, but if Isa wanted to make a small fuss, Liam would gladly accept the attention. His eighteenth had been the last birthday his family celebrated together before their deaths.

Liam’s chest squeezed with grief. If only he’d known how quickly he was going to lose them all, he would have savored the day more. Really thanked his omegin for the birthday cake he’d baked, and hugged his brothers for the gifts they’d pooled their credit to buy. But he hadn’t, because he assumed he’d have more birthdays.

And then they were all gone.

He leaned over to kiss Layne’s forehead, so grateful for this new life and the family he was creating with Isa and Demir. It would never replace what he’d lost, but it would help mend the hole in Liam’s heart. Time and love would help him feel whole again.

When Isa called him to the table, Liam wiped his cheeks and went into the dining room. He gasped. Isa had plated the pasta he’d bought, and he had also lit two candles in the center of the table. Poured them both a glass of wine. As simple as it was, the entire thing was ridiculously romantic, too.

Isa directed him to sit at the place that had a small black box next to the plate. “Happy birthday,” he said.

Liam picked up the box with trembling fingers, uncertain what he’d find in it. Inside was a silver band with a small blue gem in its center. He pulled the ring from its little holder and studied it. On the inside of the band, he found a date inscribed.

Layne’s birth date.

“It’s a blue diamond,” Isa said. “I wanted to get you something meaningful. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I love it.” Liam slipped it onto the ring finger of his right hand, then extended his arm. It looked lovely against his dark skin. “It’s perfect.” He hugged Isa hard, then kissed him on the mouth. A long, leisurely kiss that ended with just a little bit of tongue. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.” Isa kissed him again, and then sat to eat.

The pasta was perfect, the wine delicious. Layne interrupted them once, and since Liam was all out of milk for now, Isa put together a bottle and fed Layne himself. Liam would never get over seeing the big, burly man holding his tiny infant in the crook of his arm, bottle-feeding him by candlelight. He wanted a photo of this moment, but it was too precious to interrupt by asking for a camera.

Eventually, Layne was asleep in his crib, everyone was stuffed full of dinner, and Isa was leading Liam down the hallway…to Isa’s room. Liam faltered, but Isa offered a warm smile. “Don’t worry, this isn’t me seducing you,” Isa said. “But I would very much like to help you relax. How would you feel about a back massage?”

“I’ve never had one.”

“Then you, my love, are in for a treat.”

My love.

Liam blushed, shy now for some reason, and followed Isa into his room. Isa left briefly, then returned with a bath towel, which he put on the bed lengthwise. He also produced a small bottle of oil from his bedside table. “I can do this with your shirt on,” Isa said, “but if you trust me, it will feel so much better with the oil against your skin. It warms and soothes the muscles.”

“I trust you.” Liam unbuttoned the front of his dress shirt, while Isa rolled up the sleeves of his. He allowed Isa to wrangle him onto his stomach, on top of the towel. And while Liam was a little embarrassed to show off his baby pooch, Isa’s eyes seemed to feast hungrily on every inch of bared skin.

“Just relax, little one, and let me do all the work.”

Liam closed his eyes. Hands on his back startled him at first, but Isa knew what he was doing. With deft fingers, he slowly worked the stiff, tired muscles of Liam’s shoulders, arms, and down his spine. Around his ribs and lower back, all with oil that smelled like lavender and honey, and left his skin warm and a little tingly. Isa turned him into a puddle of goo on the bed, and Liam could do this all day long, forever.

Isa worked at a knot in the middle of his back. “Feel good?”

“Amazing,” Liam slurred, a bit drunk on the sensations. He’d never had a massage, never had a man’s hands on his body like this. Loving him, taking care of him. It was wonderful and addictive, and he whined when it was over.

“Thirsty?” Isa asked.

“Please.”

When he left, Liam realized they probably should have done this in Liam’s bed, because he couldn’t move. Not an inch. Isa returned with a glass of water and helped Liam raise his head enough to sip.

“You killed me,” Liam said. “In a good way, but damn.”

Isa beamed. “Then I achieved my goal.” He also had a towel that he used to gently swipe Liam’s back. “Extra oil. It mostly soaks into your skin, but there’s a bit here and there.”

Plus, he got to keep touching Liam, and Liam was all about that. Isa helped him sit up and put a t-shirt on. Then Isa got extra alpha points by picking him up and carrying him into the living room, where they settled on the couch to watch a movie. Liam dozed through most of it, and even though the celebration had only been a few hours long, it was the best birthday he’d had in a long, long time.

* * *

Dent’s trial lasted until the end of the week, and the jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding Dent guilty of all charges. Judge Mendes set a sentencing date, and that was that. The verdict had Liam and his friends all in positive moods the following week when Udall’s trial began, and they once again banded together on the first day to show support.

Jax was testifying this time, because of the additional kidnapping and extortion charges, but not until the second day. The court brought in a professional signal language interpreter for Jax, who also swore that the testimony he was speaking was exactly what Jax indicated. Jax certainly made an impressive witness. All the omegas who’d been bought were bulked up to a degree, but Jax had already been a tall omega, and with his long hair and beard, upon first glance the man read as alpha.

He not only detailed his treatment by Dent and Udall, but also what happened both times Senior Iverson bought him, the birth of his son, and their escape. His choice to live as a vagrant for a month before being caught by Constable Jenks. Feeling the mating bond right away, and assisting in the investigation.

Many of the details were new to Liam, but some he knew from the newspapers he’d read. His heart broke for everything Jax had suffered, but he also basked in his friend’s strength and bravery. Putting himself at the mercy of the defense attorney’s cross-examination. He wasn’t the same man who defended Dent, but he had the same sleazy feel to him. On cross, the man tried to frame it so Jax only cooperated to save himself from burglary charges, that he had a personal stake in persecuting Udall.

Jax retorted, through his interpreter, that his personal stake in persecuting Udall came from months of incarceration, assault, and fear for his life and that of his unborn child. Plus, the asshole had stolen his voice.

The cussing raised a titter from the gallery. Liam could think of more choice words to call Udall. Judge Mendes called for order and banged his gavel. Down the row, the noise disturbed Karson, who was in Karter’s lap. Jax jerked in his seat, reacting instinctively to his son’s distress.

Fortunately, Karson quieted quickly, and the cross ended after only a few more questions that did nothing to help Udall’s case. Jax’s photo would likely be in the morning paper tomorrow, just like Liam’s had the week before. The picture of him nursing in the gallery had been front and center in several reports that day, and Liam hated it, because that had been an intimate moment with his son, not something to splash all over the news.

By the end of the week, the jury found Udall guilty on all charges.

To celebrate, Tarek and Braun threw a barbecue at the cottage and invited all the omegas and their foster families. Isa’s sons surprised the hell out of him by agreeing to go along, but hey, free food was free food. The house and backyard were packed with people, many of whom Liam knew, but some he didn’t, so he stuck close to Isa and Brogan.

He’d finally worked up the nerve to put Layne down in one of the two playpens set up outside for the various children in attendance, when Braun and Kell approached with a teenager Liam didn’t know. Beta, light hair, and deep shadows in his eyes.

“Liam, this is Knox Oakley,” Braun said. “He’s one of the betas who was rescued from the Covfefe Toy plant trafficking ring last fall.”

Surprise jolted through Liam, and he shook the teen’s hand. “Liam Haley. Fight ring trafficking victim.”

“I know,” Knox said.

“Knox approached us about joining our bi-monthly support meeting,” Braun continued. “He heard about it through a friend who works with Jaysan’s fostering couple. I know so far, we’re all omegas, but omegas aren’t the only gender who experience sexual violence.”

“We didn’t experience the same things,” Knox said in a paper-thin voice. “But it would be nice to be able to talk to guys who understand. The shit that happened to me…I don’t know if the nightmares will ever go away.” Knox looked so miserable that Liam wanted to hug him, but he also didn’t want to startle the kid.

“Jax, Jaysan, and Brogan are okay with him joining,” Kell said.

“Goddess, yes, please do join us,” Liam said.

“Thank you,” Knox replied. “And I promise not to repeat anything you guys tell me.”

“Same. We all need a place to vent, and we all need a tribe. People who get us. We can be that tribe for you, too.”

Knox only nodded, his eyes watery. He moved on with Kell and Braun, likely to track down Reid and get his okay. Liam liked the idea of opening up their group to others, especially younger omegas and betas who’d been touched by sexual violence. It made them stronger in the long run, and it created a support network for everyone involved.

Liam changed his mind about putting Layne down. Jax had recently taught him how to tie a fabric sling to keep the infant close, so he found his diaper bag on the porch and produced the sling. It freed up his arms, so he could indulge in some of the barbecued ribs and a cheeseburger when Tarek announced food was ready.

Isa was chatting with Karter and another alpha Liam didn’t know, so he took his plate to where Jaysan, Brogan and little Peyton were picnicking in the grass. “Did you talk to Braun?” Brogan asked.

“About Knox? Yes,” Liam replied. “I’m fine with it. I think it’s a good thing, too. I mean, yeah, there are grassroots omega rights groups out there, but not emotional support groups for us, you know? And betas, too. When I read about the bust at that toy factory, I was sick to my stomach over it. What those poor teenagers went through.”

“Same.”

“At least all the people involved are in prison,” Jaysan said.

“The main people in our case are too,” Liam said. “It’s just the alphas who paid to watch and gambled on who’d win, and a lot of them have been arrested. It’s a complicated case.”

“I don’t care. I just want them all in prison so I can stop being scared all the time.” His face flushed, and he looked down at his plate.

Liam exchanged a glance with Brogan, who was as surprised as Liam. This was the first time Jaysan had expressed any sort of fear to them. Mostly, he stayed angry, and Liam couldn’t help wondering if that anger had been a front for his fear and confusion. “We’re all scared on some level,” Liam said. “It’s natural and nothing to be ashamed of.”

Jaysan shrugged and picked at his cheeseburger.

Layne bombed his diaper, so Liam excused himself. He left his plate, then fetched the diaper bag. There were people everywhere, so he found a quiet corner of the back patio, put the changing mat down, and got Layne cleaned up. He’d just finished his task and buttoned up Layne’s onesie again when someone cleared their throat nearby.

“Are you Liam Haley?” a stranger asked.

Pulse racing, Liam picked Layne up off the mat and stood, pivoting to face the man who’d asked. He was beta and seemed innocuous enough. No camera or video recorder, so probably not media. “I am,” he replied.

The stranger pulled a manila envelope from behind his back and handed it over. Liam took it without thinking. “You’ve been served. Have a nice afternoon.”

“I’ve what?” His voice had no power to call after the departing man. Liam gaped at his back until he disappeared, then gaped at the envelope.

“Liam?” Isa was by his side immediately, as if sensing his distress. “What happened?”

“Someone came up to me, gave me this, and said I’d been served. I don’t understand.”

Isa growled once, then took the envelope. Opened it and slid a sheet of paper out. Fury bloomed on his face, and Liam took a step back, away from the anger now pouring off Isa in waves. “I’ll kill him,” Isa snarled.

Liam took another step backward and ran into a warm body. Tarek steadied him with a gentle hand. “Higgs?” Tarek asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Some dead man named Hank Mancini is suing the province for full custody of his son, Layne Haley, and his omega mate, Liam.” Isa looked up with fire in his eyes. “Someone is trying to make my bondmate away.”