Chapter Thirty-Two
Chris watched the other wolf from across the street as he left the bar and turned south toward where he’d parked his car. He’d been watching this particular Alpha for a week now. Not directly, because his target would had to have been blind not to notice another Alpha tailing him, but through a few different Betas, who were able to piece together his schedule enough for Chris to catch up with him.
He sped up so that he’d reach the Alpha before he got into his car. The parking lot was deserted, the lighting low.
“Mac?” he called as he drew near. “Mac Lane?”
“Who wants to know,” the Alpha called over his shoulder.
“Chris Ferris, Shifter Crimes.”
Mac laughed. “Ooh, should I be scared?”
“Of me, right now? No. Davis talked.”
That got Mac’s attention, his shoulders tensing.
“What did you say?”
“Davis, Regan’s guy, got picked up last week and talked until he was hoarse. Said a lot of nice things, especially about you and what you did for Regan.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You were muscle for Regan for two years. You used to drive Davis to pickups, you watched money change hands, drugs, guns.”
“You can’t prove any of that.”
“We don’t need to, we’re not human. We just need reasonable belief that you were up to your neck in crime, and we have it.”
“So that’s it then?”
“Yeah, that’s it. We sign off on the paperwork, and you’re just a target to be taken out. No trial, no jury, no judge to hear your sob story. Just a bullet and a quick death. Unless…”
“I’m no rat. Regan would skin me alive and then kill me.”
“I don’t care about Regan, Mac. I don’t care about your past crimes. What I do have an interest in is your new employer.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Vincent Hart has approached you to provide personal security at his Eden residence.”
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“Yeah, you do. It’s your ticket out of this mess.”
“How?” Mac still hadn’t turned and Chris was conducting the conversation with the back of his head. But he knew he had the Alpha’s undivided attention.
“We need eyes on him, someone inside watching what he’s doing. He preys on Omega. He may even kill them. But who he is and who he knows is so far protecting him. It’s a low-risk job. You just watch, do your job, and we’ll make intermittent contact when it’s safe.”
“What, exactly, am I watching for?”
“Who he’s in contact with, his interactions with Omega, and any sign of a paper trail for his activities.”
“And you’ll square all the stuff from before, with Regan?”
“Clean slate, you have my word.”
“Why me?”
“I don’t think you’re a bad guy, Mac. You didn’t go looking for trouble, you drifted and it found you. Besides, I heard a rumor you were kicked out of your Pack for fighting the Alpha’s son over an Omega he was mistreating.”
“You shouldn’t listen to rumors.”
Mac turned and looked over his shoulder, sharp eyes taking in Chris. “We done here?”
“I’ll be in touch.”
He turned and walked away, leaving Mac standing unmoving next to his car.
Chris sat up against the headboard, Danny sitting between his legs, panting through a contraction.
“You’re doing great, Danny,” Heidi said, perched on the side of the bed. “Just keep breathing, okay?”
Danny leaned back against him as the contraction ebbed, releasing the tight grip he’d had on Chris’ hands.
“It feels like this has been going on forever.”
“It’s almost time to push,” Heidi assured them.
Chris reached for the face cloth on the bedside table, placing it across Danny’s brow. “Do you want an ice-chip?” he asked.
Danny shook his head. Another contraction hit him and Chris did his best to soothe him through it.
“Alright, let’s see where we are,” Heidi said, leaning closer. Danny closed his eyes, holding tightly to Chris’ hands. “Good news, gentlemen. It’s time to push.”
To Chris, the next part seemed quick, Heidi encouraging Danny to push while Chris supported him.
“You’re doing great, Danny. You’re almost there,” he said into Danny’s ear between contractions.
“You know, I’m all for equal parenting. It’s your turn to push.”
“I would if I could, you know I would.”
“I know.”
It was all over in a matter of moments, Danny’s body tensing with effort as he pushed then Heidi was setting the baby on his chest.
“Congratulations,” she said, as they both stared down at the startled little one.
“It’s a boy,” Danny said, his voice hushed.
“He’s beautiful,” Chris murmured, reaching out a hand to stroke one finger across a tiny hand. The baby started to cry, a soft wail that had Danny hushing him. “Don’t cry, baby. We’re right here. It’s not so bad.”
Heidi handed Chris a towel, and he laid it across the baby, keeping him, and Danny, warm. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to Danny’s cheek. “Well done, I’m so proud of you.”
“I can’t believe he’s really here. After everything.”
Danny was staring at the tiny bundle curled against him, awestruck.
“I was thinking Michael, for a name,” Chris suggested. He’d wanted to bring it up before, but had hesitated, knowing the pain Danny felt about his family. Danny looked up at him, tears shining in his eyes. “I’d like that, I’d really like that.”
He looked back down at the baby. “Hi, Michael. Welcome home.”
He kept pace with Danny as they traipsed through the manicured lawns of the nursing home. Danny was carrying Michael in a sling across his chest. He was fast asleep, which seemed to be his favorite activity. Will assured him that would change and had only to point to Rhea to make his case. The toddler was insatiably active almost all hours of the day.
“Do you think people will talk?” Danny asked him in a near whisper. A few people glanced their way, taking in the sight of two men and a baby crossing to the home.
“Let them talk. They’ll be jealous that Marcia’s having visitors and getting baby cuddles.”
Since Michael had been born, there’d been a steady stream of visitors and all had wanted to hold him, rock him, kiss him. It was trying for his Alpha boundaries and he had more than once found himself stepping between an overenthusiastic guest and their newborn. Danny had had his back every time, trusting his instincts instead of finding them difficult or overbearing.
“Just remember, old people really like babies. They’ll want to kiss his head, there might be lipstick smudges. Don’t panic, okay?”
“I never panic,” he replied hotly. “You packed the baby wipes, didn’t you?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’ll keep them handy and it’ll be fine.”
Danny slowed to a stop and turned to him. “Will it?”
Chris knew he wasn’t asking about the kisses and waited for Danny to tell him what was on his mind.
“I know we visited Marcia already, I know she saw me when I was pregnant, more than once. And I know she seemed okay with it all…”
“But you’re worried she won’t be, now that Michael is here.”
“She’s the only family I have left.”
“And you’re her family, she’s been saying that all along. Even when the rest of the world believed you were a murderer, she had faith in you. You need to have a little faith in her now, Danny.”
“You’re right,” he said, nodding his head. “I guess I’m just a little anxious.”
Chris wrapped an arm around his shoulder, pressing a kiss to his temple. “I get it. I’d be anxious too if the roles were reversed. It’s not an easy road, straddling two worlds, the human and the shifter. But you’re doing a really great job.”
Michael chose that moment to wake, sleepily opening his eyes.
“Hi there, are you almost ready to meet your great aunt?”
His answer was a yawn as his eyes closed and he drifted back to sleep.
“He’s so excited, he can barely keep his eyes open,” Danny joked softly.
“Danny!” a voice called, and they looked up to see Marcia at the door, waving at them.
He kept his arm around Danny as they walked, Danny needing no encouragement now that he’d seen Marcia.
When they reached her, she hugged Danny and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I was so excited, I’ve been up since dawn. Chris, lovely to see you again.” He got a hug and kiss too.
“And this must be little Michael. Oh, isn’t he precious.”
Danny handed him over without hesitation, helping her slip an arm under his head to support it.
“Oh, my.” Michael chose that moment to wake, peering up at her.
“He has your mother’s eyes, Danny. And Cindy’s brow.” She stroked a finger across his nose before looking up at Chris. “And plenty of his father in there, too.” There was a twinkle in her eye as she said it.
“Come inside, they’ve laid out tea for us in the family room.” She handed Michael back to Danny, and they followed her inside. Chris watched Danny’s face, seeing him struggle to smile even as tears gathered in his eyes.
He rubbed a hand across his mate’s back, then reached out and took Michael. As they stepped into the family room, Marcia turned, catching sight of Danny’s face.
“Oh, Danny.”
She opened her arms, and he pressed close, mumbling apologies as he cried.
“I’m sorry, I just miss them so much.”
“I miss them too,” she said. “But we’re here, you and I. Still going strong, still carrying the family line. And you’ve started your own family now. You can keep the memories going, make sure they’re not forgotten, honor them by living a good life.”
That night they sat up in bed, Chris rocking Michael to sleep in his arms.
“He’s so small,” Danny said.
“He’s baby-sized,” Chris replied. “I know we’re shifters and we’re special but we’re not that good that they spring out fully formed like Athena.”
Danny scrunched his nose. “Labor would be a lot less fun if they did. And it already wasn’t much fun.”
“Enough that you wouldn’t want to go again some day?”
“Would that bother you?”
“No. Remember what I said before, when you weren’t even sure you could have kids? I want you for you. This little guy is a bonus. The best bonus in the history of bonuses.”
“And he’s an Alpha.” A fact that made Chris inordinately pleased though he couldn’t have said exactly why. And with Evan an Alpha and only a few months older, he had a ready-made friend for life.
“Yeah, because you’re a born wolf. It means you could have a whole medley of Alphas, Betas, and Omega. If you wanted, that is.”
Danny reached a hand over to stroke Michael’s cheek.
“I just want to be happy but I’m not sure I know what that means. Maybe it means you, me, and Michael. Maybe it means half a dozen more.”
“How about now? Are you happy right now?” With the end of the pregnancy and Michael’s birth had come another outpouring of grief, thanks to the hormones, the sleep deprivation, and the realization of what he was missing.
“I am. I love you, and I love him, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world right now.”
“I love you too,” Chris said softly. “And I love our family, just the way it is.”
Danny pushed closer, laying his head on Chris’ shoulder as they watched Michael fall asleep.
The End