26. Luther

26

Luther

I couldn't get to the office fast enough, a few of the guards lingering in the lobby when I arrived with Luca. I ignored all of them, except for the head of security who began debriefing me on the issue seconds after I stepped into the building. With Luca attached to my side, I focus on rubbing a hand up and down his back to keep him calm. No doubt he could feel the anxiety pouring off of me as I sped a little faster down the road and told him that we needed to get inside.

Fifteen minutes ago, my heart was in my throat, thinking the absolute worst.

Luca pulls out his phone and grimaces as a text pops up, his scent going sour. I reach over to squeeze his leg, the Omega turning to me with the brightest smile he can muster but I can tell it's fake. "Who's the message from, sweetheart?"

"My mom. She's really angry."

I didn't think I'd have to weather a set of parents, especially not one like Luca's. They all but sold him to Hudson for a piece of wealth and while my monetary worth isn't something to scoff at, Hudson is in an entirely different league.

"She keeps telling me just to go back." He sniffles and swipes up on the screen, the message disappearing. "I told her before we left that Hudson hit me and Mom said I wasn't being submissive enough."

I secretly add Luca's mother to the long list of people who are going to experience everything Luca felt over the years. I'm not sure if I want her dead or just across the fucking universe and away from her son. My hands tighten on the steering wheel as I try to find the right words to say. When I can't find anything constructive, I remain silent, hoping that my hand on his thigh is enough comfort.

He picks up my hand, holding it in both of his and reminding me how much smaller he is than I am. Luca leans down and presses a kiss into my palm before continuing to hold it in his lap. The moment is ruined when fear ripples through the bond.

I dial Blake, making sure to keep it on the private line so that I'll hear it in my earpiece rather than over the console. When he doesn't answer, I try Grayson.

"What the fuck is going on?" I growl, pressing the gas pedal a little harder.

"Not entirely sure. Just get here—fuck. It's Hudson. Don't do anything rash. I've got this, okay? Blake is going to need all of us."

Grayson hangs up and it takes everything in me not to break every last law in the universe to get to my Omega.

"Alpha?"

"Sweetheart, Blake is going to need all three of us when we get there but I need you to take a deep breath and stay calm. You are the sunshine he's going to need while I take out the trash."

Luca tightens his hold on my hand, his expression darkening until I'm sure I've never seen a look that full of rage on an Omega before. "Hudson can't hurt him. He's not allowed to."

"He won't, sweetheart. We'll make sure of it."

"Thanks, Carlson. I'll check in in a bit." There are a few more pressing matters than the lack of security or the fact that they let the one man I barred from entry into this building. Once I review the security tapes, I'm sure 90% of the staff will have to be replaced.

I'm not even halfway into Blake's office when Luca detaches from me and runs into the adjacent room to curl into the Omega's arms. They look so perfect together, Grayson on the other side, gently running his fingers through Blake's hair. The Omegas wrap around each other like koalas, Grayson taking the opportunity to move away and stand up to stretch.

The moment he crosses the room, I take him in my arms and kiss the ever-living fuck out of him. He melts against my chest immediately, sagging against me with relief. "God, I thought-"

"But he didn't and he won't. The detective from last time wants to speak with us but he isn't allowed in this room or anywhere near Blake's office. I'm not going to add to the stress if I can help it." Each word is mumbled into Grayson's hair as I tighten my hold around him, refusing to let go. I want to do the same to Blake but I know in this moment, the last thing he needs is to be smothered.

And yet, I can't stop staring at the love of my life and the Omega who's slowly edging his way into my heart. Blake moans something intelligible before his lids shoot open and his head turns so that our eyes meet. He looks more fragile than I've ever seen him, almost smaller than Luca if that's possible. "Alpha."

My heart breaks as he reaches up to me and I release Grayson to go to Blake, kneeling at the edge of his nest to be invited in. Blake doesn't say anything, just launches himself at me, sobbing into my neck. Luca is sitting there in Blake's absence, confused and scared, our new little family slowly being torn apart by a man who doesn't deserve to live.

"I got you, love. Fuck, I got you."

Blake still doesn't say anything, rubbing his nose up and down the length of my neck, drawing in my scent until I'm the only thing he can smell. Grayson moves to my side, sifting a hand into Blake's unruly curls as we crowd around him. Luca is still sitting off by himself and I have to open my arm to let him know that he belongs here just as much as the others. He scrambles into the open space, wedging himself into Blake's side before the Omega finally calms.

Blake needs all of us.

We stay like that for several moments until the vibration of my phone interrupts us. I ignore the first call before Grayson nudges me during the second one. Slowly, I peel Blake off of me, weathering a growl when I see Hudson's fingerprints around his neck. My lip curls up in a snarl, Grayson pushing me away to address Blake and Luca. "Luther needs to take this call and he'll be back, okay?"

Neither of our Omegas speak as Luca helps Blake back into the nest and then curls around him. Grayson takes the distraction to push me out into Blake's office. "I know you want to fucking murder that Alpha but not right now. We have much more pressing matters, okay? Blake needs us to stay levelheaded."

I laugh, a bitter sound that has Grayson cringing. "Not sure how much longer I can hold back, Gray. Hudson is determined to retrieve Luca and I keep letting that fucker close to my family. He fucking touched Blake. And the bruises on Luca's body—" A wild growl rips from my throat before I can swallow it.

Blake is no doubt feeling all of this through the bond. I'm usually better at steeling my emotions but this can't be helped. When my phone starts vibrating again, I whip out the device and yell into the earpiece. "What?!?"

"Luther? I understand that this is a trying-"

"Stop with the bullshit, Detective Ward. Hudson should have never been allowed in this building, let alone anywhere near my family. He is out of control."

"I agree but-"

I slam a fist down on Blake's desk, barely holding back a snarl. The law can kiss my ass at this point. " Charles , may I call you that because it seems that we're on a first-name basis—Hudson crossed a line. Many lines and yet he's still roaming free while you guys conduct some crack investigation."

The detective clears his throat, laughing nervously. "Luther—Alpha Keller—this is a unique situation in that it's very hard to legally keep Hudson away from you because you have his-"

"I have his nothing. And this building is private property. Next time Hudson attacks my family, including either one of my Omegas, I won't be calling you to deal with it." I hang up, Grayson trying to get my attention but I've already made up my mind.

"Alpha, fuck, wait a second." Grayson stays my hand before I make another call, stepping into my line of sight. He places the other hand on my cheek, waiting for me to lean into his touch. "There's my Luther. Hey, let me in on your plans. You don't have to do this all alone. Two Omegas is a lot to deal with but you have me."

He presses his forehead against my chest before I finally give in. "Hudson is a threat and an unknown. I despise unknowns, Gray. He needs to be dealt with." I hum my agreement and he continues as I start playing with his hair, loving how soft it feels on my rough fingers. "I'm going to ask for an order of protection. It's the only card I have left to play until at least Luca's heat is over. Hudson will not take either one of them from us."

"No, he won't. There's just one problem—we need to get our Omegas home. This isn't the right environment for them and it's not fair to Blake for his coworkers and employees to see him like this. He deserves his privacy. However, I also know that time is of the essence and a protective order requires the signature of every Alpha in this pack."

I can smell Grayson's distaste for the situation. Every instinct is telling me to crawl into that nest and claim Blake to prove to him and to myself that he's still mine, ours. Unfortunately, Blake wouldn't want that. He draws comfort from us and he needs us but not the way Luca does. And while I know Blake has to learn how to lean into his own instincts, I also know that fucking Blake into the pillows will terrify him right now.

With the way I need to claim him, my hand will wrap around his throat much the same way Hudson's did and I can't do that to him.

"Call Maceo, Alpha. Tell him what we need and see how fast someone will grant it."

Grayson doesn't have to tell me twice.

I step away from him and dial Maceo's number, steeling my emotions so Blake doesn't feel the raging anger running through me. "I need you here." That's not what I meant to say and there's definitely some underlying current where I feel comfortable enough with Maceo around my Omegas—one who is in distress and the other who is on the cusp of a heat.

"Would it be incredibly awkward if I told you that I was already here? Don't hate me but I was on the phone with Detective Ward when he got pulled away so I hopped on over, just in case I got your call. I'll be up in a minute."

I should be furious that Maceo is so fucking attentive to my family in a way that he isn't with his other clients until I remember how Luca finds his scent safe. Whether I like it or not, Maceo is part of this chaos and if I push against it, I'll only be hurting Luca.

Two minutes later on the dot, Maceo waves outside of Blake's office, frowning when I gesture for him to come in. "Am I allowed in here? God, your Omegas stink. What do you need?" This isn't the first time he's mentioned my Omegas' scents and I'm beginning to think that Luca isn't the only one that catches his interest, something I'll have to bring up later.

"An order of protection. Now, yesterday. A week ago." I perch my ass on the edge of Blake's desk, folding my arms across my chest. Grayson is awkwardly standing a few feet from the bedroom, unsure of the situation. I can't blame him. "Maceo, Hudson is too fucking close for comfort but I need this done legally and not through back channels. I'm already breaking the law with Luca."

The Beta grins at the declaration. "No shit. I can submit a petition for you, which can be expedited if approved by an officer. I know a few judges who could have it signed off by tonight or tomorrow morning but it's going to be temporary. Until a judge gets you in court to determine the reason for filing an order of protection, nothing will be permanent. Even then, it's not an effective solution for someone like Hudson."

"I can't get a restraining order because Luca is still legally his. The investigation has determined that I am Luca's primary Alpha but because of Hudson's claim, barring the fucking Alpha is a lot messier. Maceo-"

"Three steps ahead of you." Maceo's grin doesn't falter as he places his bag on the table and slips out a thick portfolio. "I assumed that it might come to this and I like to be prepared. I asked one of the detectives involved with the investigation to meet you in your office to sign the documentation."

A frown takes over my rage-filled expression. "It's not Detective Ward?"

"No. He's closely associated with Hudson so he's not directly on this case. Conflict of interest. I was as surprised as you are to learn that there might be some issues in pushing this investigation along. Is there anything else I can do?"

I'm about to have to find another lawyer or see where Maceo truly stands with my family. I observe him for a few moments, knowing that what I'm about to ask of him is unacceptable and yet, I have no other alternatives. Maceo blows out a deep breath and I see his smile falter, his nostrils flaring as he reacts to my Omegas' scents. The muscles in his jaw tense, his hands twisted at his sides, tightened into fists.

Control.

It's more than I've seen in many other Alphas and Betas. They lunge at the first sweet perfume that fills the air.

"I need you to stay here," I finally say.

Grayson glares at me and I accept his shock and immediate distaste with my words. However, that emotion quickly turns into understanding as he comes to stand beside me, supporting my decision. Grayson and I will be across the hall, discussing an order of protection with an officer I don't know while Blake and Luca are tucked away in the bedroom off to the side. I refuse to leave them unprotected but I also don't want anyone else in this office if I can help it.

Which leaves Maceo.

The Beta swallows nervously. "Luther…"

"Just make sure that no one enters this office until we're ready to leave. I'm asking a lot of you and I understand if you want to say no but I trust you. You're also all I have."

He wrings his hands together before sporting a small smile. "I'll just add it to your tab. They're your Omegas. I get how important that is. Take the portfolio with you. When you're ready to sign, let me know so I can make sure it's filled out properly."

I feel like I might be making a mistake as I check in on Blake and Luca one last time before walking across the hall. Grayson is directly behind me, waiting until the door shuts before speaking. "Are you going to acknowledge that Maceo might be more than just our lawyer?"

"Not until he does. If he wants to take that step, I need him to tell me that. I'm not going to force him into something when he made it very clear that he goes it alone. I also know that if I hover and try to monitor the situation, it'll never happen organically."

Grayson smiles up at me. "And you thought that while Blake is in distress is a good time to test this?"

"No. I just know that Maceo is the only man that I trust not to disrespect our family. I could ask one of the guards but I'm thinking of firing them after today's stunt." I stare across the hall, smirking at the way Maceo is turned toward the bedroom door, his head tilted, intrigue wafting off of him. He's a respectable Beta and even though he looks like an Alpha, I know he won't disrespect our business partnership or my Omegas.

And if for some reason he thinks about it, I'll be right there to rip his head off his shoulders.