Chapter Fifteen
Derick
Silas and Booker had always been thicker than thieves. If one was in trouble, the other was right there for them. Booker’s fidgeting in his seat indicated that they needed to switch the topic of conversation because he was clearly done talking about it.
Derick set aside his thoughts on what reasons Silas might have had for laying hands on Booker. He would need to find a way to figure out what was going on with Silas, who was no more likely to discuss what was bothering him. Their oldest son was much like Derick and kept his own counsel. Only sometimes that was not the best thing, as Derick had learned as he’d gotten older. Thankfully, Lane had pointed out the error of his ways.
“So what else is bothering you?” Lane asked softly, leaning on the counter, the mug of shared hot chocolate cupped between his hands. They both knew it had to be the discovery at the factory, but they wanted to encourage Booker to talk about what was on his mind. It was how Booker worked.
An ache developed in his chest as he watched Booker wrap both hands around the mug in front of him, looking forlorn. “Do you think the fuckers will get out of jail?”
Derick acknowledged the fatherly love he had for Booker, his adopted son. The bear had come into his family because he’d attacked the bullies who’d set out to murder Silas. Then, he’d had to defend Lane against his own family and lost them all because of his ethical code. One Derick applauded. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to protect this boy—man, who was as much his son as his own blood. The man had a big heart, which many never noticed due to his size and overall grumpiness.
He reached out and placed his hand over Booker’s, whose gaze lifted. The sorrow Booker wasn’t able to hide gave Derick a kick to his gut with the knowledge he couldn’t always ease his son’s suffering the way he wanted to. It was too late to berate himself for not following his instinct to go with Booker and Taylin.
Retirement… yep, it could suck too.
“They won’t get away with what they’ve done,” Derick stated forcefully. “I’ll use every resource at my disposal to ensure that they pay for their crimes. Buying the company has shone a light on everything they’ve done. They can’t escape what’s coming despite the divergent haters who might support them.”
The thought that Jupiter might have been the one who’d found such a situation was a constant source of dread for Derick. In all this mess, it was the one positive. Had Jupiter been present, he may have revealed more about his past, to those who were previously clueless, than he would have wanted to.
Derick was thankful Taylin had Hollis to comfort him, which lightened his heart. But Booker wasn’t ready to admit he had feelings for the cute fox that Lane had pointed out was perfect for their grumpy boy. So for now, Derick and Lane would do what they’d always done for Booker.
Derick squeezed Booker’s hands as Lane slipped around behind them, his arms going around Booker’s middle and pressing his cheek to his broad back. They both offered comfort to their boy. Unfortunately, Lane was so small his hands only just met, making Booker shift slightly so Lane could get a better purchase.
Derick kept his smile to himself at his husband's frustration at being so little.
Booker sighed, his head dropping between his shoulders moments later. “How does anyone get over what those fuckers did to them—to the omegas?” His dark head lifted. His eyes glistened with tears that Booker would see as a weakness as they met Derick’s stare. “How?”
“I don’t know.” Derick hated to admit it. “But know this, we’ll do everything in our power to give those omegas back the right to choose. Give them their freedom and support in whatever way that is needed.”
“I know we will … I just needed to hear it.” Booker released a shuddery breath before moving, so Derick let go .
Booker gently stroked the back of Lane’s hands. “Thanks, Popi. Your hugs are the best.”
“Hey,” Derick complained good-naturedly.
The grin, this time, held genuine amusement as Booker slowly got up, allowing Lane time to let go.
Each of his sons had a sensitive side, one that Lane nurtured, not that any of them would openly admit it to the other.
“You have nothing to thank us for. You were the one who set those omegas free by wanting to visit this new place, Booker. Don’t you forget that.”
Lane spoke the truth. The omegas they’d discovered chained up and held hostage, forced to work for a pittance that was then taken off them for their ‘accommodation and food’ were now in a hotel receiving care. They were safe and Derick planned to make sure it stayed that way.
What their sons had discovered was the reason Lane, for the last couple of nights, had slipped out of bed to head to the kitchen and wait for Booker. He always found sleeping hard when feeling troubled and those were the times the nightmares would start again. Derick suspected it was a nightmare that had driven Booker from his bed tonight. The haunted look his son wore earlier suggested the nightmare was a bad one.
Booker’s cheeks flushed a dark pink. “Popi,”—Booker cracked a giant yawn—“Dad, I think I’m gonna head to bed, I might catch a couple more hours as I’ve got a full day ahead of me tomorrow. ”
Derick stared after Booker as he left the kitchen, his dark eyes narrowing. “You were right, as always, my love.”
Lane’s chuckle was very telling, and Derick switched his attention to his husband. “I don’t know why you doubt me.” Lane smirked, wiping the counter after clearing up the dirty mugs, his expression growing serious. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see how much Booker is suffering right now. He’s so big that many don’t notice the soft heart that beats inside his chest. I knew he’d suffer after what they found down in Drinkwater.”
Lane’s knuckles turned white as he waved the cloth he held between them. “Chained… those animals… they should be chained for what they did to those poor divergent omegas. What if Jupiter had been there?” Lane shuddered violently, his thoughts matching Derick’s earlier ones.
The catch in Lane’s throat and shimmering eyes brought Derick from his seat. He took the cloth from his husband, dropping it onto the counter and taking him in his arms.
“You promise me you’ll make them all pay? That they’ll suffer for what they did to them?” Lane asked quietly.
The scent of chocolate and the faint scent of sex they’d had earlier lingered, and Derick nuzzled Lane’s hair. “They will, my love. I swear to you, they will.” Retirement plans didn’t matter, Derick would make it his business to take every last fucker down. Every person involved, no one would escape. He’d make damn sure of it.
No one hurt his family and got away with it.