She frowns. “Do I need it?”
Liam nods. “Yes. You still have to go to school, especially if we’re going to go back to court for custody.”
Her eyes mist again. “Custody? But our other dads?—”
“I called them. They’re working on it.”
“George—”
“Yes, what about George?” a prim and high-pitched voice demands. Liam’s mom is beautiful. Long red hair. Wide, doe-like eyes, which are currently filled with irritation. She’s lithe and graceful, even when she’s clearly pissed off. “What’s the meaning of this?” She gestures at Cici’s suitcase.
“Cici is coming to stay with me for a while,” Liam says, straightening and holding her stare. “Is that going to be a problem?”
“Well, we’ll have to ask Geo?—”
“George is downstairs, auctioning her off to thehighest bidder!” Liam’s shout echoes through the hall and down the stairs.
His mom shakes her head. “Liam, honey. You’re a beta. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Mom!” Cici chastises. “You can’t?—”
Liam holds up his hand to stop his sister. “It’s okay, C. Mom’s right. I’m a beta, of course I don’t understand letting an alpha who ripped my family apart sell my sister off to make a business deal. Of course I wouldn’t understand choosing the man who’s clearly abusing your child over everyone else.” Liam pauses, watching her face harden.
Maybe he was waiting for some type of remorse or regret. Something to show him that she’s surprised by what he’s said.
“He was teaching you how to be a man,” she counters, pursing her lips.
The heartbreak on Liam’s face kills me. I know what it’s like to have a mom who doesn’t really see or care about you. Though I only have an idea of what sort of abuse he’s suffered, I’m not letting her stand here and hurt him.
I step in front of him, squaring off with her, omega to omega.
She arches an eyebrow. “I recognize you from the Omega Social Club...you’re a Wellington, right? Liam, why is she here?”
“She is here because your son is amazing. He’s sweet and kind and more of a man than your alpha ever will be.” I glare at her. “And one day, you’re going to be old and alone, wondering why no one wants to come visit, but this moment? This is why. You had your chance to make things right.”
Her face scrunches. “It’s not so simple. George means well, he does, but he has so much going on.”
“So does everyone,” I counter. “Cici is eleven. She hassevenyearsbefore she awakens. You should be ashamed ofyourself.” Turning, I search Liam’s face, but he’s staring at me like I’ve grown a second head. “What?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you confront someone.” He looks like he wants to say more, but the raucous laughter from downstairs makes all of us flinch. He levels his mother with a glare. “If there’s any part of you that loves me, loves Cici, you won’t stop us.”
“Liam...” She trails off, her focus zooming to Cici. “Honey, don’t go.”
Cici glances away. “I’m going with Liam, Mom.” Her voice cracks. “Please don’t tell George.”
We all hold our breath, waiting to see if she’ll choose loyalty to her kids over George.
Her eyelids flutter closed. “Okay, honey. I won’t tell him.”
Liam sighs in relief, nods at me, and then takes Cici’s suitcase. We hurry down the stairs, out of the house, and into my car. Liam’s mom must keep to her word because George doesn’t come barreling out and screaming. We make our escape without any more drama, and maybe that’s worse.
Their mom barely fought for Cici.
The silence is heavy in the car as we leave the neighborhood. My gaze catches Cici’s in the rearview mirror. The heartbreak there makes my chest ache, and my own pain surfaces. No one in my family ever seemed to care much about what I wanted, but Henry always did.
I nod at her, and she bites her lip and nods back, as if understanding my silent promise.
We’ve got you now. You’re safe.
