Chapter 17

Damian sighed as he sunk into his bed for the first time in weeks. At first it was because Tay didn't want him alone. Then Damian didn't want to leave Tay. Now they were both here and maybe they could relax.

He rolled over and snuggled into his old pillows, inhaling the old smell that used to follow him. He still smelled of bergamot and vanilla, but it was now mixed with rosewood and musk. He didn't mind. It meant he'd belonged to Tay.

Tay was talking to David about what they'd learned from Jak the night before. He was still kind of perturbed that his then friend had told his father, but so much had changed since those weeks ago. They were longer just friends; they were friends, lovers, claimed, bonded and mates. They were Alpha and Omega.

Damian changed into a comfy pair of pants and went in search of his mother. Antonia had taken the day off to help her 'sons' move in. She tried to keep her excitement at bay, but she wasn't very good at it.

He found her in the kitchen making snacks. Despite her size, Antonia was very slim. She could eat whatever she wanted -and she did- and she never gained any weight. Damian had inherited that ability, and he enjoyed every bit of it.

"Damian," she greeted him. She pulled her pinky out of her mouth. "I made cheesecake and coffee."

He laughed. "Are we the 'Golden Girls'?"

She smiled at him. "We might as well be. Come on. Let's talk."

He followed her with the two cups of coffee. She motioned him to sit on the couch beside her, draping a blanket over him like she used to do when he was a child.

She picked up her plate and took a bite. "Just like my mom used to make."

"How is Grandma?" He picked up his as well and took a smaller bite than his mother had. It did taste like his grandmother's. "Is she still traipsing around Europe?"

"Dear lord, yes. Now she's taken her dog with her. I get pictures every other day about Pongo."

She fidgeted until she found her phone. After she unlocked it, she handed it to him. Damian scrolled through her photos.

His grandmother and mother favored so much. They shared the same green eyes and shade of honey blond hair. His grandmother's was now gray, but he remembered how blond it had been when he'd been a kid. He didn't doubt she'd dyed it, but she would never tell.

The Dalmatian at her side was a new acquisition. He was sleek and shiny with the rare long coat. He looked happy as he stood by his owner, proud and regal.

"He was a rescue wasn't he?" he asked. His grandmother loved her charity work and animals were the top of her list.

"She found him in Greece. He's been with her ever since."

Damian set the phone on the table and took his mug. "What is it, Mom?"

Antonia looked at him - really looked at him- for the first time. She frowned slightly at him before setting her plate down. She put her hand on his knee, rubbing it gently.

He met her gaze, already knowing what she was going to ask him. He hadn't told her anything yet about Tay because he didn't want to disappoint them.

"Honey, Tay has been very clear about his feelings. If you're going to play with them, I think you should leave him alone. It would just make it harder on him if you find someone," she said. "Or if he did."

Damian loved his mother, but sometimes she was quite dense. She had his best interest at heart and wanted to do the right thing by him. She loved Tay, and she didn't want either of them to get hurt.

But sometimes she didn't pay attention to things right in front of her. If she had, she would have already noticed the subtle changes in both guys.

"He's a good kid, and he'll make someone a great Alpha. But he can't make a good life if you've not given him up."

"Mom, I'm not giving up on him. Yes, I've got demons to fight and I'm scared of going outside with people I don't know. But Tay has done what even you and Dad couldn't do. I'm not giving him up," he said.

"Honey, I don't want you to get hurt if he finds someone else."

Damian smiled, happy that she loved him enough to make a fool of herself.

His head was suddenly tipped back and a mouth was planted squarely on him. He tasted the toothpaste and underneath that coffee from this morning. Tay's tongue swept through his mouth, setting his nerve endings on fire. His groin became unbearable.

When he was breathless, Tay released him then kissed his forehead. Damian looked at him and smiled. The Alpha returned his gaze to the woman and smiled again.

"Damian doesn't have permission to leave," he said. "He's mine, and I won't allow it."

Antonia took on an annoying face that Damian knew meant she was about to argue. He'd grown up watching it when she argued with David. She usually got her way because his father didn't want to argue.

"Tay, I appreciate your sentiments, but you don't have to tide me over. I understand completely. Just let him go. You can still be friends," she said.

Damian laughed and rubbed Tay's arm as it rested on the front side of his shoulder. "Mom, it's not like that."

She held up her hand to stop them. "Boys, I'm just trying to save you some heartache."

"Antonia, honey, you're an idiot," David laughed. His wife opened her mouth to argue, probably about being called an idiot. "Tay has already claimed Damian. He can't leave even if he tries."

Her instinctual reaction was to slap her son's thigh. Damian yelped and tried not to spill his coffee. Tay and David laughed again as sudden tears overtook her and she hugged the son she'd just slapped.

"You should have led with that," she said.

"I couldn't," he said. "You wouldn't stop talking long enough for me to."

She sat back and took his face in her hands. He pressed his cheek into her palm, enjoying her touch. "How long?"

"A few weeks. It was right after school started. And before you ask, we've thought it through. I can't let Damian walk around unclaimed anymore. I'd have to kill somone," Tay said.

His arm tightened around Damian's shoulders in a possessive manner. He wasn't going to allow anyone to break them up.not even his parents were going to have a say.

"Dear, there is more you need to hear," David advised. He sat on the other side of his wife. Then he nodded to Tay. "Go ahead."

Tay dove into the tale of Conrad Evers and Evan Dorlane. He told everything he knew, what Jak had come up with, and that his brother was working for him. He let her know Tyren may have accidentally told about Damian and who he was, but that they weren't sure so they came to them.

Damian watched his mother's face closely as Tay spoke. She was mad. Her ears were red with rage. She would kill somone if they hurt him. Now that went over to Tay. Together, the three of them were dangerous.

"What do we need to do?" she asked.

"Don't you have an investment auction lined up this month?" Tay asked. David nodded. "Invite my family and Conrad Evers. We need him in public so Jak can sneak into his house."

"Why does Jak need to sneak into his house?" Antonia asked.

Tay looked down at Damian. "I don't want Damian around the bastard, but Jak said he needs to be with me. So Jak will break into his house because he may or may not bring his ledger with him. It will have all his illegal doings."

"Do you think he has done this before?" David asked. He and Tay shared a look.

"I won't know until I see his books. My gut says yes though."

Antonia leaned forward and gripped Tay's hand against Damian's chest. "You can stay as long as you need, but, Tay? You better protect my child, or I'll kill you."

Tay brought his other arm up and held her hand as he engulfed Damian. "I'll die before that."

Damian looked between the three of the people he loved most in the world. They were all willing to put everything on the line for him even though he'd argue against it.

He wanted to feel at peace again so he'd do his best to listen to them. Even if he was scared shitless.