Page 110 of Bully for Sale

“Go against him?” Ned asked.

“If you want him to live.”

Ned scrubbed at his face. There had to be a middle way, like inducing or taking the babies before they endangered Ezer’s life, but waiting long enough to allow them grow more first. Holding off until their lungs were fully formed, and their hearts were stronger.

“He suffered an acute pancreatitis attack. There isn’t enough room inside his body. His other organs are being crushed.” Heath was brutal in his outlining of the problems.

“But he doesn’t want to give up on the babies yet.”

“Ned, he’s delirious, on pain medication, and he’s not in his right mind. Look, I know you don’t want to violate his consent any further in this relationship. He’s been through enough. But part of being brave, of creating a safe space for your omega, is also knowing when you need to make him safe even against his will.”

“I can’t,” Ned said. “I won’t.”

Heath simply stared at him a moment, then said, “When you lose your omega and your babies, you’ll see that I was right.”

“What an awful thing to say,” Adrien said. “Apologize.”

“No. He’s being an idiot.”

George Fersee and Pete stood off to the side, whispering. It seemed clear to Ned that Pete had the upper hand in the conversation, and despite all his rage and hostility toward George, he felt sorry for the man. He was clearly in love with his young omega and was now startled to find Pete had more of mind of his own than he’d imagined.

“Fersee,” Heath called, turning away from Ned and walking toward George. “I have attorneys on retainer who have already reached out to your son, Yissan. I suggest, if you want to save face, you do whatever your omega here suggests, or it’s going to be a shit show.”

George caught Heath’s eyes. “You were always too big for your britches, Clearwater. You shouldn’t get involved in other alphas’ business.”

“When they’re abusing their sons and violating consent laws? I beg to differ. I think I have an obligation to get involved. And, from the sound of it, you’ll be lucky if not one, but two of your sons don’t press belated charges of coercion against you.”

“Abusing my sons!”

“Yes. Trace Stone is known to violate his omegas, to take pleasure in that. All men of my age know of his proclivities.”

George paled.

“You didn’t?”

Ned saw the moment George knew he’d been defeated, whether it was by this new knowledge, Heath Clearwater, or the omegas in his life, it didn’t matter. He’d lost this round, and he knew it.

“Yissan will be allowed to choose his own destruction, but surely I won’t be expected to fund it.”

“Men have cut their sons off for less,” Heath agreed. “But after your treatment of Amos, do you really want to foster the reputation of being an unreasonable, selfish, and cruel alpha? It’s up to you of course.”

George snarled. “I hope you’re cursed with a dozen omega sons. Then you’ll see what it’s like.”

“So far, we just have an alpha and a beta. I look forward to an omega. He should be interesting if the omegas in my life—and yours—are any indication.”

“Both our sons are interesting, “Adrien defended. “Michael is quite the philosopher already. He told me the other day that God lives inside us all.”

“And then he suggested he cut you open so he could look for him. I was there.”

“Speaking of cutting open,” Pete whispered, coming closer to Ned. “He won’t forgive you, you realize? Even if what you choose ensures he lives? He’ll leave you if you take his sons now.”

“Why? He didn’t want them,” George said. “Surely he’d prefer to have his own life?”

“You’ve never carried a child,” Pete said. “That much is clear.”

All the debate in the room was unnecessary. Ned had made up his mind.

“He said no. And that’s enough for me.”