Chapter Ten
Kari
Only once in his entire life, when Silas was beaten badly, had Kari wished violence on others.
The bruises on Bowie’s neck and black, swollen elbow where Rex had kicked him, brought back the need to do harm to someone.
He’d sweated over how hard it was to contain his wolf when they’d undressed Bowie to see the damage to his arm.
And later, when he’d hiccupped his way through the events that had him so scared, he’d peed himself.
His terror was so big that it had felt like Kari was suffocating in it, and as much as he’d wanted Bowie to stop, he needed to know.
The added torment was how Bowie had displayed so much shame and placed the blame on himself.
Like he’d asked to be abused because he was less than the fucktard who’d chosen to take his temper out on Bowie.
Kari knew where the blame should be directed.
Himself and Rex. He could argue that he didn't know exactly what level of douchebag Rex was. It didn’t matter, he was the catalyst for the guy losing his shit.
Exactly what was said between them, Bowie hadn’t gone into a great deal of detail.
The violence gutted Bowie, the remnants of the shock clear in the retelling.
The trigger was Rex having received the email from Kari.
Bowie had allowed him to take pictures of the bruises, but refused to let Kari contact the police.
He could see Bowie’s fear when he talked about Rex, so he’d agreed not to go to the police on Bowie’s behalf.
What Kari had been careful not to do was say he would do nothing.
That, he couldn’t agree to. Because Kari had promised his wolf they would make the asshole pay.
It was the only way he’d gotten through what had been a traumatic afternoon without shifting.
When it all became too much, Kari hadn’t pushed for more information. Instead, he’d tucked Bowie into bed and sat until he fell asleep. Then, watching over Bowie—for far longer than was healthy—he ruminated over his part in the attack.
When the hour got late, Kari had finally dragged himself out of Bowie’s home, making sure he’d scrubbed the stained carpet and ensured there was no sign of the previous night's meal. He’d left a meal covered on the counter with a note that Bowie was to eat it when he woke up.
He also left a separate note next to Bowie’s bed explaining that he was not in any trouble and Kari would see him in the office.
He’d done that when he’d considered Bowie would believe he’d done something wrong by not showing up to work in his distressed state.
Kari had sent a text message to Hollis to let him know Bowie was okay. It wasn’t the complete truth, but Bowie would need to choose what he shared with his friends.
The drive home was made in record time, his hands furrier with his animal straining to be set free and go on the hunt. He pulled into the drive and sat for a minute at the wheel, staring at the house where violence was never welcome.
I promise we’ll kick the motherfucker’s ass. But there are other ways to do that than hunting him down and biting his head off.
He deserves nothing else after laying hands on our omega, marking his beautiful skin with bruises!
Don’t you think I know that too! I bathed him and took care of his hurts. I swear we’ll make him pay.
You better or I will.
Kari had never been in this position, and really, he wanted to be sensible—he should be sensible—except it was fucking hard because he was in total accord with his wolf. Those big doe eyes, full of fear, haunted him.
Clenching and unclenching his hands, he breathed in and out slowly, working to stem the seething anger burning through him that he’d had to contain all afternoon, unwilling to scare Bowie.
Because Kari seldom got into this state, it was so much fucking harder to get his feelings under control now he’d unleashed them on the drive home. But if he went into the house in his present state, his brothers would know he had an issue and want to poke their noses in.
Except once he got out of the car and stomped into the house, all sensibility flew out the window.
“Dad! Dad, where are you?” He got as far as the dining room when Dad appeared, looking flushed and a little dishevelled.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded, tugging his shirt back into place.
“I need to talk about something… and I need your help.”
Dad’s wolf was there, flashing in his eyes, which said Kari’s was present too.
“My office.”
Popi appeared, flushed and smelling of sex, and Kari realized what he’d interrupted. “Why the shouting Kari?”
Internally, Kari groaned. “I’ve a problem I need Dad’s help with.”
Popi eyed him, eyes narrowing as he looked him up and down. His suit was damp and wrinkled from the shower he’d assisted Bowie with. His hair was probably a mess too. “Something bad has happened to Bowie!”
“What! Erm… how?” Shit, how did Popi know it was Bowie?
Popi came to him, worry shadowing his eyes. “Our group chat. Frey mentioned Bowie hadn’t come into work and not told anyone why. Hollis said you were going to check up on him. What happened to make you mad?”
He gave Dad a pleading look. He didn’t want Popi anywhere near this pile of shit, especially when Kari wanted to let rip. He couldn’t do that in front of Popi.
“My love, it’s best if I deal with whatever Kari has on his mind.”
The light of steel that came when Popi glanced at Dad had Kari take a step back to get out of the firing line.
“Is that right? And why would that be best?” There was nothing in the tone that suggested Popi had an issue.
Kari wasn’t fooled for one second, and he felt guilt at putting Dad in this position. “Popi, please. I need to talk to Dad alone. I swear, I’ll come and talk to you once I’ve… offloaded.”
There was a searching look holding concern, and love, aimed at him. Popi nodded slowly, coming to cup his cheeks. “I’ll be in the kitchen baking, so come and find me when you’re done.”
It was not a request, and Kari nodded. Popi kissed his cheek and then spun around. “You and I will talk later, my love!” Then he walked off in the kitchen's direction.
Wordlessly, Kari followed Dad into his office, the guilt at the underlying threat from Popi placed aside for now.
Shutting the door, Kari leaned against it and took a breath as he considered where to start. “Bowie…” He scrubbed both hands over his face in temper.
“You have feelings for him.”
It was a simple fact, and Kari didn’t argue when, in all this crapshoot, that wasn’t the actual issue.
“Yes. Today…” He couldn’t remain still, moving away from the door to pace around the room. “Bowie didn’t show up at work. Hollis rang me to see if he was with me. He wasn’t, and I was concerned enough to warrant a trip to his apartment and…”
His jaw ached with how hard his teeth ground together at the image he was positive would remain forever ingrained in his mind. Somehow, the ability to breathe deserted him.
Dad placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed, turning Kari to face him. “Take a breath, son. We’ll figure out whatever needs sorting together.”
It helped, that unwavering support he’d always gotten, and he gasped, resting his head on Dad’s shoulder, shuddering at the bear hug that followed.
“The bastard hit Bowie, Dad. Laid his grimy fucking hands on my boy.” The second he said it aloud, he knew it was the truth.
Bowie was his boy in his mind. Didn’t matter how much space he’d put between them; he’d gone into fully daddy mode the second he’d entered Bowie’s apartment.
His behavior, always wanting to please, combined with what Kari had seen in his closet, said Bowie at heart was a ‘Little’ or a ‘boy’ whether he understood it or not.
“Who?” No wasted words, straight to the point.
It was a relief, and why he was right here. “Rex Lacy. He’s got an ad agency in town. He was Bowie’s boyfriend.” For Kari, it was most definitely past tense, despite Bowie not saying that aloud.
Dad’s brows arched in surprise, but he didn’t interrupt.
“We needed an additional ad agency. He tendered for the contract after Bowie mentioned him and contacted the fucktard to come in and discuss what we needed.”
Kari left out his initial reaction because that could purely have been his bias, and he didn’t want to cloud the issue.
“Lacy lost out. I emailed him yesterday to let him know. It seems he was at Bowie’s at the time and basically lost his shit and took it out on Bowie, frightening him so much he peed himself, Dad. ”
That basically summed it up, what it didn’t convey was Bowie’s devastation at being attacked.
“There isn’t a word fucking strong enough for a piece of crap like him.” Dad hugged him hard enough that Kari felt tears prick the back of his eyes, the love leaving him clinging tighter.
“He was so vulnerable, Dad, and I set off this damn landmine, blowing it up under Bowie.”
Dad shook him just hard enough to make a point.
“You didn’t do this, Kari. Don’t shoulder the blame.
That shithead is a grown up and made a choice to use violence for his own lack.
Business is business. If he owns his own, then this is something we all learn very early on.
My take on this is that he was using Bowie’s connection to our company, hoping to gain contracts. ”
Kari had considered this, and listening to Dad, it confirmed his suspicions and suggested that Rex in his temper could have cast this information at Bowie. Was that what he was holding back from Kari?
“To hit someone as gentle as Bowie proves he’s the lowest form of creature.
” Dad let go and visibly took a breath before striding to his desk with purpose.
He took the seat behind the desk, reaching for the mouse and keyboard, wearing a stony expression.
Kari had seen it a time or two, and it never boded well for whoever it was aimed at.
A few clicks later, he nodded to Kari, who resumed his pacing, needing to let out some of the angry energy coursing through him, despite the offloading.
“I’ve found him. I’ve sent this information to my investigators, and they’ll find out everything this shithead has ever done.
I’ve marked it as urgent so we should have it back in a day or two.
” His wolf's eyes focused on the screen. “We never go after an adversary until we know all the facts. Then we’ll deal with him as you see fit.”
“My wolf wants to rip his head off, but first chew off his bastard hands so he can’t harm anyone again!”
Dad snorted and chuckled. “This I get, and why we’re having this conversation and not you and Popi.”
“He would be disappointed in me.”
“No… I don’t think he would. He might not agree that violence fixes anything, but he has a special place in his heart for Bowie.” Dad lounged back, templing his fingers under his bearded chin. “Did you know the apartment Bowie has is all because of your popi?”
Kari, mid pace, turned at the nugget of information.
“It is? I wondered how he could afford such an expensive place. It’s got great security.
” That at least, was something when Kari had gone through Bowie’s apartment and found no evidence that Rex had moved in or spent any real time there given the lack of personal items. There wasn’t even an additional toothbrush in the bathroom.
Kari surmised—hoped—that meant Rex hadn’t slept over and seen what was in Bowie’s closet after how upset he’d initially been when Kari found his hidden teddies.
Because why else would they be in the closet and not on his bed?
“Bowie had an apartment before this one, and Popi helped with the redevelopers who wanted to buy it. They attempted to bully Bowie into selling way below market value.”
Kari’s humor returned at anyone trying to hoodwink Popi. “I bet he wiped the floor with them.”
“He did and got Bowie such a great deal, he was able to buy the new place outright.”
A stupid grin spread over his face. “Popi must really have a soft spot for Bowie.”
“Did you doubt it? Your Popi sees the heart of a person, always has. That boy has the biggest heart.”
Kari agreed, Bowie was a generous soul.
And Popi was an excellent reader of people. He could spot a fake from a hundred yards. “No, I didn’t doubt it.” Kari finally stopped pacing, and he scrubbed once more at his face, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension in them. “I better go find Popi.”
“Let’s hope the baking has mellowed out his mood.”
He didn’t let out the chuckle until he was out of hearing range, when Dad came off sounding more than a little resigned to his fate. They all knew who the boss was in this house, and it wasn’t Dad.