Page 5 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 9-12
“We have to work to keep as many families together as possible. Reconciliation and restoration is always the goal, unless it’s impossible.”
“You forget this is my family,” Damian snapped. “Some families shouldn’t be preserved.”
Welwick’s face settled into a mulish look. “That’s what an investigation will have to determine.”
Damian forced his hands to remain still. “I don’t need an investigation to know. I’ve lived it. Dalia tried to blackmail me just last week.”
Welwick’s eyes sharpened. “What could she hold over you?”
“Nothing, actually. I told her to go to the press with whatever she wanted to say. She thinks spilling to South Korean media that I date men is somehow damning.”
“Are you going to need to distance yourself from these kids for other reasons? Is the security unusual?”
“My partner was kidnapped last month by a sex trafficking ring in Seoul. That case is ongoing, both here and in South Korea. Until that and other things are considered settled, we have twenty-four seven security.”
Welwick deflated. “Oh.”
“If I take the kids to my primary residence, this case will make front-page news somewhere.” And even if he did want to take the kids in, that was not something any kids needed.
Damian pulled out his phone. “I’m going to call a testing agency I’ve used before for clients. They can do a legally valid DNA test over the weekend. I’ll have them come here.”
Welwick raised both eyebrows. “Money must be nice.”
“Sometimes.” Damian grimaced. “Then we talk about what to do for tonight.”
“I’m going to go check on the kids,” Welwick said. “Come out when you’re ready.”
Damian’s personal assistant was just leaving the office. He readily agreed to turn back and found the number for the testing agency within minutes. Damian thanked him and called the agency. He winced at the quote and agreed.
Stepping back into the general area, Damian made straight for where he’d left Jun, Richard, and Collin.
Richard was sitting at the small table. Collin was reading on his phone. Jun appeared to have been pacing.
“I don’t want to be here.” There were half a dozen other things he’d intended to say. That was what came out.
Richard stood, all the strong, solid height of him. Damian went to him, pressing his face into Richard’s shoulder. He smelled like home, like safety. Like everything that Dalia and his dad—Thaddeus Hayden Kramer—were not.
A more slender, somewhat shorter warmth joined him on one side and then a second. They encased him.
Richard touched his head to Damian’s. “We got you, Pup.”
Jun bit him lightly through his coat. Collin found his hand and squeezed.
“I called the agency we used for Dana. They’re coming to do a DNA test.”
Collin and Jun gave Damian enough room to stand back a little. Richard let go more slowly. Damian gave him a grateful smile. Richard could be ninety and bedridden and the man was still going to be his dom.
“Armada is pregnant. She says the father is my father. Her grandfather. But…maybe not. We’re going to find out if she and I are full siblings.”
Each of the three men processed that more slowly. Collin’s hands made motions in the air as he ran through the relationship ladders. Jun’s eyes tightened with anger. Richard was the only who remained unmoved. He slid his hands into his pockets and waited.
Damian waited for Collin and Jun to finish digesting.
Collin spoke first. “Dalia isn’t your sister?”
“She might be. And she might be my mother. That’s the allegation.”
“That’s…” Collin lost his words.
