Page 37 of Give Me You
"Ready?" Akira asks, reading over Emilio's shoulder.
Emilio takes a deep breath, his hand hovering over the mouse. "Ready."
He clicks post, and the announcement goes live. Within seconds, reactions start pouring in. Comments from regulars at the club, congratulations from other business owners in the area, messages of support from Omegas who look up to Emilio as an example of what's possible.
But there are negative comments too. People questioning whether an Omega should be running a club while pregnant. People suggesting that Akira and I are just using him. Peoplespreading rumors about how Emilio got pregnant, echoing Zaden's cruel words about him sleeping around.
Emilio's expression tightens as he reads through the responses, his jaw clenching. I move to stand beside him, my hand on his shoulder. "Don't read those. The people who matter already know the truth."
"They're saying I'm a whore," Emilio says quietly, his voice strained. "They're saying my baby is going to grow up without knowing who his father is."
"They're wrong," Akira says firmly, moving to Emilio's other side. "And anyone who knows you, anyone who's seen how hard you work and how much you care, knows they're wrong too."
Emilio
It's been almost a week of bliss, which should make me suspicious but instead I'm just enjoying it. Most of the investors have settled into the new dynamic, accepting that Akira and Liam are part of the picture now and that any discussion of Charles and Zaden aren't welcome.
The problem is they talk to Akira rather than me. Every meeting, every decision, every question gets directed at him like I'm not even in the room. Like I'm just decoration sitting at the head of the table while the real business happens around me.
It ticks me off every single time. The anger builds during those meetings, simmering under my professional smile until I want to scream. But I've found an outlet for that frustration. After particularly annoying investor calls, I make Akira fuck me. Hard and rough, taking all my anger out on both of us until we're both spent and satisfied.
Or sometimes I make Akira watch as Liam fucks me instead, making him sit there and see exactly what he's missing because he answered too many questions that should have been mine to answer.
It's fun and light, this game we play. The sex is incredible, the power dynamic shifting and changing depending on who needs what. But underneath the fun, the feelings are deepening. Everything is getting more serious, more real, more terrifying. I've almost said I love you more than once, the words sitting on the tip of my tongue after particularly intense moments. But I bite them back every time, not ready to make myself that vulnerable. Not ready to admit how much they've come to mean to me.
The biggest change is how loving Liam has become around me. The joy evident on his face whenever he looks at my belly, whenever he talks about the baby, is impossible to miss. He touches my stomach constantly, his hand finding it like a magnet. Talks to the baby when he thinks I'm asleep, telling him stories about what their life will be like. Plans out loud about teaching him to ride a bike, to throw a ball, to stand up for himself. The tenderness in those moments makes my chest ache with emotions I'm still not ready to name.
After I posted that excerpt on the website and my socials about expecting with my Alphas, something shifted. The weight I've been carrying for months lifted slightly, replaced by something lighter. Relief, maybe. Or pride. I'm not hiding anymore, notpretending to be something I'm not. And the response has been overwhelmingly positive, at least from the people who matter.
Even texting in my forum has produced a different effect. The anonymity of ClassyO feels less necessary now, less like I'm hiding and more like I'm just connecting with people who understand. Coolblue congratulated me on finding my Alphas. Strawberrybubbles sent a long message about how happy she is that I'm letting myself be loved. Razorfox made a joke about me going soft, but followed it with genuine well-wishes. MacNCheese sent baby name suggestions, most of them ridiculous but all of them making me smile.
I don't want all this to be fake. The realization hits me at odd moments, when I'm watching Liam cook breakfast or when Akira kisses my forehead before heading out to handle business. This was supposed to be temporary, a performance for the investors. But somewhere along the way it became real. And now I can't imagine going back to the way things were before.
However, Akira and Liam haven't found anything more about River. Not even after talking to a few of the men they work with, not even after following every lead and shaking down everyone who might know something. The investigation has stalled, leaving us in limbo. The police haven't arrested anyone else, haven't closed the case. They're just waiting, watching, probably still suspecting Akira and Liam despite the lack of evidence.
Viktor, one of Akira's men, provided some insight a few days ago. He thinks Zaden is most likely behind all of this, pulling strings and creating chaos to make himself look like the solution. But I just don't understand why Zaden would go so far. Drugging me is one thing. Having someone killed is another level entirely. My brother is a bastard, sure, but is he really capable of murder? The thought makes me sick.
Now I'm just waiting for the other shoe to fall. Waiting for the next crisis, the next attack, the next thing that threatenseverything I've built. The anxiety sits in my chest constantly, a low level hum that never quite goes away even during the good moments.
But falling asleep beside Liam or Akira or both is fucking wonderful. That's the one time the anxiety fades completely, replaced by a sense of safety I've never felt before. Wrapped in their arms, surrounded by their scents, I can finally let my guard down. Finally stop being the strong, independent Omega who doesn't need anyone and just be Emilio. Just be me.
Tonight I'm feeling a little antsy as I stand in front of the mirror in my apartment. Cole is bringing a new item from Neon Dreams, some kind of special release that's supposed to be even more popular than the original flavors. Wednesday night shows are always big, but tonight needs to be perfect. We need the success, need the good press, need something to go right for once.
Looking around my small apartment, I notice how much it smells like the Stark twins now. Whiskey and citrus from Akira, cedarwood from Liam, all of it mixing with my faint scent until the space feels like it belongs to all of us. Their clothes are mixed in with mine in the closet, their toiletries in the bathroom, their presence in every corner. When did that happen? When did they become such a permanent part of my life that I can't remember what it was like before?
Shaking off the thoughts, I focus on getting ready. Tonight I'm wearing a more fitting suit, one that actually shows my extended belly instead of hiding it. The fabric stretches over the swell, making it obvious that I'm pregnant. The sight makes me grin. This is real. I'm bringing a life into the world, and I'm not ashamed of it. I'm proud.
Running my hands over my stomach, I feel the baby move. Little flutters that have become more frequent over the last week. "You ready for this, little bean?" I murmur. "Big nighttonight. Lots of people, lots of noise. But you're safe in there, I promise."
Heading down the stairs from my apartment to the club, I'm immediately surrounded by the familiar sounds and smells. Music already pumping through the speakers even though we're not officially open yet, the cleaning crew finishing up last minute details, bartenders stocking the bar. Everything is running smoothly, everyone focused on making tonight perfect.
Liam spots me first, his face lighting up with that smile that's become so familiar. He crosses the floor in a few long strides and bends down for a kiss. "Don't you look like sex on legs," he murmurs against my lips.
The compliment makes me grin, heat flooding through me. "You're not so bad yourself."
Akira comes up behind me, his hands settling on my hips. He presses a kiss to my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "What color lingerie?"
Laughing, I lean back against him. "What if I told you I wasn't wearing any?"
