It was... alarming, the way Olivier had taken to Jenn. In the sense that Olivier had been slowly warming up to her, he’d been learning to care for her, and every time Eric saw his omega holding his daughter, the way he balanced Jenn on his hip with such ease...
Felt like Eric’s heart might burst, with how much he felt for that man.
Eric shut his eyes at a stoplight, remembering Ollie’s one-sided conversation on the phone, a smile in his voice. Olivier loved Jenn, didn’t he? Enough that he could spill all his secrets to her.
And the tightness in Eric’s chest exploded like a cage door bursting open.
Eric panted, staring at his steering wheel.
He remembered Ollie when he was ten, grinning at Eric with mud in his hair. He remembered Ollie at fourteen, smiling as they huddled under the same blanket to sleep. He remembered Ollie now, with his gentle eyes and his soft looks at his belly, the way he tucked his face against Eric’s chest when they slept.
There was no one else like Olivier, no one that could replace him.
Eric loved Ollie. He knew that now.
The car behind honked. Eric stepped on the gas, his thoughts whirling. He loved Ollie. And Ollie wanted to know that, didn’t he?
If he was still at Pigeon’s, if he wasn’t pissed with Eric... Maybe Ollie might accept Eric’s love.
20
Olivier
“What’s her name?” Zan asked, jerking his chin at Jenn.
Olivier’s stomach plummeted. Zan was here. He’d been hoping to avoid his ex... but with Meadowfall as small as it was, it seemed impossible to.
“Ignoring me? That’s cold.”
“I’m busy right now,” Olivier said, trying not to let his voice tremble.
He couldn’t help the tendril of fear that slithered down his spine. Or the memories of those ruthless hands around his neck, those cold eyes glinting as Zan slammed him into the wall.
This past December, Zan had choked him until his lungs burned. Olivier had regretted being touch-starved enough to risk it.
Zan had never been kind, or gentle. And yet he was the only one who had bothered to touch Ollie, until Eric returned.
“You always have time for me,” Zan murmured.
“I don’t anymore,” Olivier said, trying not to let his panic show.
Beneath Zan’s friendly exterior was a vicious, ruthless beast. Few people had seen it. They wouldn’t know until they got close to him, like Olivier had. And the memory of cruel hands around his throat sent a spike of fear through Olivier’s body.
He kept his eyes on the parking lot, too aware of the few inches that separated him from Zan. The passers-by had not turned to look, and the rows of cars stretched on. It all felt like a trap.
“I know somewhere we can go.” Zan curled his fingers around Ollie’s arm, his grip painfully tight.
“Don’t touch me!” Olivier yelped, trying to shake Zan’s grip off. All his senses blared with alarm. Jenn wailed.
“It’s just a bit of rough and tumble,” Zan said, his voice oily.
Ollie’s skin crawled. Zan would cut into him. Zan would pull out all of Ollie’s hair, and then he would turn to Jenn. Jenn, who was eleven months old and helpless.
Nausea rolled through Olivier’s stomach. He couldn’t let Zan hurt him. But more than that, he couldn’t let Zan hurt Eric’s daughter.
Zan’s nostrils flared. He smiled, slow and cruel. “Looks like someone knocked you up. Where’s your alpha? Or did you sell your heat? Wouldn’t surprise me.”
He reached down and grabbed Ollie between the legs, squeezing roughly. Ollie slapped his hand away, shame burning his skin. What if Eric saw that? Would he be disgusted?
“Get away,” Olivier choked.
A few shoppers looked over. Zan waved. “Just me and my omega,” he said.
“I’m not yours,” Olivier said, louder this time.
“You were mine.” Zan glanced at Olivier’s neck where the bonding scars were. The marks itched. “Oh, you sold a marking, too?”
Olivier’s chest tightened. It had been an accidental bite, nothing more. He wasn’t really Eric’s, was he?
“You’re not worth a lot to everyone else,” Zan said. “Why would you be? You’ve slept around a hundred times.”
I don’t know. Why would I be worth anything?
Eric’s mom had told Olivier several times, A B-grade isn’t good enough. Go back and try harder. You keep coming in last in everything. Don’t embarrass Eric and the rest.
Zan stepped closer so close their sides bumped. Olivier shuddered with revulsion. He wanted to grab Jenn and run. But he didn’t have the strength or stamina; Zan would easily outrun them.
“I’ll shout,” Olivier said, shoving the cart faster through the lot. Tears streaked down Jenn’s cheeks; Zan glanced askance at her.
Anxiety building in his veins, Olivier wracked his mind for some way he could escape. He came up empty.
He’d never been able to escape Zan. He’d run, and Zan had shown up time and again, only when he was feeling particularly cruel. The only way he’d leave was when Olivier gave in, shouldered the pain, and waited for Zan to get bored.
If Eric ever discovered that... Ollie couldn’t bear to think about it.
Zan’s arm shot out; he grabbed Jenn’s chin, jerking her to face him. “Cute kid.”
Jenn shrieked.
Olivier’s heart clenched. “Hands off!”
He smacked Zan’s arm away, running with the cart through the parking lot. He needed to get Jenn somewhere safe. Where Zan wouldn’t lay eyes on her anymore.
At the end of the parking lot row, Olivier turned.
Except Zan caught up. He grabbed Ollie’s arm and yanked him sideways, throwing him off balance. Ollie stopped breathing.
The cart crashed against the curb, tipping up on two wheels. Jenn cried out in terror—would she fall? Olivier released the cart so he wouldn’t drag her down. It clattered back down onto the asphalt, and Zan yanked harder on him.
Ollie stumbled, tripping on the shrubs in the curb planter. Someone please see this. Someone help me. But they’ll judge me for being weak, won’t they?
“Let go!” he snapped, trying to resist.
“In a moment,” Zan said, dragging him further.
Olivier tripped over a tree root, losing his balance.
