Chapter Twenty-Five

Harley

There was a cry then the sound of something crashing to the floor before Harley could reach the doorway leading into the bedroom where they'd put the two baby rhinos who, up to now, had refused to shift.

Cosmo gave him an apologetic smile. "I was just playin' with them."

Whatever was broken was beyond recognition and the two rhinos were cowering in one of the room's corners. "It's fine—"

"It's on again this time, its dickhead Shepard's turn," Nomad called from the other room. "Shit, come get a load of Troy." Nomad's laughter revealed exactly how amused he was.

"You go Daddy, I'll come in a minute, I'm gonna call Bash and maybe Romy to see if they can help," he whispered the latter as he used his head to point at the rhinos he'd insisted come home with them.

"Sure." Harley scrutinized Cosmo's expression, looking for anything that suggested something else was wrong before heading back to Nomad. Cosmo had grown very attached to the baby rhinos and Harley suspected taking care of them was more than Cosmo had anticipated when he'd told Bash he'd be fine while the rhino did some digging. Harley kept his thoughts to himself, Cosmo didn't need his amusement, not when Harley could feel Cosmo's frustration.

Nomad, as soon as he saw Harley, jabbed a finger at the TV. "I'm so happy we didn't kill Shepard and Lawless. Seeing the fuckwits floundering all over national TV is much more satisfying."

Councilman Lawless from the Southwest district had been the first who'd found the press camped out on his doorstep. Evan had worked his magic. The lion had pulled his punches hard and fast. When the sheriff came to arrest Lawless he'd actually pissed his pants in front of the camera.

Priceless.

"The information is fabricated," Councilman Shepard fluttered, sounding completely unconvincing when he looked guiltily at the camera shoved in his face as he tried to escape from his home, two suitcases held in his hands, his family cowering behind him. Evidently, he'd caught his counterparts' TV appearance.

Yeah, there is no place for you to run to, asshole!

"Fabricated, how?" Troy asked sweetly, though his expression was anything but. "Those eyes are from dead birds, clearly you can tell that. The information captured by the owl reveals you and several other council members discussing what you were doing. And were going to continue doing with children to see what else you could create. How do you explain that? Someone set up a scene for you all to play a part in a movie?" he spat, his anger more visible.

"It's… it's nonsense. We… are ensuring… we are protecting the shifter community," he finished, appearing too warm to what shit he was spouting.

"Is that so?" At the bottom of the screen, horrors they'd seen in the owl's eyes appeared, streaming as the councilman looked at the crowd as if seeking help.

"Then how do you explain the cruelty? The multiple deaths caused by your experiments?" Troy's smile was feral. "Please, I'd love to understand—as would the watching community—how these deaths protected us?"

The crowd pressed forward, angry calls coming from all directions as Troy did nothing but step aside to let them get closer.

Shepard's color leeched away, and Harley considered for a moment that the dude was gonna pass out cold due to how pale he got. Then came the stuttering. "It… yes… we… the council… best… yes… we…"

Behind them, just in shot, a police cruiser pulled up and a huge motherfucker got out of one side of the car. Definitely a rhino shifter, wearing a sheriff's badge. The other door opened and there stood Evander, wearing a grim expression. It seemed fitting he was there when the council had targeted the rhino's specifically because they were hard to kill.

The stuttering continued as the crowd quietened and parted. The cameraperson easily caught the councilman's expression of horror when the sheriff came to a halt and unhooked his hand cuffs.

The gathering crowd grew silent. Harley suspected if he'd been there, he'd have felt their jubilation along with their fury. This wasn't the first time today they'd seen the news reports as other council members got arrested .

"You are under arrest for violating, law four, six, ten and fourteen of the shifter council, whatever you say could be used against you…"

The rest got blocked out as the crowd erupted with cheers and catcalls.

Nomad

"What did I miss," Cosmo asked breathlessly as he came into the room, curls flying looking flushed.

Nomad glanced back at the TV screen to see Evander manhandle shithead Shepard into the back of the cruiser. "Our lying scumbag councilman getting thrown to the crash."

Cosmo halted. "He did?"

Nomad sniggered at Cosmo's disappointment.

Harley shook his head, giving Nomad a ‘give over' stare. "No. What Nomad meant was, Evander has taken great pleasure in throwing the scumbag into the police cruiser on national TV, so no one will miss it."

Perched on the arm of the chair Harley held and an arm and Cosmo went and snuggled into his side. Cosmo's eyes narrowed on Nomad. "Daddy, were you being mean?"

"Who me?" Nomad asked all innocently, rising from his seat, having lost interest in the screen. He'd spent several hours on and off watching TV and scrolling through the media stations on his tablet, watching the fall out. So far, they'd arrested all but two of the council, and those two wouldn't stand a chance at how their faces had become plastered over social media. Someone would have to be cut off from the world to not know what was happening right now .

Nomad had never felt such a deep level of hatred towards a person or group as he did towards the council and what they had coming their way… yep, they deserved whatever happened to them in the shifter prisons. If he felt just a little disappointed, like Cosmo at not unleashing their own justice, then so be it. What they could look forward to was so much better now they weren't looking over their shoulders any longer and that was worth any disappointment. Why they had originally hidden out in Cookietown for Nomad had dealt with it. He'd taken Evan aside and had a quiet word, asking for a favor. An hour earlier, he had received a message to say their problem had gotten dealt with, Murphy was gone for good. The favor he owed Evan was worth it because they were free.

He picked Cosmo up and perched him on his hip and nuzzled into his curls, enjoying his sweet scent.

A resounding thud had any thought fleeing at a little naked time when he, for an instant, forgot about the rhinos. "What are we going to do about our two tiny friends?"

"Bash and Romy are coming, not sure who'll get here first—"

A knock on the apartment door drew Nomad's gaze, and Cosmo wiggled to get put down.

He skipped to the door as Nomad said, "Check who it is before you open it."

"Yes, Daddy," Cosmo called back, his nose getting close to the wood before he opened it. "Bash that was quick… oh, there you are Romy, perfect timing guys."

Cosm o

Seeing them together, side by side, left Cosmo with a curious thought, especially when he watched their eyes meet and Romy stare Bash down like few were ever able to do. Romy might be smaller, but he was strong and the things he'd experienced and escaped from had only made him stronger.

"Come on in," Cosmo said as he stepped back and held the door open. "I think I overestimated how okay it would be to have little rhinos in such an enclosed space. Every time they start to relax and get comfortable playing, one of us bumps into something and breaks it and they get scared again. I think I'm in over my head."

"That's a pretty common place to find yourself when it comes to baby rhinos," Bash said, a teasing smile on his face as they heard the rumble of little hooves against the wooden floor.

"They didn't hurt themselves, did they?" Romy asked.

"Oh no, they are just fine," Cosmo said. "But glass is going to be in short supply around here soon."

Romy giggled at that and hurried in the direction of the sound while Bash lingered and lowered his voice a little.

"He's my mate, I'm certain of it, but he looks at me like he doesn't notice, and I don't know what to do with that."

"Be patient and go help with the little rhinos," Cosmo whispered. "Show him the kind, caring, protective man I came to know and trust when I first arrived. He needs to see that he can be safe with you and trust in you the way I learned to trust in my Daddies. Just be patient with him while he figures out you have a wonderfully squishy soft side. It's the only way."

The rhino blushed. "Can you not say shit like that out loud," he mumbled, looking towards where Romy had disappeared to. "But, okay, I can do that. "

"I know you can," Cosmo said. "Now go show him how cute you can be."

Bash chuckled and shook his head at Cosmo, before he headed for the room Romy had disappeared into, while Cosmo returned to his mates side and perched on Nomad's lap.

Romy might be Bash's mate. Bash thinks so, but Romy either hasn't noticed or isn't letting on that he's picked up on a connection between them. I think it would be good for them and the little rhinos, if Bash took them to his crash and helped care for them so Romy can see what kind of shifter he is.

Daddy Nomad nodded, his gaze thoughtful. Sounds like our cutie is trying to play matchmaker. I hope it takes. I've caught Bash looking at you like you still belong in his arms.

Cosmo would never grow tired of the warmth that came from that possessive tone. I'm sorry Daddy.

As long as sorry means you stay out of them, I'm good with that. Nomad tapped the end of his nose as if to make his point, but Cosmo only wanted his Daddies.

Not having to watch over the little ones will make setting up our home a little easier. Daddy Harley sounded a little relieved, and Cosmo hid his smile. Not that I minded them being here, but none of us know anything about taking care of little ones, especially rhinos.

Which is why I brought in the experts. Cosmo hopped off his Daddy's lap, happy in the knowledge the little ones going to the crash was for the best. Cosmo set about gathering the toys he'd gotten for them. The toys had been for him, but Cosmo had decided that the little rhinos needed them way more than he did. He'd have all the toys he needed, and more, once they had the opportunity to set up their home and special playroom .

Romy was seated on the floor, both little ones gathered in his arms with their heads on his shoulders, looking tired but content. Bash, on the other hand, was staring at Romy with the softest, tenderest expression Cosmo had ever seen on the Bash's face. In that moment, he didn't look like an enforcer or even an investigative and retrieval specialist, which was what his actual title was. He looked like someone in awe of the scene playing out in front of him, and a little lovesick too, like he was already falling for Romy who leaned into and nuzzled the little ones he held while speaking softly to them. Cosmo couldn't be entirely certain, but from the words he could make out, it sounded like Romy was telling them a story.

"It's not a lot," Cosmo said as he passed Bash the backpack he'd filled with their toys. "But it will get you guys started."

"Thank you for this, and for bringing them home with you after all the chaos of the pack and town meeting. It gave me time to work out a place for Romy to stay and start looking for information on who these littles ones might have belonged to and if there is anyone left to claim them." He ran his large hands through his hair, his expression revealing his frustration. "So far, I've come up with a handful of leads, but nothing concrete. White Rhinos are so rare that I'm afraid it won't be good news we discover at the end of this hunt. Their people might be the last casualty of the council's reign of terror."

"Then we'll need to keep them safe and together," Romy said, pausing his story to stare up at Bash, a hint of a challenge on his face.

Oh.

Ohhhh.

The moment it hit Cosmo what Romy was trying to convey with that stare was the moment he knew that Bash was right. Romy was his mate, but he'd accept no less than protection and promises of a loving, nurturing home for all of them before he'd ever be willing to accept a claim from Bash.

All or nothing.

He just hoped his big rhino friend understood that.

Right now, he just looked conflicted, like he wasn't sure if he could handle such a big undertaking all at once. Cosmo just hoped the conflict wasn't because he didn't want to handle the responsibility that would come with a new mate and little ones, because that was sure to derail their potential mating quicker than anything. He could see it written all over Romy's face as he nuzzled them again and resumed his story.

Romy had told him he'd lost everyone he'd cared about. Now that he had those little ones in his arms, it was obvious that the only way he'd ever let them go would be to relinquish them back to their family if they were ever located.

"We should take them to the crash before they fall asleep, that way we won't accidentally wake them," Bash said, sounding a little gruff and commanding.

Romy clearly picked up on it too and scowled in his direction, before turning his attention to Cosmo and giving him a soft smile. "Thank you for taking caring of them."

"I'm glad I could," Cosmo replied, keeping things light when he felt choked up at having to let them go, but knowing it was for the best. "Please keep me updated with plenty of pictures and as soon as we have the house set up, we'll have you over with them so we can play together."

"Oh, I'd like that a lot," Romy said. "You're going to be my best friend, I can feel it."

"And you're gonna be mine," Cosmo assured him .

Since Bash didn't make a move to do so, Cosmo stepped over beside Romy and crouched so he could wrap an arm around him and help him to his feet while he held the little ones.

"I um, have a car parked out front," Bash muttered.

"Then you should go get the door open, shouldn't you?" Cosmo suggested, to which Bash took off.

"He'll catch on," Cosmo offered.

"Let's hope," Romy said before carefully carrying them down the stairs and out into the sunshine.

"It's up to them to make it work now," Daddy Nomad said as he closed the door behind Romy and the little ones and wrapped his arms around Cosmo.

"I know Daddy," Cosmo said, snuggling against his side.

"And we have plenty of work of our own to see to," Daddy Harley said as he joined in the hug.

Together, they stood staring at the living room of the place that in a few short days would no longer be where they called home. It had served them well for the brief time they'd been here, but now, Cosmo just looked forward to a place that was theirs and theirs alone.