Chase wished he could be so nonchalant, but Jonah was an intimidating presence, and it seemed like even Ford was on his best behaviour tonight.“I can’t afford to miss many more days,” Chase replied, though it would be hell going back mid-week.He dreaded the amount of work waiting for him.
Ford sipped his beer.“I’m glad that’s behind me.I’ll be spending tomorrow catching up on paperwork and tracking thugs.”
Lucky stabbed another corner of pie.“I can only imagine the nightmare of work that’s waiting for me when we get back.”He sighed dramatically and stared at the piece of pie like he wasn’t sure if he wanted it.
“I’m sure your friends have missed you.”Xavier lifted the jug from the middle of the table to refill his glass of water and Lucky’s.
He smiled, clearly cheered by the reminder.
“You got a good group of friends, flower,” Ford added, with a hint of wistful adoration.“According to Ross, you had twelve missed calls the night you got nabbed.”He smirked and met Chase’s eye.“Half of those were from this one.”
The teasing was tame compared to what Chase expected.“I’m less bothered with catching up on the work than hearing the gossip.”
“I’m sure your mother took care of that.”Xavier laid a hand on Lucky’s wrist, sharing a meaningful look with Jonah.“She called us personally, once you were found.She promised that you would be well taken care of and that you’d found your mate, which meant you were saved from the worst.”
Lucky nodded, subdued by the reminder of what might have happened if Chase hadn’t felt the bond.Chase slipped his hand over Lucky’s, entwining their fingers to remind him that he wasn’t alone.
“I bet you weren’t expecting me,” Ford said, to lighten the tone.
Jonah snorted, folding his arms over the edge of the table.“Not on your life.How many omegas havetwomates?”He tutted and gestured to Lucky, a small smile appearing.“Might have known our resident troublemaker would be a rare case.”
Lucky released Chase’s hand to push his chair from the table.He walked around to kiss Jonah’s cheek, then lifted his coffee cup.He disappeared into the kitchen, only to come back with a steaming hot cup that he placed in front of his father.
“I love you, Father.”He kissed Jonah’s temple, then gathered plates.
Chase was glad that, even if the reminder of the last week hurt, Lucky was strong and could move past it with time.He hoped that soon it would be nothing more than a bad dream that sometimes came to mind, rather than something visceral and within touching distance.Lucky deserved to find peace with his near escape.
* * * *
Ford
Turned out he hadn’t been wrong about Xavier.They’d barely made it halfway through dinner before he asked about their bonding ceremony and their timeline for having kids, because he needed to ‘be prepared’.Detective Jonah Darro, on the other hand, had been quiet and reserved all night.
It was a relief to escape at the end of the night, except he hated leaving Lucky behind.He’d become used to all three of them occupying the same space, being only in the other room from one another.Ford wouldn’t have argued if Lucky had wanted to stay with Chase, or come home with him, but he seemed happy to be with his parents and he couldn’t complain.Lucky would move out eventually.Why rush?
He drove Chase home, halfway across town into an industrial area where Chase owned two apartment blocks.The only resident currently in either building was Chase while he worked on making the rest habitable.Ford commended his efforts, but from the sheer size of the project, it couldn’t be close to finished.
“How do you manage?”
Chase removed his seat belt.“I don’t.I’ve been thinking I should move out and let a manager take over my apartment.They can oversee the workmen I’ve already contracted and finish the rest.”
“Why would you move?”
Chase raised an eyebrow and blatantly fought a smile.“Now I have an alpha and omega mate, I figured we’d move in together after the bonding ceremony,” he hinted, and leaned in to grace Ford with a rare, smiling kiss.“Go home and sleep, darlin’.You’re not gonna last long, if this is news to you.”He opened the door to slip out into the cold night, paused to check the road was clear, then crossed and waved before heading inside.
Ford figured he was right.He should have known better than to ask, but it wasn’t for want of hoping.He hadn’t been sure what Chase’s plans were, especially if he’d wanted to finish the buildings before moving onto a settled, bonded life with his omega.He hadn’t had a chance to ask Lucky, either.He seemed like an omega who would want to finish college, maybe go into further vocational training.
Figured that an ORTa notorious for not caring or settling down would be given two mates who needed him to be steady and secure.
* * * *
“You get home and sleep!I want your ass in here at eight tomorrow,” Sykes shouted, as Ford left headquarters close to ten o’clock, finally heading home.
He’d been halfway there after dropping Chase off when he’d gotten the text from Sykes asking him to stop by headquarters to sign paperwork.Wynna had wanted him back at work tomorrow, actively working on Lucky’s case, but there would be no point if he hadn’t signed his forms first.Boss Lady was a stickler for the rules, which meant Ford would only get his ass handed to him, with a twenty-four-hour leave, if he didn’t do this tonight.As mentally and physically stretched as he was, Ford wanted to resolve Lucky's case before he took time off.
He swiped his access card to leave and stepped out into a chilly night.His car was parked in the closest space to the front entrance, but Ford cursed the broken light above his spot.He sent a text to Sykes to have it looked at before morning—maintenance should get it fixed in case there was an emergency overnight.
Slotting his key into the car door, Ford hovered his hand over the door handle, surprised to sense someone approaching him from behind.He spun, instinctively reaching for his belt even though he wasn’t carrying a gun tonight.
