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Chapter Twenty-Five

Jax

R onan and Teal returned downstairs appearing haggard. It had taken them over an hour to get the boys into bed. That had been an intense scene at the dining table, but Jax was grateful he’d been there, that he’d helped ease the situation.

He’d moved his work computer into Teal’s home office earlier. Initially, Jax and Niall thought they’d stay with the children during the day and sleep at their own apartment, but after the high emotions the boys exhibited earlier, Niall offered for them to stay at the McGinns’ house.

Jax wondered if he and Niall were overstepping, but Ronan and Teal seemed relieved and grateful for the assistance.

It would be a full house with five adults and three small boys, but Jax believed it was the best decision.

He and Niall would have worried too much about being so far away.

What if something happened during the night?

His boss had agreed to two work-from-home weeks, and Jax planned to request more if needed.

He told them it was because of his boyfriend having a family emergency.

He knew his supervisors would be more sympathetic if he told them the whole truth, explained his connection to the famous lawyer Teal McGinn, but he didn’t want to raise any suspicion or give it away that they were all sharing a home together for the time being.

The unit was a tight squeeze. There were three bedrooms, the primary, the boys’ room, and the guest room Sorcha currently occupied.

An obvious solution to accommodate Jax and Niall would have been to move Sorcha in with Ronan and Teal, but Sorcha said he wasn’t ready.

The young man was still acclimating himself to his new reality, and having his own space aided in that transition.

They decided the beta couple would stay on the sofa bed in the office.

After dinner, Sorcha went next door to retrieve some of his things.

Jax and Niall offered to complete the task for him, but the omega said he wanted a moment alone in the house, to remind himself that his uncles were the culprits in his situation.

The clothes and the knick-knacks and the books Sorcha loved were not responsible for how he’d been treated.

Sorcha returned just as Teal and Ronan reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Boys down?” Niall asked them.

Ronan ran a hand over his face. “Yes, finally.” The big alpha looked at Sorcha. “You were okay next door?”

Sorcha laughed, almost a giggle. The dulcet sound went straight to Jax’s heart.

“Yes, it was fine,” Sorcha said. “You must have terrified my uncles, because it’s obvious they left in a hurry.

Food in the fridge and dishes in the sink.

They took most of the furniture but didn’t touch my bedroom.

The best part is they left almost everything in the garage.

All my tools are still there, and the personal projects I was working on.

Abe took his own tools, but mine aren’t too shabby. ”

Teal walked over to give Sorcha a forehead kiss, wrapping his arms around the other omega. Jax smiled at their open affection. “That’s wonderful, my darling. Now you can work on your projects, if you want to.”

“That’s what I was thinking. Not to get ahead of myself, because I know it’s crazy right now, but maybe down the road I can set up a furniture business to sell what I make,” Sorcha said excitedly. “I’d like to contribute financially, and I only have a small amount in savings.”

Ronan opened his mouth, but Teal quickly put a palm over his lips.

“Our alpha here was about to tell you not to worry about any of that, that you’ve got enough on your mind.

But I completely understand where you’re coming from,” Teal told Sorcha.

“I’d feel the same way. Just know that you’re under no pressure from us about it. ”

“When you’re ready, I can help you set up an online sales platform,” Jax volunteered. “If that’s something you want.”

“I’d like that,” Sorcha said eagerly. “Maybe we can talk more about it while you’re living here.”

“Great. Then that’s settled.” Teal clapped his hands together. “I’ll feel better knowing that while I’m in High Court, we’ll have a full house, and everyone will be busy doing things other than worrying about me.”

A knock at the door signaled Dayson Bannon’s arrival. He entered quickly. One of his bodyguards stayed by the front door and the other came into the living room, positioning himself unobtrusively near the wall.

Dayson’s eyes darted around the room, taking in the men.

Teal introduced everyone. “You know Ronan, of course. This is Niall, our children’s nanny and a good friend of the family.

And that’s Jax, Niall’s boyfriend.” Teal looked at Sorcha, and his features clouded briefly.

Finally, Teal went to stand behind the younger omega, placing his hands on Sorcha’s shoulders.

“And this beautiful man is Sorcha. He’s my partner, mine and Ronan’s. ”

Dayson flinched, as did Sorcha, but Teal kept a firm, reassuring grip on him. Ronan moved to place a hand on each of his omegas’ hips.

“Oh,” Dayson recovered fast. “I didn’t realize you two had another partner.”

“It’s fairly new,” Teal stated plainly, “But it’s permanent.” Jax saw Ronan squeeze the little omega’s waist.

Dayson stuck out his hand. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Sorcha. I look forward to getting to know you better.”

“Obviously, we’re trying to keep our relationship under wraps for the time being,” Teal said gravely. “My bosses wouldn’t like it, and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize your case—”

Dayson huffed. “Stars forbid omegas do anything that gives the appearance of thinking for themselves or stepping outside of the supposed norm.”

“Exactly,” Teal agreed. “I knew you’d understand.

And I also wanted you to know since we’ll be together so much over the next few weeks during High Court, and because we’re friends.

Keeping this from you seemed like too much effort.

Especially since we’ll need to hide it from the rest of the world. ”

“Understood,” Dayson said.

“I won’t be hiding Sorcha forever, though,” Teal declared. “We’ve already told our boys, and as soon as the case is finished, I plan to be open about our situation.”

Dayson stared at him. “You realize that may cost you your job? Your career?”

“My family is more important than that. If other people feel like I’m letting them down by living my truth, then that’s their problem.

” Jax caught Teal's sideways glance at Niall before he continued, “I already made one huge mistake denying my polyamory. I won’t make a second. I refuse to do anything to undermine Ronan or Sorcha’s happiness. Or my own.”

“Well, you’ve already done so much to change the world.” Dayson folded his arms across his chest. “If people don’t like this, they can fuck right off.”

Niall, Ronan, Teal, and Jax all chuckled, but Sorcha turned a serious face to Teal. “I don’t want to be the reason you lose your career. Or harm all those poor omegas who need you fighting on their behalf. I don’t mind keeping our relationship a secret.”

The husbands kissed Sorcha on either side of his face.

“And we love you for being willing to do that,” Teal said.

“But this can’t be a secret forever. The boys know, and it’s a bit much to ask them to keep it to themselves indefinitely, and besides, it may not be possible to hide it.

” Teal rested a gentle palm on Sorcha’s abdomen and Ronan placed his big alpha hand over Teal’s.

At witnessing the tender moment between the three men, Jax’s own emotions swelled. By the looks in Dayson and Niall’s eyes, they felt the same way.

“You’re too used to being put last, little one,” Ronan said to Sorcha. “We plan to show you there’s a different way.”

CRASH!

The explosive sound of shattered glass vibrated off the walls.

Jax watched in horror as a red brick sailed through the room, landing less than a foot away from Niall.

Without hesitation, he barreled into his boyfriend, throwing them both behind the couch. From the corner of his eye, he saw Ronan use his big body to cover Teal and Sorcha. Dayson’s guard threw himself over the omega, pinning them both to the ground.

The screech of a car peeling out pierced the air, along with the rev of an engine as it sped away. The men waited a few moments before rising from their positions.

Dayson’s outside guard rushed in. The man was on his phone, Jax assumed with the police. He assessed the room, including the broken glass scattered underneath the home’s large front window.

“Everyone okay?” The guard asked breathlessly.

“I think so,” the other guard replied, his chest heaving.

Dayson straightened, brushing dust off his thighs and thanking his guard.

“I doubt they’re coming back,” he said. He eyed the ruined windowpane.

Most of the glass had shattered and fallen, but there were a few jagged pieces sticking up within the frame.

It looked like a prop from a horror movie. To Teal, he said, “Sorry about this.”

“What are you apologizing for? This is my house. That brick was probably meant for me.”

“Or someone could have followed me,” Dayson reasoned.

“Don’t touch anything,” the first guard said. “We should let the police take photos and collect evidence before you sweep or board up the window. They should be here in a few minutes.”

Teal sighed. “Well, I’m going to go upstairs and make sure those pro-alpha assholes didn’t wake up my children.”

“I’ll come with you,” Ronan said.

Jax looked at the brick and thought about how brave Teal was, enduring so much hate and vitriol. When Teal was oohing and aahing over tater tot casserole or shooting water guns with his boys, it was easy to forget he was a change agent in their society. A hero to omegas everywhere.

Dayson’s bodyguards pulled him into the office to debrief, leaving Niall and Jax alone with Sorcha.

Jax hugged Niall fiercely. “For a split second, I thought maybe you’d been hit,” Jax whispered. “It was the most terrifying moment of my life.”

“I’m okay,” Niall mumbled. They pulled apart a few inches before beckoning Sorcha, who still seemed stunned. The delicate omega went easily into their embrace, something Jax reveled in.

In the back of his mind, he wondered what his part in all this was.

Now he had an answer. He could protect and offer comfort.

And stars did it make him feel good to do that!

Just as he craved Niall’s happiness, Jax wished for Sorcha’s contentment.

It reminded him of Sunday, when he’d wanted to provide peace for Garin, Kino, and Zayne.

A gasp broke him from his thoughts. Jax looked over to find that Dayson was bent over the brick.

That's when he noticed the black letters scrawled across it.

DIE OMEGA WHORE