Waking up in his alpha’s bed was becoming Liam’s new favorite thing. Not only because he often woke to a warm body smothering him into the mattress, but because sharing the same room meant more equal share of nighttime feedings and diaper changes. Demir had taken Liam and Layne moving into Isa’s room in stride, and he often found reasons not to be home in the evening.

They took advantage of the privacy as often as possible, as Liam experienced a bit of a sexual awakening following their first night making love. Liam loved sex, and he wasn’t afraid to let his needs be known to his alpha, and Isa was always willing to lend his mouth, hands, and/or dick to the cause.

Ronin reported he was chasing down some things about Hank Mancini, but he didn’t have anything concrete yet, so Liam had no ammunition to turn down the court-mandated visit between Mancini and Layne at the end of the week. They had playrooms at the courts building for these sort of family meetings, and Liam glowered at the passing city as Isa drove them.

An odd thought occurred to him when they stalled at a stoplight. “May I learn to drive?” Liam asked. Omegas weren’t taught to drive at sixteen like alphas and betas, and they could only learn with the permission of their alpha mate.

“Of course, you may,” Isa replied without hesitation. “I’ll look into it as soon as we’re mated.”

“Thank you. Some parts of the city can be a little scary, but I’d like to know I can drive if there’s ever an emergency or need.”

“I understand. You deserve that little bit of freedom.”

Liam smiled, but it fled as soon as he remembered where they were going. He selfishly didn’t want to share his son with Mancini. He did not care that the man was Layne’s sire, and Liam didn’t care what he’d signed while high on narcotics. He had not consented to Mancini, period.

Isa parked, and Liam got the baby carrier from the backseat. As much as he wanted to carry Layne, the longer he delayed Mancini getting his hands on his sleeping son the better. His steps slowed the closer they got to their assigned room, every instinct in his body telling him not to go in there. The omegin in him said to flee, right now.

Legally, he’d get in a hell of a lot of trouble if he did, so he dutifully followed Isa into the room, his head held high, braced for the meeting.

Mancini and a beta man were waiting in a pair of chairs. Mancini’s entire face lit up when he saw them, expressing real emotion for the first time. The beta walked over and introduced himself. “I’m Sal Chase, the social worker assigned to your case.” Sal earned points by shaking Liam’s hand first, and then Isa’s.

“Liam Haley,” Liam said, “and this is Layne. My son.”

“His guardian, Senior Constable Isa Higgs,” Isa said. He was definitely posturing, telling Sal who was in charge here.

Sal didn’t seem impressed. “Constable Higgs, during this visit, you and I will merely be observers to the interaction. This is a chance for Mr. Mancini to interact with his minor child.”

“One wrong move toward that child, and he’ll be interacting with a broken jaw.”

Liam squeezed Isa’s wrist. “We’ll be fine.” He leaned in on his tiptoes to whisper, “If anyone’s breaking his bones, it’s me.”

“Good man.” Isa kissed him on the mouth.

Mancini growled.

“Gentlemen,” Sal said. “Let’s keep this peaceful, shall we?”

“Behave,” Liam said to his alpha. With a sour feeling in his gut, Liam walked toward Mancini, whose gaze was fixed on Layne. At least the infant was fast asleep, so he could use that as an excuse for Mancini not to hold him. He put the carrier on a small table. “This Layne.”

Mancini’s friendly expression went flat. “The sire is supposed to name the child.”

“Yeah, well, you weren’t around, were you?”

“No, I wasn’t, and that’s on me. I didn’t pay attention when the names of the rescued omegas came out. I thought you were dead. But that’s okay. We can address his name later, once this custody nonsense is behind us.”

Liam bristled. “His name is Layne. Period. I named him after a friend I lost, and that’s. His. Name.”

Mancini stared at him with a dead gaze, and Liam used all his ingrained stubbornness to stare right back; Mancini blinked first. “How old is he?” Mancini asked.

“About nine weeks.”

“He looks like you. Has your nose and skin tone.”

Liam grunted. Mancini seemed to expect him to give details, but Liam wasn’t telling this man anything he didn’t have to about Layne or their lives.

“I want to hold him,” Mancini said.

“He’s sleeping,” Liam replied. “He likes the car, but he’ll wake up eventually.” Crap, he’d given Mancini that sliver of extra information.

“Is he a good baby? I mean, fussy, or sleeps a lot?”

“He’s amazing. I wouldn’t trade him for anything, not even the choice of sire, or of not consenting to his creation.” Low blows that did their job.

Mancini’s expression went briefly angry, and then flat again. He couldn’t let his true temper show with a social worker in the room, because Sal was meant to report his observations to the judge who would eventually oversee their hearing. He had to be on his best behavior, but Liam could see through the act. Hank Mancini was a violent alpha, and Liam wanted nothing to do with him.

“How have you been since your rescue?” Mancini asked.

“Better than perfect, and it’s all thanks to Constable Higgs.” Liam sat in a chair on one side of Layne’s carrier, which prompted Mancini to sit, too. “He’s taken amazing care of the both of us, and he’ll continue to do so.”

Mancini’s lips curled. “That’s for a judge to decide. I have a legal claim to you.”

“So does Constable Higgs. And if you wanted me so badly, you’d have spoken to me at least once after my heat, but you didn’t, so don’t act like you care all of the sudden.” Liam wouldn’t normally be so rude and defensive in front of an alpha he didn’t know, but everything about Mancini rubbed him the wrong way. His expressions, his cold eyes, even the way he talked.

“You don’t know me, Liam,” Mancini said in a voice that hinted at danger and a man very close to losing his temper. “Do not assign emotions to me or assume what you think you know. You were my mate, and I thought you died. In the same year as my own omegin died. I mourned you both. And then when I saw your face in the papers, it felt like a blessing from the goddess that my mate and child were alive and well.”

Liam wasn’t buying the act, but he wasn’t sure if he should keep poking the beast, or pull back a little. As much as Liam did not want to be this man’s mate, Mancini was right in that Liam didn’t know him. “Tell me about your brother. What’s his name?”

Mancini’s eyes flickered with something like grief. “His name is Renny, and he’s two years younger than me.”

“What does he do?”

“He had an accident a few weeks ago, and he’s living in a long-term rehab center, so he doesn’t do much of anything right now.”

“I’m sorry.” And Liam was sorry, because Mancini was finally showing emotion talking about this. “Were you close?”

“Very close. It’s been hard seeing him so broken and weak, but I visit him. It keeps his spirits up. And finding out you were alive took some of the sting out of his accident.”

Liam did not want to focus on himself or Layne. “Was it a car accident?”

“No, he fell down a flight of stairs.”

“Goddess, that’s awful.”

Mancini’s eyes flickered again. “You and he are my only remaining family.”

The nurturing side of Liam’s heart wanted to feel sorry for this man and his pain, but all of his instincts telling him to back away slowly kept Liam from expressing any genuine sympathy.

“Lawry told me a bit of your history,” Mancini said. “I’m sorry you lost your family, too. Tragedy all around last year.”

“Thank you, and yes. It’s been a pretty shitty year in general.”

Layne came awake with a mighty cry, and Liam picked him up before Mancini could try. Patted his behind, but the diaper seemed okay. He’d eaten before they left, so maybe it was the strange environment. Liam gave him a pacifier and soothed him into quieting down.

“May I hold him now that he’s awake?” Mancini asked.

Not a fucking chance in hell.

“Have you ever held an infant before?” Liam asked.

“Not a baby that small, no.”

“Then will you please sit first? I’ll feel better about it.”

“Of course.” Mancini had stood at the same time as Liam, and he sank back into his chair. Liam hated getting this close to the man, hated that Mancini was putting his hands on his baby, but Liam had to do it. Mancini cradled Layne in his arms, supporting his head properly, so Liam couldn’t really criticize the man. He sat in his own chair and barely blinked.

“Hello, little man,” Mancini said. His voice had pitched lower, but he still showed little real emotion. He was holding his son in his arms, but Liam might as well have handed him a loaf of bread for all his enthusiasm. “I’m your father Hank. It’s lovely to finally meet you.”

His father is sitting across the room, you asshole.

Liam hazarded a glance at Isa, whose face was one of barely disguised rage, and Liam was glad the two alphas were far enough apart that Isa’s anger shouldn’t set off Mancini’s temper.

Layne’s face scrunched up, and he started to cry. Mancini tried to rock him, made shushing noises, but Layne’s misery only compounded.

Babies know.

“Fucking fine,” Mancini grumbled. “Here.”

Liam gladly rescued his son, who calmed quickly enough once he was in his omegin’s arms. The reaction, though, left Mancini glaring at them both. “He’s not fond of strangers,” Liam said.

“He should know me as his sire.”

“You weren’t there when he was born. He just met you.”

Mancini growled; Isa shot to his feet.

Liam held a staying hand up to Isa. The last thing they needed was a fight, and Liam hadn’t been threatened. Isa sat again, but his expression was thunderous.

“This omega has you by the balls,” Mancini said to Isa. “You like being ordered around by your inferior?”

“The only man in this room inferior to me is you,” Isa snapped back. “Do not growl at my omega.”

“Gentlemen,” Sal said. “Let’s not escalate this. The situation is difficult for all parties.”

“How long do we have to stay here?” Liam asked. More than the anger coming off Isa, Mancini radiated wave after wave of it, and it was playing havoc with Liam’s sense of safety. While Isa was being protective, Mancini was simply angry. Angry that Layne didn’t like him, angry that Liam was resisting him.

Angry at the world, and that terrified him.

“Go,” Mancini said. “I won’t force you to stay if you’d rather leave. I got to meet my son and that was the point.”

“Then I would like to leave, thank you,” Liam replied.

Mancini stepped toward him, and Liam had to force himself to stay still. To allow Mancini into his personal space. To let Mancini touch Layne’s cheek, lean in, and say, “I’ll see you again, son.” He inhaled, and Liam saw the mistake too late when Mancini’s eyes narrowed.

He’d scented that Layne was omega.

Liam took a full step backward. “Goodbye, Mr. Mancini.”

“Call me Hank. Mates don’t have to be so formal.”

“Uh huh.” Liam walked straight for Isa, grateful to be out of Mancini’s proximity. Except he felt the man coming up behind him, and he braced himself.

“The carrier,” Mancini said.

Oh. Phew.

“Thank you,” Isa replied. He took the carrier, then shouldered the diaper bag. So perfectly in tune with Liam, ready and willing to parent his boy.

“I realize this was somewhat awkward,” Sal said, “but Mr. Mancini is legally entitled to visits with his son until we can take your case in front of a judge.”

“Do we know when that will be?”

“Yes, I do.” Sal opened a folder. “Your hearing is scheduled for the twenty-fourth.”

“That’s three weeks away,” Mancini said.

“Family court is a bit snowed in right now, and seeing as the minor child is in a safe, loving environment, we can allow more time-sensitive cases to take judicial priority.”

Mancini’s ready-present scowl deepened. “Then I want another visit.”

“How about next week, same time and day?”

“That’s fine.”

“Okay,” Liam said. “We’ll be here.” He hated that they had to draw this out three more weeks, but it also gave Ronin more time to dig up any and all dirt that existed on Hank Mancini.

Isa was damned proud of himself for his restraint in not ripping Mancini’s spine out through his ass for growling at Liam. For growling anywhere near Liam and Layne, for that matter. Isa was generally open-minded about people, but something about Hank Mancini bothered Isa, and he hadn’t been able to put his finger on exactly what until that growl.

Mancini was cruel.

Isa had been a constable long enough to see the signs of a man who was quick to temper, used to getting his way, and didn’t like being spoken back to. Liam would be miserable in a relationship like that.

He won’t get Liam. I won’t allow it.

He hustled Liam out of the meeting room, then adjusted the things he was carrying so he could put his arm across Liam’s shoulders. Liam walked with his head held high, Layne cuddled close to his neck, until they were in the parking garage. Once Layne and his carrier were strapped into the backseat, Isa hugged his bondmate.

Liam shuddered in his arms. “I don’t like him. At all. He gives me the creeps.”

“Same. I wanted to break his hands for touching Layne.”

“I won’t live with him. Goddess, I can’t. I’d rather take Layne and run. Go somewhere else and hide.”

“It won’t come to that.” But if it did, Isa would go with him. He would find a way to keep Liam and Layne safe. And Braun Etting Bloom might know the way.

Last fall, after Lawry’s halfway house was raided and eleven omegas rescued, they’d been kept in the same isolation ward as Liam and his friends. But not long after, they’d all disappeared to parts unknown, and they had yet to resurface in Sansbury or any neighboring province. Isa suspected Braun knew something about it, because he had regularly visited those omegas and had a vested interest in their safety.

Unfortunately, they never found any solid evidence tying Braun to the disappearances. But if Braun knew of a safe place for omegas outside of Sansbury…

It was a possibility worth exploring if this custody hearing went in Mancini’s favor.

“A man like that?” Isa said. “He’s got skeletons in his closet. Ronin just needs to know which ones to rattle, so we win our case.”

Liam let out a soft growl. “Can you believe he thinks he can just change Layne’s name? Son of a fucker.”

“That’s the least of the reasons I hate him. And I don’t trust him.”

“Me either. Ugh, can we go home? I need a shower just from being that close to him.”

“Absolutely.”

Isa used the drive home to work through his anger, shifting it into its own box in his head, so he didn’t accidentally let Liam see it. Liam needed Isa to be calm and supportive, and to get back to what was normal. Get Mancini out of his head for a while—which he did, after Liam’s shower, with a long, leisurely blow job that left Liam a boneless mess.

Exactly how Isa wanted him.

He left Liam napping on their bed and took Layne with him into the kitchen to start dinner. When Demir got home, he immediately asked about the meeting.

“Mancini was lucky he got out of that room without blood loss,” Isa replied. “Seriously lucky.”

“That bad, huh?” Demir took over holding Layne and made faces at the baby. “You’re not going anywhere, little dude. Our dad won’t let you.”

Isa watched his son coo over Layne and smiled fondly at the ‘our dad’ comment. “You remind me of Herris when you hold him. He used to make those same noises at you and your brothers.”

“I’ll always miss him, but I’m glad you found someone else. Even if he is half your age.” Demir’s wink and teasing tone took any possible snark out of the words.

“Brat.”

“Where’s Liam, anyway?”

“Napping. Today was stressful for him. Watching a stranger hold his son. Talking about wanting to rename him.”

“What?” Demir gaped at him. “That alphahole really wants to rename Layne?”

“He won’t get the chance. Liam still has to attend these stupid, mandatory visits, but Mancini isn’t taking them away from us.” Isa put his arm around Demir’s shoulders, then kissed the top of Layne’s head. “They’re staying here. They’re family.”