Page 10 of Redemption

“Hiya Boss. Everything work out OK?” his little giggle paired with his smirk made it clear he knew exactly what he was doing.

“Yup.” Not much else to say to that shit.

“You gonna take care of him, or do you need one of us to go back in and sit with him to tend to his wounds?” his smile never faded. How in the hell could someone damn near grin while they were talking? I’d never been able to do it. Besides the grin, he was bouncing on the balls of his feet like an excited child. Little shit.

“Stay out of my rooms, all of you.” I didn’t intend for it to come out as a growl, but I would not apologize for it. I headed down the stairs and straight to my office. I closed my door and made my way to my chair. How was I going to explain this to Bear and the rest of the club? Not that I had any shame in finding my mate, but him starting out as a job that disgusted us all made it complicated. I placed phone number one on my desk and picked up my personal phone.

Me: Need you to research laws and fated mates. Will explain at church.

The guys must not have been riding because Gates got back to me within seconds.

Gates: On it boss. Bear calling at 1.

Before I picked up the other phone, it was ringing. The number 3 showing on the screen. I touched the answer button and put the phone to my ear. “Yeah? All good?”

“Yeah Boss, all good here. How about there? He taken care of?”Bear sounded tired. I wondered how much sleep he had gotten.

“Yeah, he was taken care of in a manner of speaking.” I was glad he couldn’t see the smile on my face, although I’m sure he heard it in my voice.

“You get any sleep yet? Please tell me you got a bit of sleep in the last 30 plus hours, man.”He always was a constant worrier.

“Yep, was weird. They held me for 24 but left me alone the entire time. Brought me food and something to drink, but no one wandered in and out like usual. They never even tried to question me or ask anything about an alibi. I still think it was a way to get me off the streets for a bit, covering everyone’s ass.” Although there was no way it was going to save him. I rubbed my fist over the aching place in my chest that hurt for Theo and the pain they put him through. Had to be fated. I never felt this way towards Pacey.

“Sounds like, man. Just means he’s got an in at the cop shop. That could be a bad thing. Wait, what?”I heard muffled talking in the background.“Sorry man, Gates said it couldn’t wait. Told me to tell you… hold the fuck on, man.”The phone shuffled like someone was stuffing it in their pocket.

Gates was the next voice on the phone.“Mako brother. I ran that search, and it came up clear cut. That thing you ask about supersedes everything, man. There’s a 200-year-old federal law that’s never been repealed, but because it’s not common, few people know about it, fuck I didn’t. A common blood test is proof once the deed is done. It’s stronger than a trip to Vegas,brother, if you get my drift.”Yeah, I got it.“Hang on, headed to the can.”I heard footsteps, Bear growl and a door latching closed.“Mako, if this is what I think it is, you better be sure brother, a false claim like this is a death sentence for you if Hogg pushes it. Then you gotta consider if this is what the boy wants or if he wants to just get away and have a life.”

“Yeah, brother, it is exactly that. I can see myself with him as my mate and a shit ton of kids. His heart is pure man. He’s too good for me, but damn if I don’t want him, anyway. By the way, say nothing to Bear. Fucker will kick my ass for not telling him first. I just gotta figure out how.” Gates had a more level head than Bear ever did. If I were to tell him now, he would have the guys loaded up and back home within a few hours. I needed more time.

“One more thing, Mako. Umm, you mentioned kids. Keep in mind everything depends on the ‘IFs’. If he’s in heat, which he is, I saw, smelled and felt it.”I growled into the phone. The idea of another Alpha smelling and feeling my mate in heat didn’t sit right with me. Gates just laughed.“Yeah, yeah, I know, man. If you are fated mates and IF you knotted him… well…”

“Out with it brother, IF all those things, what?” My heart raced and sweat was beading on my forehead.

“If all those things are true, there’s a 99% chance he’s already pregnant. Without suppressants and birth control, there’s almost a 100% chance of pregnancy with fated mates. Look Mako, this isn’t fables or lore. It’s backed by science from a hundred years ago. I’ll show you the pages in the federal archives. If he accepts you and your claim, there’s not a damn thing Hogg can do about it. If he tries, he’s the one who ends up in jail for breaking federal law. How in the hell no one pushed for a repeal on this is beyond me. I guess no one in power thought about it. Fated mates aren’t as common as theyonce were.”The phone went silent, but I could still hear him breathing on the other end.

“I guess we’ve got a few things to discuss then. See if you can find a doctor who can do the test in the next few days if Theo agrees. I’ll pay for whatever I have to. Its gotta be done before his 25th. I’m afraid if Hogg or his men get wind of it, they’ll try to stop it.” Fear clenched my stomach tight.

“Fuck man, there’s only one way to stop it, Mako. Either kill you… or the boy. Fuck, I’m on it. You gotta talk with your man.”He was right. All this lay on Theo’s shoulders, and he was in no condition to decide.

“He’s not really in any condition to talk rationally, Gates. Get the information together and bring it to me when you guys get home. We’ll go over it in church with Theo there. Tell Bear to give me another 24 and you guys head home. Church Tuesday evening like we planned. I still gotta bring Owen and the others up to speed. This could get ugly, and they’ll be involved just by being around us. Take care.” I hung up before he could respond.

On my way back to the stairs with sandwiches and bottles of water, I passed Owen. “Church Tuesday evening. Let the troops know. If they wanna attend, they can, just no talking, no voting.” Owen simply nodded and went on his way. I headed up to my waiting omega.

Chapter Eleven

Mako

Monday afternoon, I leftmy room again with Theo asleep in our bed while I went downstairs to grab another bottle of water. Bear and the guys would be back from their run within the hour. I explained a bit to him over the phone, just not enough to quash the trepidation about his reaction when he found out the entire truth.

Theo’s heat had subsided completely about an hour ago, thankfully, but he was still covered in bruises, and we really needed Doc to check him out to make sure his ribs weren’t actually broken. I didn’t think they were, but in the proverbial ‘heat’ of the moment, neither of us was in the condition to really check. He moved stiffly and winced every now and then while, we were fucking. I was afraid that his endorphins covered the pain while he was in heat. Now that it was over, I was scared for him and wanted him checked out.

Owen sat at the other end of the bar, glaring at me through slitted eyes. The little minx was pissed that he couldn’t call Bearand let him know the story from his perspective. He was a little gossip. Telephone, telegraph, tell Owen. Shit spread like wildfire from his lips unless you put a stop to it, so that’s exactly what I had done, and he was pissed about it. Like I said, ‘My mate, my business’, end of the story.

“You need anything else, Mr. Mako?” the sweet quiet voice of Bethie pulled me out of my head.

“No sweetheart, I’m good. You can go help the others in the kitchen if you want to.” She nodded her head and scampered off. It felt pretty good to see her happy and smiling after the way she was when I met her. As I looked around the bar, I was reminded of how every one of our little omega troops came to be part of our family. Some stories were worse than others, but all of them were bad in their own way. I had another swell of pride in my chest for all the good we had done. I knew my Theo would come to fit right in and love every one of them as much as the rest of us. ‘My Theo’,that made me smile inside and out. Shaking my head, took another sip of water.

As I tossed my bottle into the recycle bin at the end of the bar, I felt the rush of air as the front door to the clubhouse open. “Honey, we’re home!” followed by several giggles rang through the bar. That was Bear’s standard greeting for the omegas and women when we came back from a ride. It never failed to amuse and put smiles on all their faces. I guess that’s why he did it.

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