Timeless

Chapter 4

They all walked out of Nash’s office together. Manny turned to Oliver and Pascal, stopping

them, then looked to Angelo and Morgan. “Can I talk to these guys for a few minutes?”

“Sure. We’ll wait for you over here,” Morgan answered then looked to Ollie and Pas and

held out his hand. “Thank you both for finding our son and bringing him home. If you need

anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Ollie and Pascal both shook Morgan’s huge hand and smiled. Angelo then thanked them as he

too shook their hands. “Take your time. We’ll wait.”

Morgan, Angelo, and Toby moved away and walked to the main doors leading out of the

squad room, then stopped and started talking to each other.

Manny turned to Ollie and Pascal and lowered his voice. “Thank you both for finding me and

bringing me back here. And thanks for not saying anything in there about Rune.”

“I don’t know why you don’t want to tell them his name, but I figured you have your

reasons,” Pascal answered.

Ollie gave Manny a bright smile and flirted, “And who knows, maybe we could work out

some kind of payment or reward for being silent.” Ollie moved closer to Manny and slowly ran a

finger down his chest.

Manny watched the motion then raised his head and met Ollie’s gaze. He could see the l**t in

the cutie’s deep brown eyes. “Are you always such a flirt?”

“Yes,” Pascal and Ollie said in unison, then both laughed as Ollie bumped his brother with

his shoulder.

Manny chuckled as he shook his head. “Well, I don’t know about payment or reward in the

way you’re suggesting, but I would love to have two new friends,” Manny replied.

“Oh, you got that for sure, luscious lips. But I’m always open for taking that friendship

further into friends with benefits whenever you want,” Ollie said seductively, then licked his lips.

“You’re incorrigible, Ollie. Stop flirting with our new friend,” Pas admonished gently.

“I make no promises. Actually, the promise I will make is for you to get used to it, because I

will probably always flirt with such a hot specimen of man.”

Manny chuckled. “At least being friends with you won’t be dull, that’s for sure. Anyway,

thanks again, guys. You got a cell?”

Oliver and Pascal looked at him in confusion, then Pascal pulled a cell from his back pocket.

Manny grabbed it and tapped on the screen a few times then handed it back. “Now you have my

number. Although I’m not sure where in the hell my cell went when…well, when I was taken, but

hopefully I’ll have a new one with the same number in a few days.”

“Well, if you don’t, Toby knows how to find you,” Oliver said, as he looked over Manny’s

shoulder toward where his brother stood with Manny’s dads. His dads. If what Rune said to him

was true, and he was really Manny’s dad, then what did that mean for him now? Would it change

anything between him, Angelo, and Morgan? No, he couldn’t let that happen. They and Avery

were the most important people in his life and he didn’t want to lose any of them. So many

questions were starting to run through his head and he didn’t like any of them. Not only that but he didn’t have any answers.

“You okay there, Manny?” Pascal asked with concern as he placed a gentle hand on Manny’s

arm.

He blinked a few times, coming out of his grim thoughts, and focused on the cute men in front

of him, giving them a smile. “Yeah, thanks. I’m just…all of a sudden, I’m really tired.”

“Well, who could blame you, sexy? You’ve been through a lot lately. Go on home with those

two hot as hell dads of yours and let them love you and pamper you a little,” Oliver said, but at

the end, Manny could hear a tightness to his new friend’s voice.

“Yeah. Thanks again, guys.” Manny shook each of their hands and the three turned, heading

toward the door.

As they passed Frankie’s desk, Manny tensed up slightly. He badly wanted to look at the

gorgeous man, but kept his eyes forward. He had a little crush on the hot cop but he knew the guy

would never return his interest. Frankie was a lot older than him. He was an adult and Manny was

still a kid, even though he would be twenty-one soon.

That thought brought on a whole new string of questions and Manny’s gut twisted. Rune said

he would change when he turned twenty-one. Would it happen at exactly midnight, or take a few

more hours? What in the hell was he going to do?

* * * *

Frankie typed away on his keyboard as he heard the group come from Nash’s office. Then

Angelo, Morgan, and Ren…um, Toby, left the three boys alone and walked across the squad

room. The three younger cuties huddled together, whispering. Frankie tried to hear what they were

saying without letting on that he was eavesdropping, but they spoke so low all he caught was a

few flirtatious words from the blue-haired cutie that made Frankie want to laugh, but he bit the

inside of his lip and held it back.

The three then turned and walked past his desk and Frankie caught the scent of something

delicious. His head snapped up as he watched the trio pass him. He took in a large breath through

his nose and that wonderful scent, although very light, lingered in the air. It smelled like

honeysuckle and morning dew. Frankie just wanted to roll around in it while his phoenix began

purring in appreciation inside him.

Frankie watched as the three cuties met Angelo, Morgan, and Toby at the door. They all

exchanged a few words before they separated and disappeared. He didn’t know which one of the

three had put off that scent, but he had a growing need to find out who.

Suddenly the feeling of loss hit him in the gut and Frankie had no idea why. His brows

furrowed in confusion as he tried to figure out his thoughts and swirling emotions.

“Hey, buttface, ready to head out?” Marco called as he sat on the edge of Frankie’s desk.

“You finally got that right, asshat,” Frankie said with a smirk as he pushed back from his

desk and stood.

Marco tilted his head as his brows dipped into t deep V, and confusion filled his eyes. “Got

what right?”

“Your face and my a*s, perfect match,” Frank replied with a laugh. “f**k you, asshole,” Marco mumbled and pushed Frankie’s shoulder, shoving him toward

the door.

“You wish you could f**k me, but alas, you have two mates and have lost your shot. But then

again, wouldn’t that be kind of freaky? With my a*s looking like your face, you would be face

fucking yourself.” Frankie’s laugh filled the squad room as he took off running out of the door,

avoiding Marco’s slaps.

* * * *

What in the hell was he going to do? His birthday was three days away. Only about seventytwo

more hours and he would be twenty-one, and if what Rune had said was true, then he was

about to change, but change into what? Rune also said it would be painful. s**t. Maybe he should

have calmed down enough to listen to Rune instead of making him leave? Now he had no idea

what was about to happen and it was scaring the s**t out of him.

His dads had brought him home and had taken great care of him, fawning all over him as they

ate and told him about everything he had missed while he was gone. He was shocked to hear that

Day and Ethan had another mate. And it was Twix’s cousin Rhys, and they had to battle Zev’s dad

who had some kind of sick obsession with Rhys, and now Rhys and Twix were both pregnant.

Damn, his head had spun from everything that had happened since Rune, his biological father, if

the man could be trusted, had taken him. Even though he thought he had been gone for a few days,

he really was gone for months with all that happening.

His dads had tried a few times over the past week to get him to talk, but he always answered

them the same way. He didn’t know. How was he supposed to tell them that he had found his real

father? Would they walk away and not want him anymore? Sure, he was almost twenty-one and an

adult now, but he loved being with Angelo and Morgan. They were his dads. They had saved him,

rescuing him from not only a life on the streets, but they saved his life. Then they had taken him

into their home and their hearts, and made him feel wanted and loved. They were his family now

and he couldn’t even think about losing them. The pain would be too great.

He didn’t think Angelo or Morgan would treat him any differently no matter what was about

to happen, but what about the others? Would the rest of his family be able to handle that he was

part fairy? And not knowing exactly what changes he was about to go through only made

everything scarier. If Rune was telling him the truth and he was Manny’s biological dad, then why

wasn’t Manny green like Rune? Where was his powers? The one he heard his dads talking about

that pixies, fairies, and elves had. Wouldn’t he have those powers, too? Although, Avery didn’t

get anything until after he turned twenty-one and had been claimed by his mates, Illan and Justice.

Is that what would happen to him, too?

“For a man who lost two months of his life and is now finally home with the people who

love him, you look pretty long in the face there, Manny. So, tell me, who kicked your puppy?”

Twix asked from the other side of the counter.

Manny had walked around town all morning as all these same questions kept going through

his head, but he wound up at Twixie’s around lunchtime when his stomach had started to growl.

He hadn’t even realized how long he had been sitting at the counter in the diner until Twix’s voice

brought him out of his thoughts and he looked at the clock on the wall. It was nearing five and Angelo would be expecting him home for dinner.

“What?” he asked.

“Are you okay, sugar? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Twix asked in concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine, Twix, thanks. Just thinking and I didn’t realize how late it had gotten. What

do I owe you?” Manny asked as he reached back and pulled his wallet from his back pocket.

Twix was holding a rag in his hand and waved it at him as he put his other hand on his hip.

“Pfft. Keep your money, sweetie. It’s on the house.”

“No, Twix, I can’t let you do that,” Manny argued.

“You’re not letting me do anything. This is my place and I make the rules. Look at it as a

welcome home present.” The cute pixie man gave him a bright smile.

“Thanks, Twix. I appreciate that.”

“How about one more soda before you get going? I know for a fact that Angelo is stopping

by after work today to pick up your favorite apple pie to bring home for dessert. You can catch a

ride home with him.”

Manny smiled in appreciation. He really did love Twix’s apple pie and he wasn’t in the

mood to walk all the way home right now. When he left the house early this morning he had only

intended to go for a short walk so he had left his car there but now after walking most of the day

and the emotional roller coaster that was spinning inside him, he was pretty drained.

“You know what, Twix? I think I’ll take you up on that offer. I am pretty tired.”

“Great. I’ll be right back with your refill,” Twix announced and grabbed Manny’s glass, then

walked away.

Manny settled back into his seat and his mind began to race again. The bell over the door

jingled but Manny paid it no mind. A few minutes later a large figure sat on the stool next to him.

“Penny for your thoughts,” the deep, sexy voice of Officer Frankie Vespa said.

Manny smiled shyly as he turned his head and peeked at Frankie. Gods, the phoenix was

sexy as hell. Manny loved his dark brown eyes. They made him think of chocolate, all melted and

silky smooth. “Hey, Frankie,” Manny whispered.

“You look like someone either stole your best friend, or you got some bad news. What’s up?

I would think being home with your dads would have you walking around on cloud nine,” Frankie

replied.

“Hey, Frankie, what can I get you?” Twix asked as he placed Manny’s glass on the counter in

front of him.

“Coffee would be great, Twix. Thanks.”

“Coming right up,” Twix answered and strolled away.

“So?” Frankie prodded.

“I’m fine, just a little tired I guess.” Manny shrugged a shoulder and picked up his glass, then

took a long drink. Sitting this close to the object of his desire over the past two years was making

him feel all warm inside.

Even though he had been living with Angelo and Morgan for about five years now, and

Frankie was one of Angelo’s co-workers, they were rarely ever in the same room. Most of the

time when things were going down, Frankie wasn’t there, and when he was, Manny was always

hanging out with Avery and Frankie was always with Vik and Marco. But whenever Manny got

the chance to look at the man, he was shocked that drool wasn’t running out of his mouth and onto his chin. He really loved looking at Frankie. The man was sexy as sin.

“Yeah, I can see that after what you went through, but I can also tell you’re lying,” Frankie

said, then stopped talking as Twix placed his coffee before him. Manny froze, his muscles locking

up, as his breath caught.

Frankie brought the cup to his lips and blew across the surface before taking a sip. Then he

spoke against the rim. “Your body language alone screams you’re lying and I hit the nail on the

head. So, you want to talk about it?” Frankie took a sip and placed the cup back on the saucer.

“It’s nothing. Just…” Manny sighed heavily than ran his fingers through his hair. “That guy…

who took me…he said that he knew me and that when I turned twenty-one that things would

change for me,” Manny replied nervously. He had no idea why he had just confessed even that

vague amount to Frankie, but it actually felt good to tell someone about his troubles.

“I see. And what kind of changes did he say you would have?”

Manny shrugged again. “I don’t know. Ollie and Pas found me and got me out of there before

he came back, so I never found out.”

“Hmmm. So now you’re worried about what changes he meant? If he was telling the truth or

only trying to freak you out? And if he was telling the truth, will these changes cause Angelo and

Morgan to push you away?”

“How did you…” Manny spun to face Frankie, his eyes wide open.

“Because contrary to popular belief, I’m not really an i***t. Even though I must admit I act

like one most of the time. I’m a cop, Manny, I can read people pretty well. Now, I don’t know if

this guy was f*****g with you or not, or what changes could possibly happen, but I do know this.

Angelo and Morgan will never push you away or stop loving you. You could morph into a threeheaded

purple huffalump with one eye and they would still love you like their own son.”

Manny chuckled and gave Frankie a shy smile. “Thanks, Frankie. And for what it’s worth, I

don’t think you’re an i***t,” Manny whispered.

Frankie turned his head and their gazes met. They just sat there staring at one another until

Angelo’s voice cut through their connection.

“Manny. Hey, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me you just ate. I was planning to make

one of your favorites for dinner tonight. Chicken and broccoli stir-fry with fried rice and

dumplings. And I ordered an apple pie from Twix.”

“Which I have all ready and boxed up for you right here,” Twix announced as he approached

and placed the white pie box in Angelo’s hands.

“No. I’m starving actually. Thanks, Dad. Twix told me you were stopping by so I was

waiting for you to grab a ride home,” Manny answered.

A bright, happy smile came to Angelo’s face as he nodded. Manny always wanted to see that

smile from his dad. Frankie was right, Angelo and Morgan had stood behind him all this time.

They were amazing men and they wouldn’t turn their backs on him.

Manny stood and took the pie from Angelo. “Let’s go home.”

“Great. Thanks, Twix. Have a good night, Frankie,” Angelo said before turning and heading

toward the door.

Manny stopped behind Frankie, then with a moment of bravery that he didn’t know where it

came from, he leaned over and kissed Frankie’s cheek, whispering against his stubbled skin.

“Thanks, Frankie.” Manny pulled back and hurried out of the diner.