Liam stared at his worst nightmare, torn between rushing Mancini to liberate his son, and terrified the alpha would hurt Layne if he did the wrong thing. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see my son and my mate,” Mancini said in a tone so reasonable, Liam almost believed him.

“This isn’t a court-appointed visit, and I’m not your mate. Constable Higgs is my mate. We’ve been mated for two weeks.”

“Yes, I can smell him on you. Don’t worry, a few good fucks will take care of that problem.”

Liam swallowed, but his throat had gone dry. “Will you please give me Layne?”

“No. And we’re changing his name. I don’t like that one. It’s connected to your old life, and we need a fresh start, you and I.”

Resisting the urge to bristle, Liam took a single step forward. So far, Layne was sleeping through this, but goddess help them if he woke up and started fussing. “Is anyone else home? Layne shouldn’t have been here alone.”

“We won’t be disturbed.”

What the fuck does that even mean?!

“As much as I would love to consummate our relationship right now,” Mancini said, “we have to go. Our new life is waiting for us.”

“My life is here. Will you please give me my son and leave my home.”

“Our son, and we’re all leaving.”

Liam fought back frustrated tears, because he needed to stay sharp and think, not crumble into a weepy mess. “What about the boys? Where are they?”

Mancini shrugged. “Two of them left. The other one is sleeping. I’d say don’t bother screaming for help, because you can’t, but he won’t be waking up for a few hours.”

“What did you do to Demir?” Anger rippled down his spine. If Mancini had hurt him…

“I waited for him to put Layne down, and then I chloroformed him. I feel bad for betas and their weaker noses, because the idiot had no idea I was here. None of them did. He’ll wake up with a headache, but he’s fine. I could have hurt him, you know, to send a message to his father that he needs to stay away from what’s mine. But I didn’t.”

Congratu-fucking-lations.

“I need to see he’s okay for myself,” Liam said. “Please, Hank.” Maybe using his first name would soften him up. So far, the alpha hadn’t actually threatened Liam, but the fact that he was holding Layne gave Mancini all the leverage right now.

Mancini rolled his eyes. “Fine. Go.” He stepped away from the mouth of the hall, never turning his back on Liam.

Liam did the same, keeping half his attention on Layne, and the other half on walking down the hall to Demir’s room. He opened the door, his insides wobbling all over the place. Demir was sprawled on his bed, eyes closed. Liam felt for a pulse and found it steady and strong. He looked like he was sleeping, and a few gentle smacks didn’t rouse him.

“See?” Mancini said from the doorway. “He’s fine.”

Drugged his not fine, you lunatic.

“You’ve seen he’s fine, now let’s go.”

Liam stood from the bed and turned to face his nightmare. “Where are we going?”

“Someplace to wait until morning. Then we’re boarding a train out of here. We’re going to start over as a family elsewhere.”

Stall, stall, stall!

“I need to pack some things, if I’m going on a trip,” Liam said. “For me and for Layne.”

“Done. Your suitcase is already in my car. I’ve been here for hours, waiting for you to come home to me.”

“But why? You’ll get to visit Layne, the judge said so. Why are you trying to take us away from our home?”

“Because you’re mine. I mated you first, Liam, and maybe that doesn’t mean shit to you, but it means everything to me. I finally found a fertile omega to bear me children, and I’m not giving you up.”

This was all because his previous mates hadn’t given him children? Both deaths had sounded suspicious in court, and now with Mancini in front of him, Liam believed the man capable of murder. Capable of murdering two innocent omegas simply to find another who’d spawn his line, and it disgusted Liam.

Liam eyeballed his infant, trying to both argue his point and sound reasonable so Mancini didn’t hurt Layne. “I have a mate, Hank. I’m sorry, but you have to give me up.”

“No. You’re all I have left, Liam. I gave up my brother for you, and you’re coming with me.”

A new layer of alarm spread across Liam’s chest, squeezing his heart tight. Had Mancini just admitted to pushing Renny down the stairs on purpose?

Goddess, protect us, please!

Layne squirmed and woke. He started crying immediately, bless him, and Mancini grimaced. After a few unsuccessful tries to quiet him, Mancini finally handed Layne over. Liam took him across the hall to the changing table and gave him a fresh diaper, going as slow as he dared. Biding his time. Doing nothing to startle the raging beast who could snap their necks with one hand, if he so chose.

The diaper didn’t quiet Layne completely. “I think he’s hungry,” Liam said. “Let me prep him a bottle before we go? If not, he’ll make a ruckus the whole trip, and screaming babies draw attention.”

“Fine.” Mancini pulled a handgun from the back waist of his pants and pointed it at the ceiling; Liam quailed. “Make it fast.”

The longer Liam delayed, the more agitated Mancini became, but Liam had to risk it, even now that he knew the man had a gun.

If he got into Mancini’s car, it was over.

* * *

Isa had just started dozing off when someone came into his room and, thanks to the painkillers, it took his fuzzy mind a moment to recognize Constable Lars. “Bit late for visiting hours, isn’t it?” Isa asked.

“Unfortunately, this is official,” Lars replied. “Ballistics came back on the bullet that shot you. It doesn’t match the gun Reid used.”

“What? How’s that possible?”

“Reid used a handgun, and our tech team went back to the courts building and found his bullet embedded in the side of the building.”

“So it did go wide.” Just as Isa thought. “You’re telling me there was a second shooter in the crowd?”

“Not in the crowd. The bullet that shot you is used for long-distance hunting rifles. We don’t know who fired the rifle, but we do know Reid didn’t shoot you. Or anyone else.”

Isa wasn’t sure how he felt about that. On one hand, Reid wasn’t an attempted murderer. On the other hand, death by law enforcement was a horrible way to commit suicide.

“Do we know where the shot came from?” Isa asked.

“Based on the trajectory, we narrowed it down to an office building across the street. I’ve got someone looking into who rents those rooms right now, and we’re looking at security footage, anyone who went in or out this morning.”

“What about suspects?”

Lars shifted his weight. “Well, because of the trajectory of the bullet and its likely starting point, we don’t think Iverson was the target. We think you were.”

“What?” Someone had tried to shoot him on purpose? Who would—? Ice water skated down his spine. “Mancini.”

“If anyone has a reason to hold a grudge, it’s him. And Hank Mancini has a registered long-distance rifle. I’ve got a car headed for his home to pick him up.”

Isa sat upright and immediately regretted it when his wound screamed in protest. “Fuck, ouch. My house. Send someone to my house. I need to know my family is safe.”

“I’ll make a call.”

While Lars did that, Isa fumbled for the land line by the bed and punched in his home number. It rang until the machine beeped. “Liam? If you’re home, pick up. I’ve got some news. Demir? Anyone?” He hung up, then tried Aven’s mobile.

“Hey, Dad, you okay?” Aven asked.

“Are Liam and Demir with you?” Isa said.

“What? No, we dropped Demir and Layne off at the house hours ago. Why?”

“I can’t say right now. Are you and Tarius safe in your apartment?”

“Yes. Dad, what’s going on?”

“I’ll call you back when I know. For now, promise me you’ll stay put.”

“I promise.”

“Thank you.” Isa hung up, more worried than ever. Three of his men were unaccounted for, and he didn’t like it. At all.

Lars’s mobile rang after he finished his call, but Isa couldn’t hear what he was saying. Isa eyeballed his IV line and wondered how much it would hurt to yank out. Part of his family was missing, and he needed to find them, damn it.

Finally, Lars returned and he didn’t look happy. “Mancini wasn’t home. The officers who searched the house said it looked like Mancini didn’t plan to come back for a while. Sheets over furniture, food cleared out. His dresser was empty. They also found the rifle buried in his outdoor trash receptacle. It’s on its way to the lab now, so we can confirm our bullet came from that gun.”

“Fuck!” He reached for the IV line, intending on yanking it out.

Lars grabbed his forearm. “What are you doing?”

“Getting out of here. I need to find my family. If Mancini is anywhere near them, I’ll rip his balls off.”

“You were just shot, Higgs, you need to rest.”

“I’ll rest later. Please. Get me a nurse, if nothing else. I’ll sign out AMA if I have to. Wouldn’t you, if this was your omegin?”

Lars stared at him a beat. “I would.” He picked up the remote by the bed and hit the call button. His phone rang again. “This is the unit that I sent to your home.” He took the call and set it to speaker. “This is Lars.”

“Sir, it’s Corinth. We’re here at the Higgs household. When we rang the bell, Mr. Liam answered the door and said everything was fine.”

“Why didn’t he answer the phone when I called just now?” Isa asked.

“Constable Higgs? I didn’t hear it ring while we spoke, so I don’t know, sir.”

“All right, thank you for the check,” Lars said and hung up.

Isa shook his head. “Something doesn’t feel right. I’m going home. I need to see for myself that Liam is okay. Can you ask Corinth to stay outside the house until I get there.”

“All right. I won’t stop you from leaving, just don’t bust your stitches, okay?”

“Thank you.”

Lars left, and a few minutes later, a nurse appeared. Isa demanded he be discharged, and when the nurse hesitated, he yanked the damned IV out himself. Blood spurted across the sheet, and the nurse scrambled into action. After bandaging his arm, the nurse went off to find a doctor.

Isa didn’t wait. He found his bloody uniform and threw it on, not caring he probably looked a mess. Wallet, service weapon, badge, and phone were in the same bag as his clothes, so he called for a taxi on the long elevator ride to the ground floor. He wouldn’t be satisfied Liam was safe until he saw for himself.

* * *

The whole time Layne ate, Liam prayed for help. For someone to come and save them, because he didn’t know what do except stall. Stall and pray help came along before it was too late. But Layne finished the bottle and no one came. Liam had to figure out his own way to keep them in this house as long as possible.

An idea popped into his head, and as much as it made Liam sick to his stomach, he had to try. “You look tense, my alpha,” Liam said in as soothing a tone as possible. “I can help you with that. Relieve a little stress before we go.”

Mancini quirked an eyebrow. “We can’t stay much longer. It’s getting late.”

“A few more minutes won’t hurt, right?” Layne was drifting off, so Liam risked easing his son into the little bounce seat they kept in the kitchen for when Liam was cooking dinner. Layne, thank goddess, closed his eyes and didn’t fuss. Bile scorched the back of his throat as Liam took a step toward Mancini and gave his crotch an obvious stare. “If I’m giving up one alpha for another, I should at least know what I’m getting.”

“Hmm.” Mancini walked to Liam’s spot by the kitchen table, then pulled down the zipper on his pants. “If I feel teeth, I’ll take it out on the constable’s kid.” He pointed the handgun at the living room hallway, and anger exploded in Liam’s chest at the blatant threat against his stepson.

With a weapon only a few feet from his baby and Demir’s life at stake, Liam couldn’t bite the guy’s dick off, but he could still fucking stall. “I won’t bite.” Liam sank to his knees, his stomach already threatening to empty itself just from being this close to his enemy.

Moving as slowly as he dared, he undid Mancini’s trousers. The man was already mostly hard, and it sickened Liam to touch the guy’s junk at all, but he pulled out Mancini’s erection and worked him with his hand.

“So?” Mancini asked. “How do I stack up?”

You’re smaller than Isa and you smell bad, you son of a fucker.

“I’m impressed,” Liam replied. “I don’t remember much from our first time together, and I’m surprised. How could anyone forget such a cock?”

Mancini chuckled. “Use your mouth for more than talking, my omega. Prove how much you want me.”

I don’t want you. I hate you. I want to murder you with my bare hands for having a gun near my baby.

Liam closed his eyes and pretended this was his alpha, his mate, and that he wanted to please that man. Not the one whose awful scent was filling his senses, coating his tongue, and making him want to gag. A hand grabbed his hair and tugged painfully, and Liam whimpered. The hold tightened, became more demanding, as the older man moved his hips. Choking. Taking.

“Fuck it, we’ve got time.”

Time for what?

Mancini yanked him away by the hair, and then threw him violently to the floor. He was on top of Liam before Liam could process what was happening, and then hands were pawing at his pants, and a tongue shoved into his mouth. Liam struggled, because goddess, he hadn’t intended for things to go this far.

The phone rang, but Mancini didn’t relent his attack on Liam’s clothes. He was bigger than Liam and strong, and while Liam had enough strength of his own to delay, he didn’t win the fight. His pants and underwear came down. Mancini tried to turn Liam onto his stomach, and Liam screamed in his broken voice, but no one could hear him. No one could help him.

“Liam? If you’re home, pick up. I’ve got some news. Demir? Anyone?” Isa’s voice on the answering machine.

That alone made Mancini pause his attack. “Fuck, that’s not good.” He groped Liam’s limp dick. “Guess this will have to wait. Get dressed, we’re leaving.”

Liam wasn’t sure if the tears in his eyes were of gratitude or terror; he was simply glad to be free of Mancini’s wandering hands and menacing intent. Mancini would likely try and finish what he started once they reached their destination, but it gave Liam more time. He fixed his clothes with trembling hands and was about to rinse his mouth out in the sink when the doorbell rang.

Mancini went rigid, then pointed the gun at Layne. “Get rid of them. If you say or do anything to tip them off, junior will lose a foot.”

“Okay.” He checked his appearance in the shiny surface of the toaster, and he looked like any other disheveled, exhausted omegin with an infant. No overt signs he’d just been assaulted by someone intent on kidnapping him.

Liam crept into the foyer, intensely curious who was here, only to see two patrolmen standing on the stoop. His freedom had arrived, but he couldn’t risk Mancini carrying through with his threat to hurt Layne. He simply couldn’t, so he plastered on a tired smile and opened the door. “Is there a problem?” he asked.

“Good evening, sir,” one man said. “I’m Patrolman Corinth, and this is Patrolman Warsaw. We were asked to check in on the household.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“It’s related to the courthouse shooting, and my superior wanted to make sure you and your family are doing all right with today’s events.”

While it sounded legitimate enough, Liam also saw the lie in the truth. And it had everything to do with Isa’s worried phone call. Somehow, they knew about Mancini. “I’m still a bit shaken up. As I’m sure you know, my mate was shot and it’s been stressful on all of us. But I do appreciate the check.”

“Is there anything we can do for you this evening?”

“Nope. We’re fine, but thank you.” Liam shut the door, then leaned against it to breathe. His nerves were shot, and he kind of wanted to throw up, because he still had a huge, Mancini-sized problem in his home, threatening his baby.

“Liam?”

He reluctantly returned to the kitchen, where Mancini was gently bouncing Layne’s seat. Liam gave the boy a once-over, but he seemed fast asleep and unharmed.

“You did well, thank you,” Mancini said. “As soon as they’re gone, we’re free to leave and begin our new life.” He leered at Liam’s crotch. “I can’t wait to get back inside that tight little ass of yours.”

Liam retched, and he rushed to the sink before tossing up the last of his dinner. His eyes stung and his belly kept clenching, until he had nothing left but dry heaves and hot tears. A big hand rubbed his back, and Liam was startled when a glass of water appeared in front of his eyes.

“Oh, are you sick, my omega?” Mancini asked in an unexpectedly gentle tone. “Here, rinse your mouth out.”

Though reluctant to accept Mancini’s kindness, Liam did as told. Then he allowed Mancini to carry him to a kitchen chair. Liam rested his forehead on the cool tabletop, willing his upset stomach to settle.

“You’ve had such a stressful day,” Mancini said. “I’m so sorry those cops upset you.”

You’re truly insane if you think I barfed because of them.

At least the vomiting had removed the taste of Mancini’s flesh from his mouth. “I feel so sick,” Liam said.

Mancini rummaged in the fridge, then came back with a can of ginger ale. He even pulled the tab for Liam. “Here, this should help. Sip it fast, we need to go.”

Fuck off, you giant fuck of a fucker.

While the kindness surprised Liam, he couldn’t let his guard down. Mancini was volatile, snapping back and forth between aggressive and gentle. Liam sipped the soda, while Mancini went to the windows.

“What the hell? Why is that car still in the street?”

The patrolmen hadn’t left? Liam’s heart gave a joyful lurch. Maybe they hadn’t totally bought his statements after all.

“This fucking house doesn’t have a fucking back door,” Mancini said, his agitation filling the room. The homes in this neighborhood had larger side yards than front yards, so there was no second door to the back of the house, and what yard they did have was surrounded by a tall wooden fence.

Mancini was cornered, and cornered animals were beyond dangerous.

“You said something, didn’t you? Used some code?” Mancini stalked toward Liam, and Liam didn’t have a chance to defend himself before Mancini’s fist flew.

Pain exploded in Liam’s cheek, and the shock of it sent him out of his chair and sprawling to the floor. More pain flared in his ribs, and it took him a moment to realize he’d been kicked twice.

“I didn’t want to have to kill anyone, much less two cops,” Mancini said, “but they aren’t giving me much choice. We need to leave, and they’re in the way.”

Liam cried out, as much for the pain in his body as the idea of Mancini murdering two innocent people. Mancini kicked him a third time in the ribs, and that short-circuited his brain momentarily. When he came to his senses, Liam realized two things at once: Mancini was no longer in the kitchen.

And Layne wasn’t in his bouncy seat.

* * *

If Isa’s taxi driver was unnerved by a distressed constable in a bloody uniform, he didn’t show it. The man did, however, respond to Isa’s repeated urges to drive faster. He didn’t live terribly far from the hospital, maybe ten minutes without traffic, but something deep inside of him was screaming to get home. It didn’t matter that the patrol car reported all was well.

Something’s wrong with my bondmate. I can feel it.

The taxi finally turned onto his street, and Isa let out a relieved sigh at the sight of the patrol car still parked in front of the house. The porch light was on, and as the taxi slowed to park behind the patrol car, the front door opened. Isa expected to see Liam or Demir.

Instead, Mancini stepped onto the porch with Layne in his arms and a gun in his hand.

“Shit, stop right here,” Isa said.

The driver hit the brakes one house down from Isa’s.

Isa climbed out on the passenger side, then said, “Get down and call emergency right now. Tell them Constable Higgs needs backup at his home.”

Mancini was stalking toward the patrol car, seeming not to see Isa off to his right, his attention fixed on the other car. Isa raised his service pistol over the top of the taxi and shouted, “Freeze, Mancini!”

The man paused in raising his own gun, head snapping in Isa’s direction. He glared at Isa, then raised his weapon and fired. Isa couldn’t return fire because of Layne, so he ducked behind the taxi. The bullet struck metal. A door slammed. When Isa peeked around the taxi’s fender, the front door was shut, and both patrolmen were scrambling out the front passenger side door. Isa bolted to their car.

“You said the house was clear,” Isa snapped.

Corinth was a pasty shade of green. “Mr. Liam assured us he was fine, sir. We had no idea.”

Isa would chew their ears off later. Right now, his teenager, omega and infant boy were trapped inside with a lunatic, and Isa needed to get them away safely. Isa’s mobile rang, and he checked the display.

Home.

“Yes?” Isa said.

“You and your men need to back away from the house and give me clearance to leave with my family,” Mancini said.

Isa bit back a growl. “Where are Liam and Demir?”

“Here with me. I have to admit, Liam is quite the little cocksucker, isn’t he?”

Pure rage sizzled across Isa’s skin, and he nearly fractured his phone. “I want to talk to them.”

“No.”

“Then how can I trust they’re okay?”

“Well, Demir is asleep, but if you want proof Liam is still alive. Here.” The sound of flesh on flesh was followed by a low, familiar moan. “I haven’t broken any of his ribs yet, but one more kick might do it.”

Isa saw a bloody murder in his future. “Let’s end this peacefully, yeah? More officers are on their way, and we’ll have the house surrounded. You can’t get away.”

“No? I don’t particularly want to keep hurting my mate, or touch that little baby of ours, but I have no qualms about hurting your offspring, constable. Call off your men, or your youngest will lose a few fingers. Or maybe an ear.”

Fuck!

Sirens sounded in the distance, and Corinth tossed him a hopeful look.

Isa glared at the front door. “You hurt my boy and I’ll rip your limbs off one at a time.”

Mancini laughed, the fucker. “So you’ll let me hurt him? Good to know. All I’m asking for is safe passage to my car, and to be allowed to leave with what’s mine.”

“Liam and Layne aren’t yours. They’re mine.”

“By all legalities, you’re wrong. That judge fucked me over by not giving me my mate and child back. They belong to me, not you. I—excuse me a moment, Constable. Fuck’s sake, Liam, what?”

Liam’s heart had nearly burst with joy hearing that Isa had arrived and prevented Mancini from carrying out his threat to murder those patrolmen. But as he listened to Mancini’s side of their phone conversation, his hope and joy diminished. Mancini was insane, and Liam had no doubt he’d hurt Demir to get what he wanted.

He had to find a way to spare Demir and Layne any more pain, so he yanked at Mancini’s ankle until he got his attention.

“Fuck’s sake, Liam, what?”

Liam quailed under the anger in Mancini’s voice. His ribs ached and his face throbbed, but Layne was safely back in his seat, and that’s all that mattered. “I’ll go with you,” Liam said. “Of my own free will. Just leave Demir alone, and leave Layne here for Isa to raise.”

“Layne’s mine.”

“We can have more children. Besides, Layne’s just an omega. We’ll start over, and when I heat again, we’ll have another chance to create a child. An alpha heir for you. Completely separate from our old lives here, like you said. A total fresh start for us both.”

Mancini watched him silently for a moment, until Isa’s voice squawked through the phone. “We have a new proposition for you, constable.” He held out the phone. “Tell him.”

Liam fumbled the phone twice before getting it to his ear. “Isa?”

“Goddess, Liam, are you all right?”

“I’m okay, Layne’s fine, and so is Demir. He’s drugged, but he’s safe.”

Isa growled. “We’ll get you out of there, I promise.”

“No, Isa, please listen to me.” Liam’s heart broke over his next words. “I told Mancini I’d go with him freely, as long as we leave Layne and Demir here. Our sons will both be safe.”

“No. Do not make a deal with that man.”

“I don’t have a choice. I won’t let him hurt Demir because of me. And you’ll be a great father to Layne, I know it. Just let us go, please.”

“Liam, I can’t—damn it. My supervisor is here, I have to step down. I love you.”

“Me too.”

“Hello? This is Chief Constable Underhill. Are you all right, Mr. Liam?”

“Hanging in there, sir.” Liam told Mancini about the change of leadership outside, and then repeated his offer to the man.

“We cannot allow him to leave with a hostage,” Underhill said.

“But I won’t be a hostage. I’m going with him by choice.”

“You’re being coerced.”

“Please, I need to do this and save our sons.”

Mancini snatched the phone from him. “Chief Underhill? You have exactly three minutes to move your men away from this house and allow us safe passage to my car. I will have the infant in my hands, but I will put him down once we’re both safely away. And if I see a car following us, I will put a bullet into my mate.”

Liam shivered.

“That’s a smart choice, Constable. You don’t want the deaths of two children on your conscience, do you? Three minutes.”

Mancini hung up. “My car is parked one street over.” He picked up Layne, whose face scrunched but he stayed asleep.

“You promise you’ll leave Layne behind?”

“You have my word, my omega.”

From Isa, the words “my omega” made Liam’s heart flutter. From Mancini, they were a curse.

Their trio headed for the front door. Mancini watched from the window, and once he seemed satisfied by what was happening outside, he opened the door. With Layne tucked into the crook of his left arm—an incredibly vulnerable position, given the ease with which Mancini could drop him—Mancini wrapped his right arm around Liam’s throat, and then walked outside. With the gun now only inches from Liam’s face, Liam had trouble keeping his body from trembling as Mancini used him as a fucking shield. Three patrol cars and a taxi were parked a good hundred feet up the street, with a crowd of people behind it. Neighbors peered through curtains at the spectacle.

Liam tried not to trip as Mancini walked in a sideways manner down the sidewalk, keeping Liam in front of his as much as possible. With his ribs straining, Liam had trouble breathing, which only increased his terror. At the end of the block, Mancini turned left and a few yards away was a gray sedan.

Mancini released his death-grip on Liam’s neck. “Get in the front.”

Liam did, never taking his eyes off Mancini, who put Layne down on the grass of someone’s yard. It wasn’t ideal or sanitary, but at least Mancini kept his word. They were leaving his little boy behind.

If I don’t see you again in this life, maybe I’ll see you in the next. I love you.

Mancini climbed inside, gunned the engine, and their car tore down the street. Liam stared straight ahead, silent tears streaming down his cheeks, as they drove away from his old life.

No. No, I refuse to accept this. I won’t give up my family. I worked too damned hard to earn them.

He observed the interior of the car without being too obvious, while Mancini navigated. From the lack of stop signs and lights, he’d definitely planned his route ahead of time. Which meant he’d been waiting for a night when Liam had no alpha mate waiting for him. A time when Liam would be vulnerable.

The car was cheap, a basic model with manual windows and door locks. Dirty but not gross, with a bit of takeout trash in the footwell. An ash tray in the middle of the console was full of salt packets, toothpicks, and other detritus—including a plastic ink pen. Something he could use as a weapon.

First, he needed Mancini distracted, because no way was Liam allowing himself to be taken goddess knew where in the province.

He wiped tears from his cheeks and angled toward Mancini, despising the sight of him, but he needed to do this. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” Mancini replied. He was smiling but that coldness never left his eyes. “I think you’ll like it. Nice and private, until we can make our train. I can’t wait to get there and finish what we started.”

Ugh, no.

“Thank you for what you did back there. Leaving Layne behind. Leaving my old life behind.”

Mancini gave him a quick, assessing look. “You’re welcome, my omega. You were right. That baby was our old life. We can start over, make another baby.” He leered. “We’ll have lots of time to practice before your next heat.”

Liam forced himself not to shudder. “Yeah, we will.” He leaned across the console to touch Mancini’s upper arm, and it gave him a better view of the dash. Cruising along, inching closer to forty miles an hour. Fast enough. “I’m still a little confused by all this. It’s been so much. Be patient with me?”

“It’s understandable that you’re confused, baby. We’ll work on that together. Once we rid you of that other alpha’s scent, you’ll remember who you belong to.”

Isa. I belong to Isa Fucking Higgs, you piece of shit.

“Yeah. You. My first.” Liam eyed the pen. They were on a quiet street lined with telephone poles and old, thickly-trunked trees. “My alpha.”

“My omega.”

Liam leaned in as if to kiss Mancini’s cheek. He snatched the pen out of the ash tray and stabbed it into Mancini’s gut with all his might, while also grabbing the steering wheel. He gave it a mighty yank to the right, and the car swerved. Right toward one of those old, mighty trees.

Mancini screamed.

A tremendous crash threw Liam into darkness.