Tarek Bloom’s day wasn’t getting any easier. He’d been at the courthouse for the Hamilton arraignment in an official capacity, and even after descending on the Danvers house with his family, he’d been working. Fielding calls from various people over the judge’s order to discover the source of the recording of Brogan’s parents and Senior Hamilton. That recording was their smoking gun, so to speak, so they needed its source.

He’d put it out of mind for about an hour when Jaysan went into labor, but once both omegin and child were safe and sound, Tarek kissed Braun goodbye and went back to work, along with Karter Jenks. This case was important to them both.

Tarek had requested search warrants for Senior Hamilton’s home and office, as well as for the home where Brogan’s family had once lived. While they’d searched the Hamilton residence right after his arrest, the new warrants were specific to audio and visual recording devices that may or may not be immediately visible, giving them permission to rip open walls if necessary. Someone, somewhere had recorded that damning conversation.

He got a call on the way back to division that the warrants had been granted, so Tarek swung by to pick them up. Divide and conquer saved time, so Tarek sent Karter and a team to the Hamilton home, while Tarek took a team to the man’s office at Hamilton Media. Just another fancy building among other fancy buildings, with a shiny façade hiding possible criminal actions.

The likelihood of that conversation having happened at either location were slim, but someone with a lot of wealth—and probably some level of paranoia—was more likely to record conversations than a pair of beta parents. Even parents Brogan had openly admitted were overprotective of him.

Their search of the office came up empty. Tarek called the property manager of the old Dale home, and he agreed to meet Tarek at the house, which was currently empty of residents. The house was neat, clean, and partially furnished. The manager joked about looking for good tenants and a discounted rate to any seeking constables. Tarek ignored the man, intent on his job. But a thorough search of the house didn’t turn up any hidden devices.

“Who managed the contents of the house when Rye Dale passed away?” Tarek asked. “Their son obviously couldn’t inherit.”

The manager stroked his chin as he thought. “I don’t get many situations like this, and it was a few years ago. Believe I called a cousin of mine to clear the place out. He’s a junker. Recycles what he can, then sells the rest to pawn shops and such.”

“Can you please put me contact with your cousin? I’d like to ask him about the contents of the house.”

“Yeah, sure. Don’t guess you know anyone looking for a nice place to rent?”

“Not at the moment, no.”

Tarek called the cousin, who promised to check his receipts and call Tarek back within an hour. He then checked in with Karter, who didn’t have any new leads or developments on his end. With time to kill, Tarek checked in with Braun.

“Hey, firecracker.”

“Are you still working? It’s nearly dinnertime,” Braun replied.

“Yeah. I know we’ve got two months, but I want to get the source of that recording sooner, rather than later.”

“Any luck?”

“Running down leads. Keep your fingers crossed.”

“Fingers, toes and eyes.”

Tarek grinned at the steering wheel of his car. “How’s Kell?”

“Better. Ronin helped me get him and the kids home, and I think being at the house is helping. He also called and spoke to Jaysan on the phone.”

“Good.” Tarek hated when his mate worried about his brother’s health and mental state—which was, honestly, a near-constant thing ever since Kell and Ronin announced they were going to intentionally try for a new baby. And Braun probably wouldn’t stop worrying until Kell gave birth, and both newborn and omegin were safely home again.

He honestly could not imagine what would happen if one of those brothers lost the other.

“Should I save you a plate of dinner?”

“Yeah, I’m not sure when I’ll be home. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, you’re doing your job. I love you.”

“Love you, back.”

Tarek’s stomach grumbled, and he was contemplating a hot dog from the gas station down the street when the cousin called back with the name of a pawn shop to which he’d sold all the electronics from the Dales. Two TV’s, a VCR, a camera, a camcorder, and a personal audio recording device. The chances of the pawn shop still having those items in stock was slim to none, but Tarek drove over anyway.

It was tucked away in the Narrows, on a street full of second-hand shops and cheap eateries. The air had the familiar odor of oil and grease he’d always associated with this poor, heavily-beta part of town. The sign said the pawn shop closed in fifteen minutes, so Tarek slipped inside.

Merchandise was packed onto rows and rows of shelves. So much stuff Tarek wasn’t sure how anyone found what they were looking for, even though it was sort of sorted by department. A long glass case took up the right wall, and a young, pregnant man was sitting on a stool near the cash register.

“Good evening,” the omega said in a cheerful tone. “Can I help you with something, Constable?”

“Yes,” Tarek replied. “Is the shop owner in?”

“My mate Mervin is here, yes. He ran upstairs to use the bathroom a little bit ago, so he should be down shortly.”

“How long has your mate owned the shop?”

“Well, his parents owned it up until about…two years ago? A little less. They gave it to Mervin when we mated. Said it was time for him to take over.” An bit of tension crept over the omega. “Is he in trouble?”

“No, I’m simply following up on a lead for a case I’m working. And I’m being rude. Constable Tarek Bloom.”

“I’m Casey Tetch. I’ve seen you on the news, Constable, you’re kind of famous in Sansbury.”

“Didn’t become a constable to become famous. I’m just doing my job.”

Heavy footsteps creaked somewhere in the back of the shop, suggesting someone descending stairs. The pair likely lived above the shop, and Tarek waited patiently for Mervin Tetch to appear from behind a black curtain in the rear.

“Babe, there’s a constable to see you,” Casey said.

Mervin was a tall, muscled alpha who gave off an “I’m already bored by you” vibe, but he politely shook Tarek’s hand as they introduced themselves. “What can I help you with, Constable?”

“Roughly three years ago, did you purchase electronic devices from an estate on Gatlin Street to resell here at your shop?” Tarek named the seller.

“Very likely, yeah. Let me dig up that year’s receipt book.” Mervin disappeared into the back of the shop.

Casey fiddled with his cuticles, seemingly nervous now, so Tarek didn’t engage the man in small talk while he waited. Mervin returned with a spiral book full of receipt copies and flipped through it. Tarek gave him a more specific date. Mervin found a receipt that matched Tarek’s list of items.

“Have you sold any of those pieces?” Tarek asked.

“From that long ago? Probably, but stuff gets buried real easy in here and in our stock room, as you can see.”

“You don’t keep track of all purchases?”

“Kind of, yeah, but by law, the only stuff I gotta tag and catalogue is the stuff other folks pawn. If I buy it outright, it’s mine to resell whenever and however I want. What’s this about, anyway?”

“We anonymously received an audio recording possibly made in the Dale home that we’re trying to use in a court case, but the judge needs to know the source of the tape before he’ll accept it as evidence. I was hoping to find out who purchased any of the Dale property so I can track down that source.”

“Wish I could be more helpful,” Mervin said with a shrug. “I mean, you’re welcome to poke around, but I couldn’t say if it’s still here or not. Sorry.”

“Damn it,” Casey said, both hands spreading over his swollen belly.

Mervin dashed around the counter to his mate’s side. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain, love?”

“No, I just…I’m so sorry, I know you don’t like getting involved in other people’s business.”

“What do you mean?”

Casey looked at Tarek with guilt in his eyes. “I sent the recording, Constable.”

Tarek startled. “You did?”

“For fuck’s sake, Casey, really?” Mervin said on a groan.

“I’m sorry. Don’t be mad.” The plaintive way Casey said that made Tarek pay closer attention to Mervin. Any sign he might be the type of alpha who hit in anger.

Mervin didn’t look angry, exactly, but he wasn’t happy. “I’m not mad, just confused about why you’d get involved. How did you even know what it was?”

“I didn’t. I was going through old inventory, and I found a box with a bunch of electronics, so I started testing them to see if they worked and could be sold. The camcorder had a tape in it, so I watched it. At first, I wasn’t sure what it was until I heard the name Brogan Dale mentioned, and I knew him from the news. So I paid attention and watched the entire thing. It’s a bunch of conversations between Brogan’s parents and potential alpha suitors, or their sires.”

“All of them?” Tarek asked.

“I can’t say all, for sure, but there were a lot. Maybe eight or nine, but there was one that really scared me, because Senior Hamilton basically tried to buy Brogan.” Casey blinked back a film of tears. “When I was seventeen, he tried to buy a friend of mine, and a week later that friend disappeared.”

Tarek’s stomach burned with anger. “What case is that? I’m not familiar with it.”

“I don’t think it ever went anywhere, because the constable who had the case closed it out as a runaway.”

“Do you remember the constable’s name?”

“No, but the family’s name was Adamson. My friend was Reilly Adamson.”

Tarek made a note on his pad. “I will definitely look into that for you.” And he had a funny feeling he knew the name of the investigating constable, and that said constable was currently in prison serving a long sentence for human trafficking and kidnapping.

“You never mentioned Reilly before,” Mervin said. “I’m so sorry that happened to you.” He wrapped an arm around Casey’s waist, kissing his temple in comfort. “I wish you’d told me.”

“It’s hard to talk about,” Casey said.

“Do you still have this camcorder and tape?” Tarek asked. “I need to see it.”

“Yes.”

“Can you get it for me?”

“Of course. Wait here.”

“Where is it?” Mervin asked. “If it’s upstairs, I’ll go. You don’t need to take them more than twice a day right now.”

Tarek hid a smile over the alpha’s protective streak.

“It’s in the back of the linen closet,” Casey said. “Buried under the stack of sheets.”

Mervin kissed his mate’s cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

“Is he a good alpha?” Tarek asked quietly once Mervin disappeared again.

“He’s wonderful,” Casey replied with a grin. “We met completely by accident two years ago, and at the time, he was incredibly reckless. Loved to go out drinking with his alpha buddies, harass single betas, generally be an alphahole. But we felt the mating bond, and he turned around completely after we mated. He’s so excited to be a father.”

Something about Casey’s description of Mervin’s reckless behavior stuck in the back of Tarek’s mind, but he wasn’t sure why. Before he could figure it out, Mervin returned with the camcorder and a personal voice recorder.

“I used the voice one to make the recording of the video’s audio,” Casey said. “That’s what I sent to division.”

“I appreciate your instinct to try and help,” Tarek replied, “but coming forward with this evidence would have saved the constabulary a great deal of time and effort.”

“I’m sorry. No one from the Narrows likes to get involved in constabulary business, but I wanted to try and help. For Brogan and for Reilly.”

“You’re helping now, and I appreciate it. I will need you to come down to division soon and give an official statement about finding and viewing those recordings.”

“I understand.”

“Shit, this isn’t going to make us targets, is it?” Mervin asked.

“I’ll do everything I can to protect your identities,” Tarek replied, his own temper tweaking from Mervin’s waft of anger. “There’s a very small circle of people who are involved in the details of this investigation, and no one outside this shop has any reason to suspect you.”

“Okay.” The younger alpha didn’t look completely appeased, but at least he’d calmed down. “Will Casey have to testify at trial?”

“That will be up to the attorneys. Prosecutor Awless doesn’t like forcing omegas to take the stand, so it’s possible Casey’s statement will be enough, but the defense has the right to cross-examine his testimony.”

Casey groaned. “Ugh. Now I wish I’d just mailed the whole damned videotape in.”

“Can’t fix it now, love,” Mervin said. “We’ll be okay, I promise.” He covered Casey’s hands with his own. “All three of us.”

“It’s late and I’m sure you’re both ready to close up,” Tarek said. He gave Mervin a card. “Let me know when you’re ready to come to division and give that statement.”

“Will do.”

Casey put both devices into a bag. “You promise you’ll look into Reilly’s disappearance?”

“I promise,” Tarek said. “If Senior Hamilton has attempted to purchase other omegas in the past, I want to know about it.”

Once outside, Tarek called Karter and Higgs, and they agreed to meet him at the division viewing room. Their day technician was off, but they all knew their way around the equipment. Higgs brought a pizza for them to share while they settled in to watch the tape.

Several hours worth of tape.

Brogan himself never appeared on them, but both of his parents were filmed speaking with other men about mating their son. After the end of the fourth interview, Rye Dale huffed at his husband. “You’re being paranoid, you know that? Why do you insist on recording these meetings?”

“Because he’s our only son, and he’s only going to the very best alpha. And I don’t just mean money, I mean respect and love and patience.”

“Alpha’s aren’t exactly known for those things, Jonis.”

Karter snickered.

“Whatever,” Jonis Dale said, “you know alpha suitors like to intimidate beta parents, and if anyone tries that with us, I want evidence. Look what happened to poor Aleks Painter down the block.”

Tarek noted that name for future research. After a bit more bickering, the tape switched to another day, a new interview. He tamped down on the instinct to fast-forward to the Hamilton meeting, because any conversation could potentially contain useful information for their investigation.

Senior Hamilton’s appearance came about two hours into the viewing, and the conversation matched the voice recording perfectly, right down to the half-a-million credit offer to cut off all contact with Brogan. Once the Dales escorted Hamilton out, they cursed the man several times over for thinking they’d sell their only child. Tarek admired the obvious love they’d had for Brogan, and he mourned the deaths of two kind men he’d never had the honor to meet.

After another hour or so, they reached the end.

“They sure were picky parents,” Karter added.

“You’ll be just as picky about who Karson mates with one day, believe me,” Higgs replied. “You’ll always want the very best for your kids.”

Tarek thought of little Rei, and he suddenly missed his mate and son terribly. He hated when cases kept them apart for long hours at a time, and it was nearly ten at night.

“Look at the time stamp,” Higgs said. “This last meeting was two days before Jonis’s brakes failed. Two weeks after Hamilton’s offer.”

“The defense will argue that as a coincidence,” Tarek replied. “The recordings obviously stopped because Brogan and Rye were grieving a loss.”

“True enough. I’ll make sure copies of this are sent to both law offices in the morning. You men go home, I’ll write up the request.”

“Thank you, sir,” Karter replied.

Tarek and Karter left the viewing room. Tarek stopped by his desk briefly to send his own request downstairs to the main records room for files on both Aleks Painter and Reilly Adamson. Hopefully, they’d be on his desk by morning, depending on the night clerk. The new one tended to fall asleep in his chair and leave work for the day clerk.

Something kept niggling at his thoughts, though. Not only the odd familiarity of Mervin Tetch, but the camcorder. There was no specific provincial law that said recording someone without their permission was illegal, but lawyers often argued it was an invasion of expected privacy. And Tarek didn’t want to risk their newest evidence getting thrown out.

On a whim, he drove back to the old Dale residence. He couldn’t get inside, and he wasn’t sure he needed to. He recalled the layout from his search and from the video, so the interviews all happened in the front room. They probably hid the camcorder behind something on a side table. None of that helped his case, though.

He studied the front door, unsure what he was looking for until a small, reflective decal caught on his flashlight beam. It was old and faded enough that it could have easily been put there while the Dales lived in the home. Tarek would come back in the morning with a patrolman witness so they could take an official photograph.

The sticker said that the home was being monitored by video surveillance.

Perfect.

The tape itself wasn’t proof Hamilton was responsible for the accidents that caused Jonis and Rye Dale’s deaths, but it was a good damned start. Hopefully, tomorrow would bring more leads and topple Senior Hamilton piece by piece.

Confident in their video evidence now, Tarek finally went home. Braun had fallen asleep on the couch with a book open on his chest. Tarek quickly checked on Rei, simply to kiss his son and know he was well. After changing out of his uniform, he scooped Braun off the couch and carried his mate to bed. They made love in the morning, just before dawn, once they were both fully awake. Tarek took his time moving inside his mate, loving him with each thrust and stroke, until Braun came all over his own chest and stomach.

Tarek released inside his mate and held Braun for a long time after.

“You found something,” Braun whispered in the brightening room.

“Yes. I wish I could say more, but it’s getting complicated.”

“I understand.” Braun ran his fingers through Tarek’s messy hair. “Will this help Brogan?”

“I think so.” Tarek inhaled the familiar, addictive scent of his mate. “Are you going to visit Jaysan today?”

“Yeah, Morris is bringing him home around lunchtime. Kell and I are going over.” Braun’s gaze shuttered.

“Hey, talk to me. I know you’re worried about Kell, and Jaysan’s complication didn’t help.”

“No, it didn’t.” Braun pressed his face into Tarek’s neck and clung to him, shaking slightly. “I just can’t stop being scared Kell’s going to die this time. It’s irrational, I know, because Ronin treats him like a king, and Kell’s doing everything right.”

“Fear is never rational, firecracker. Your brother is part of you, and you love him so much. Worry for him, but also celebrate for him. He and Ronin are bringing a new life into the world. Branson will have a brother, Rei gets a cousin. And Sansbury Province gets an amazing new person who will champion omega rights just like his family does.”

Braun looked up, his eyes a darker shade of green in the shadows of the room. “Do you ever think about us having another baby?”

Tarek blinked hard, thrown by the question. He sat up and pulled Braun onto his lap, so he could hold Braun tight and still look him in the face. “Sometimes. As scared as I was about your first pregnancy, and as difficult as the birth was, looking back I mostly remember the pride and excitement. I remember how beautiful you looked carrying our child. I’d love a big family with you, but I will die a happy, happy man if Rei is the only child we have. If we did try for another, it would be after a long conversation, just like Kell and Ronin had.”

“I know. I guess this is just me feeling melancholy after all of yesterday’s excitement.”

“Then let’s table the new baby talk for a while. You’ve got a heat coming in the next week or so, and I think it’s too soon to make that decision.”

“You’re right. How are you so amazing?”

Tarek kissed his mouth with a gentle brush of lips. “Because I found you. You are the other half of me, Braun Etting Bloom, and I love you so much. New baby or no, our family is perfect, and I will always protect you and Rei.”

“I know. I love you, too, Tarek.”

Braun kissed him soundly, but before that kiss could deepen into a second round, Rei’s insistent cry came over the baby monitor.

“Someone’s up,” Tarek said with a chuff of laughter. “I’ll get him.”

“You really are the perfect mate.”

Pride squeezed his heart tight as Tarek went to check on their son. Loving Braun and Rei was the easiest thing the world, and he’d continue to do so with every breath in his body. His mate and his son deserved nothing less.