They made an impressive group; Liam, Trent and Beau along with Lucien, Noah, Roy and Calvin, all dressed in suits, standing on the docks at the edge of the Lamont Pride territory taking in the huge block of empty warehouses. Liam had a raft of papers stuffed in his jacket pocket, all proving that the warehouses he was looking at belonged, under law, to him and Lucien. Beau and Noah had the plans signed off by the local authority for the initial new development. All that was needed now was for his father to turn up.
Simon and Mal had already explained meeting the pride alpha wasn’t necessary. The warehouses weren’t in his territory and he didn’t have a legal claim on them, so Liam and the others could technically do what they liked. But, after long talks with his mates, Lucien and Noah, they all decided a confrontation was fifteen years overdue. It’s time to put the past to rest.
“You doing okay, Li?” Lucien brushed his hand which Liam didn’t realize was fisted by his sides.
“Yeah,” Liam said, keeping his voice low. “Just hard not to remember myself as a fifteen-year-old kid, you know? It feels weird being back.”
“We’re nothing like we were back then,” Lucien muttered fiercely. “You’re far stronger than I remember father being. I’m more worried you’ll do something stupid like take over the pride.”
Liam snorted. “That’s not happening, but I’m not leaving here until we get restitution for Hal.” Hal wanted to come with them; in fact, he was furious when Lucien and Liam both refused to let him. But Ra backed them up and as Hal’s new alpha, Hal had to back down. Liam had been afraid his father would view Hal’s lack of tongue as a weakness and felt it was too soon for Hal to deal with that. He still wasn’t able to eat properly and grew frustrated with having to communicate through writing. No, Liam thought as he ran his hand over the expensive suit Beau had delivered for him, Hal deserves better than to have to cope with the shit my father dishes out.
“He’s here,” Beau said as though they couldn’t all see the two black SUVs pull onto the docks. Liam had the urge to giggle; it was like a scene out of a movie. That idea was reinforced when Beau, Trent, and Noah all stepped in front of Liam and Lucien, with Roy and Calvin flanking the brothers. All we need now is the music score. Liam bit the inside of his lip.
The man getting out of the car, flanked by his two enforcers was nothing like the one in Liam’s nightmares. For one thing he was a lot shorter, almost squat, and the years hadn’t been kind to him. Liam was thankful none of the enforcers from either car were kin, but then his father was about to rip them off. Most family members didn’t take kindly to that sort of thing.
“Mr. Ferris, Beau,” his father came forward with an outstretched hand. “I’m so pleased you decided to conduct our little business matter privately as I requested. Did you bring the money? I have the signed papers right here.”
“If you could pass them to my brother, he’s going to check them over for me.” Beau ignored the offer of a handshake and simply nodded at his brother. An enforcer came over, carrying a briefcase, holding it open so his father could take out the papers.
“I’m sure you’ll find everything in order.” His father had a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and now he was closer Liam could see although his suit was clearly expensive, it was fraying around the collar. “It will be wonderful to see this place refurbished again,” the older lion looked around. “It should bring a lot of jobs into the area. I hope you’ll consider using local contractors, Beau. There are many in my pride that would appreciate the work.”
“It won’t be my sole decision,” Beau said. Liam loved how cool his mate appeared after his breakdown two days before. “There is one other matter we wish to discuss before we conclude this business. Restitution from your pride for Hal Lamont.”
“Hal?” The old alpha’s mouth dropped open. “What’s he got to do with this? He’s my son, I’ll admit that much. But I’m hardly going to pay restitution for a family member no matter what they might have done to you. Hal’s an adult and fully responsible for his own mistakes.”
“Do you deny Hal was working as your enforcer when he was taken and permanently disabled by another ex-pride member of yours?” Noah looked up from the papers he was reading. Liam noticed how alike the two brothers were. If he didn’t know better, he’d have thought Noah was bored. Trent on the other hand, looked like a sexy thug in a suit. He was bristling with tension and so were his brothers.
“Gentlemen, I don’t know what stories you’ve been listening to, but I assure you, they’re all lies.” Here it comes, Liam thought watching the dawning realization cross his father’s face. “I thought you were here to pay the deposit on these fine buildings.”
“We have everything you need right here.” Beau pointed to the briefcase Trent was holding. “But about Hal Lamont, I’m afraid his situation is not something I can ignore. I was the one who found Hal chained and beaten with his tongue forcibly removed. My mate killed the perpetrator under shifter law, however as Theo Western was also brought up in your pride, the council assures me all restitution claims should be brought to you.”
“Theo was banished quite some time ago,” Alpha Lamont stuck his nose in the air. “His name is not allowed to be mentioned in our pride anymore. As for Hal, he’s my son. He’s welcome home anytime. I’m sure he’d tell you, if he could, how much I value my family. He’ll get all the care he needs.”
Or be killed for being disabled and gay to boot. Liam’s lion rumbled out a warning. He was not happy.
“Is that true,” Beau turned to him with a genuine smile. “Does this man value his family as he claims?”
Squeezing Lucien’s hand for good luck, Liam and his brother stepped forward. “I hardly think that’s the case at all, considering he doesn’t recognize us.”
Alpha Lamont peered at them, not a shred of recognition in his eyes. “I can tell these men are lions, but they’re not from my pride. They have no right to speak about me or the way I handle my family. Honestly, Beau, I told you. You are getting mixed up in a mess that has no basis in fact and nothing to do with you.”
“That’s Mr. Ferris to you,” Liam said with a snarl.
“You do surprise me, Alpha Lamont. I felt sure you’d recognize your own sons, Liam and Lucien Lamont. After all, it’s their property you’re trying to sell on their behalf,” Beau said smoothly.
“It’s not possible,” Lamont gasped. “You…you….” He stared at Liam, up and down and then Lucien too.
“We grew up, father. Unexpected, but true,” Lucien said sharply. “I don’t suppose you would remember us though, would you? It’s only been fifteen years since you beat us both and banished us from the pride with nothing but the rags on our back.”
“Boys!” The grimace masquerading as a smile on the alpha’s face was almost comical. “I can’t believe you survived and look at how healthy you’ve both become.”
“Big, don’t you mean, father; how big we’ve become?” Liam growled stepping forward. “Don’t you mean we’ve finally grown into the men you never thought we’d be? Strong alphas capable of challenging you?”
“I can’t think why you’d want to challenge me,” Lamont gulped. “The banishment was a rite of passage, surely you knew that. When you didn’t come home I feared the worst and thought you were dead but look at you now. It’s a miracle.”
“Banished shifters are no longer allowed on their home territories, Alpha. I’m sure you’re aware of that. How did you expect these men to come home?” Trent asked.
“All sons return home,” Lamont snarled at Liam’s mate. “It’s where they belong and what I did or how I treat them is no concern of yours, wolf. Actually, Beau, I’m not sure why you’ve been dragged into this mess either. Clearly, it’s a huge shock to me, seeing my sons alive after so many years when I believed them dead, but this is a business meeting and should be conducted as such.”
“Your lies are starting to clog up my nose. We all know you tried to sue your sons not six months ago, so you knew they were alive. And now these two sons are registered as title owners on the property you’re attempting to sell. The one’s you thought were dead but tried to sue anyway? Shouldn’t my brother and I be negotiating with them?” Noah held up the papers Lamont had given him.
“Yes…. No…. The buildings are mine. I just used my dead son’s names for tax purposes.” Liam tensed as he felt the anger surge from his father.
“When you knew they weren’t dead. So, you admit to defrauding the tax department?” Beau asked calmly.
“For fuck’s sake, you’re a business man, you know how these things go.” Liam saw the moment Lamont went on the attack; Trent, still holding the brief case, was his target.
“Don’t you dare touch my mate.” Liam shifted in an instant, his expensive suit reduced to tatters as he roared and pounced on his father. Immediately, there was a free for all. Lucien, shifted, was taking on the enforcers, while Trent had dropped the briefcase and took on his wolf form. Noah and Beau dropped any pretense at being businessmen and drove the enforcers back with fireballs and well-placed fists.
Only Roy and Calvin stayed dressed and uninvolved. Liam’s father was punching him around the head, snarling and trying to shift, but with Liam’s weight on him, it was impossible. Growling low, Liam opened wide and placed his fangs around his father’s throat. It would be so easy to close my mouth right now. He could taste his father’s fear and all at once was transported back to when he was a kid. His father and his enforcers beating him and Lucien within an inch of their lives, never showing an ounce of mercy. He never thought he’d get the stink of his own fear out of his nostrils.
“Liam, don’t.” Beau was there, his hand warm on his shoulder. Liam could smell hints of his mate’s blood on the knuckles and his growl got meaner. “Babe, you can’t do it.”
“Babe?” Lamont squeaked. “My son means something to you?”
Out of the corner of his eye, Liam saw Beau loosen his tie and undo three of his shirt buttons. “Liam is my fated mate,” Beau pointed to the scar. “Trent, the wolf you insulted, is also our mate. Incidentally, the child I am carrying is your son’s, so you see he can provide cubs after all. But you won’t be seeing them. Trent’s brothers, Roy and Calvin, are troubleshooters for the shifter council. Alpha Lamont, you are under arrest for failure to provide restitution, tax evasion, fraud, embezzlement, and most importantly of all, trying to interfere in a mating which you did when you attacked Trent without provocation.”
Beau stepped back, and Liam realized his mate trusted him to do the right thing. The case was airtight, Beau and Noah had seen to that and Trent being attacked with no warning was the icing on the cake. Alpha Lamont would never be free again, and there was a good chance he’d die for his actions.
Watching closely, Liam saw it; the moment his father knew he’d lost. His body slumped under Liam’s and Lamont turned his head away, refusing to even look at him. Grief saturated Liam’s soul as the last tiny hope his inner child had of being acknowledged by his father snapped and burned.
Treading down heavily on his father’s chest, Liam turned away and walked over to where Beau was kneeling, his arms wide open. Seconds later, he smelled Trent and then felt the wolf’s wet nose buried in his ear and a long tongue slobbered across his muzzle. He stayed like that, wrapped in the embrace of his mates until Roy and Calvin had his father and the enforcers apprehended and bundled into the transport hidden behind the warehouse.
He didn’t move until he heard Lucien come over, tucked under Noah’s arm. There were tear tracks down his face and his eyes were red rimmed. “Are you going to be okay, Li?” Shifting, Liam held out his arms to his brother and the two men sobbed as they clung to each other. Sometimes, even a grown man’s inner child needed the chance to express himself in a safe place.