by Maggie Walsh
“Don’t they believe in lights along the way? It’s pitch black out here,” Mrs. O’Leary grumbled as she tried to see their surroundings through the dark. As they drove on, big trees began to line the two sides of the driveway. Suddenly a huge log cabin came into view. All the lights were on inside, but they couldn’t see inside the windows.
“Holy shit. Look at the size of this place. What is this?” Mrs. O’Leary asked.
“It’s probably like the Branch Davidians. There probably is a cult behind those walls,” Mr. O’Leary grumbled.
“David Koresh didn’t have anything this lavish.”
“So this psycho freak has money.”
“How is he getting that money? Is he corrupting our son even more?” Mrs. O’Leary asked as the lead car stopped.
“We’re about to find out,” Mr. O’Leary said as he put the car in park. The back car stopped and all the doors of both escorting cars opened at once. Two large men stepped out of the front vehicle and three from the rear vehicle. Mr. O’Leary looked at his wife as she looked at him with eyes full of fear. “Let’s go.”
* * * *
“So you’re telling me that my parents are here? Like, here here? Here, in this house, here?” Taylor asked, perplexed.
“Not yet but they will be soon. I sent the enforcers to escort them from the gate.”
“They’re assholes, Micah, not commandos,” Taylor snickered.
“Taylor, don’t start with the jokes,” Jesse admonished. “This is serious. Do you even want to see them?”
“No. Not really. As far as I am concerned, their son, Taylor O’Leary, is dead. He died from brain cancer. I am Taylor Angel. And I will fight anyone who disputes that.” Taylor turned and crossed the room. “I also believe that my parents, the ones who raised me, died the day I was thrown away like last night’s garbage. I mourned their deaths a long time ago.”
“So what should we do with them, Taylor? Whatever you want,” Micah offered.
“You can do whatever you want with them. The people who are here mean nothing to me.”
“Are you sure, sweet baby?” Gabriel asked as he walked to Taylor and placed his hands on Taylor’s hips.
“I don’t want to see them, Gabriel,” Taylor whispered as he stepped closer to his mate.
“Then you don’t have to. I promised you that you would never have to do anything you didn’t want to do, and I meant it,” Gabriel said gently and cupped Taylor’s cheek.
“That may not be entirely true,” Micah said hesitantly. Gabriel, Taylor, and Jesse looked at him curiously. Micah explained to them what happened in his father’s room when Christian came to tell him about Taylor’s parents. When he was done, they all stood there staring at him.
“So something spoke through Uncle Raphael and said we all need to face our pasts?” Gabriel questioned. Micah nodded.
“So what does that mean, the babies will be in jeopardy? And the realm will collapse? The fae realm? And Gabriel’s powers are trapped?” Jesse asked in shock.
“I have to take a stand for what?” Gabriel asked in confusion.
“I don’t know what it all means, but I have a feeling it starts here with Taylor confronting his parents.”
“No,” Taylor said simply and walked out of the room.
“Shit. He shouldn’t have to do it if he doesn’t want to, but what will happen if he doesn’t?” Jesse reasoned.
“I don’t know, baby.”
“Well, our time is up. They just got out of their cars,” Jesse said and tilted his head.
“What is it, baby?”
“They’re not alone. I sense four, not two,” Jesse answered.
“I need to go check on my mate. If you need me, just call, Micah,” Gabriel said and left the room.
“Obviously it’s something that needs to happen, so let’s get this started and see where it takes us,” Micah said and took Jesse’s hand.
* * * *
Christian and Xander led the way as Crew, Lexi, and Xavier took up the rear, keeping their four guests between them. Christian opened the front door, stepped in, and Xander moved in to the other side of the door. He stood like a guard at the ready for anything as he watched the four with hard eyes as they entered the house.
The two humans that introduced themselves as Taylor’s parents looked around at everything in awe. The other two made Xander uncomfortable. There was something about them that just screamed “beware” to him. After everyone stepped in, Christian closed the door behind them.
“Who lives here?” Mrs. O’Leary asked absently as she looked around.
“We all do,” Xavier answered her in a cold voice.
“So who owns this place? And what did he do to get it?” Mr. O’Leary asked in disgust.
“Our brother Micah Angel owns it, and he purchased it by working hard and building an empire,” Crew answered harshly.
“Yeah, drug lords would say they had an empire, too,” the other man spoke.
“Have you ever heard of ParaSafe?” Lexi asked calmly.
“Who hasn’t? It’s the biggest bodyguard service on the planet. They guard anyone who’s anyone,” Mr. O’Leary answered.
“Doesn’t sound like a drug lord operation to me,” Micah’s deep commanding voice came from the hall. Everyone turned to face him. Mr. and Mrs. O’Leary’s eyes widened, and the other two guests looked terrified as their eyes landed on Micah’s hulking form walking toward them.
Micah sauntered across the floor, exuding his imposing strength and power. He stopped a few feet from the O’Leary’s. “You must be Taylor’s sperm and egg donors,” Micah said in a cold voice.
“We are his parents,” Mr. O’Leary corrected harshly.
Micah turned his cold, hard eyes on Mr. O’Leary. “Not anymore. You gave up all right to that claim the day you tossed him from his home,” Micah said through clenched teeth.
“I don’t care who you think you are, or how much money you have. I have come to see my son.”
“This is my home and my lands, as well as my town. I say who can come and who goes. You are here because I have allowed it. But if you would like to get into it, I would be more than happy to exchange jabs with you. As far as I am concerned you both deserve to be beat to the ground for what you did to Taylor,” Micah boomed. “And the fact that you brought these two monsters with you into my home without even informing my brothers that you came with others, is reason enough for me to toss you out on your asses. But I warn you, I will toss you with the exact same care you extended to Taylor.”
“These are Mr. and Mrs. Alexander. They wish to see their son Jesse. We have every right to see our children. If you try to stop us, I will contact the police and have them make you bring our boys to us.”
“Go ahead. Call 9-1-1. Let’s see what happens,” Xavier said with a smirk.
Mr. O’Leary fished his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed 9-1-1. He waited as it rang. “Yes, my name is Daniel O’Leary and I am in the home of a Micah Angel. He is keeping my son here against his will and not allowing my wife and I to see our so…What do you mean hold on?” Mr. O’Leary’s face turned red with anger.
Raith strolled into the foyer from the back hall with his phone to his ear. “Hey, Micah. I have an asshole on the phone that says he’s Taylor’s father and you’re keeping Taylor here against his will,” Raith said with a smirk.
Mr. O’Leary’s face dropped, and he looked to Micah, who was standing there smiling at him with mischief. “Thank you, Raith. I think you can hang up now.”
Chapter 10
“So you own the whole town, including the police,” Mr. O’Leary spat as he put his phone back in his pocket. “I’ll just come back with the state police and my lawyer.”
“On what grounds?” Micah asked calmly.
“Keeping our children here against their will,” Mrs. O’Leary crowed.
“I was not aware that any of you have spoken to Taylor or Jesse in many years. How can you make the accusation that they
are here against their will?” Raith asked in confusion.
“My son would never be in a house of such ungodly practices,” Mrs. O’Leary spat.
“As usual, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Taylor’s cold voice came from above them on the stairs. All eyes turned to him. Taylor was standing at the top of the stairs with his head held high. He looked fierce in skintight black leather pants, combat boots, and a black collar around his neck. He wore no shirt, but his body sparkled with glitter, and the two hoops in his nipples gleamed in the light. He had black kohl liner around his eyes and eye shadow that gave him a smoky look, along with a pink lip gloss and his purple-tipped hair. Gabriel stood beside him, holding his hand. His face was hard and his eyes cold as he looked at their guests. Slowly, Taylor sashayed down the steps with Gabriel by his side.
“Mr. O’Leary, Mrs. O’Leary,” he said in a cold voice as he nodded to them. “What do we owe the displeasure of your visit?”
“Taylor?” Mrs. O’Leary questioned in shock.
“So this is the life you chose? To be the whore for some rich asshole?” Mr. O’Leary spat.
“First of all, I am nobody’s whore. Second, I would never fuck Micah. His husband would get pissed and burn my ass beyond recognition. But most importantly, I would never in all eternity cheat on my husband,” Taylor addressed them indignantly.
Mrs. O’Leary’s eyes went wide open in shock as Mr. O’Leary sputtered, “H-h-husband? You can’t have a husband. You are a man, not a woman.”
“Yes, I am a man. That’s why my wonderful husband wanted me. That’s generally how it works with gay love. You find someone you are attracted to, you fall in love, you get married. This is Gabriel Angel, my husband.” Taylor strongly pronounced the last word.
“It is against God’s will. You will burn in hell for this, Taylor,” Mrs. O’Leary screeched.
“I’ve already been to hell, well the Underworld, and I can tell you, it’s not a place I want to spend all eternity in, but at least if I do go I will have a lot of friends there. It’s really not as bad as we’re always led to believe.”
“That’s because you only went to the Underworld, sweet baby. Don’t you remember when you caught a glimpse of hell? It wasn’t pretty,” Gabriel reminded him as he moved behind Taylor and wrapped his arms around his waist, holding him tight.
“That’s true. But I think Lord Lucifer would keep me safe if I went there, don’t you think?” Taylor asked sweetly.
“I have no doubt.” Gabriel kissed the side of Taylor’s neck.
“Stop that, right now! Get your disgusting hands off my son. Taylor, we are going home now and you are coming with us,” Mr. O’Leary demanded.
“I’m not going anywhere with you. This is my home. These people are my family. You mean nothing to me,” Taylor snapped. “Why are you even here? You threw me away seven years ago. You told me I was no longer your son. Which is fine by me. What did you think was going to happen? Did you think that I would come crawling back to you that day and beg you for forgiveness and tell you I was joking, or that I wouldn’t be gay anymore? Is that what you have been thinking all these years? Poor, stupid Taylor can’t make it out in the world alone, so he’ll be back? Well, guess what? I’m still here and I’m still queer.”
“Taylor O’Leary, get your behind in the car right now. We’re going home. And when we get there, we will find you the help you need,” Mr. O’Leary ordered.
“My name is Taylor Angel now. I am no longer O’Leary and I never wish to be again. And you have no right to tell me what to do or how to live my life. I’m a grown-ass man and I make my own decisions. I live my life the way I want to. You horrible people threw me out of the only home I ever knew, after lying to me my whole life, that you would love me no matter what. How many times when I was growing up did you both tell me that no matter what you would always love me? But you didn’t, did you? You threw me away like some piece of trash with only the clothes on my back, and now after seven years, you decide to come find me and demand that I come back to that farce with you. Are you on drugs? Is that the problem? You both been doing the happy pill dance and you have lost your damn minds? Why would you even come looking for me? What in all that is holy was the thought process behind coming here? For even looking for me in the first place? Please, enlighten me so that I can tell you both to go stick it up your asses and never come near me again.”
“How dare you talk to us like th―” Mr. O’Leary began.
“Are you fucking insane! Am I the only one in this room that is completely confused by all of this? I owe you nothing! I am a grown man and I say where I go, who I go with, and what I do when I get there. You have absolutely no say in my life what-so-ever. You. Threw. Me. Away. You are no longer my family. You are no longer my parents. My parents, the parents I loved, respected, and honored, died the day you showed me your true colors.”
“We gave you life, young man, and we―” Mrs. O’Leary started and took a threatening step toward Taylor, grabbing his arm harshly.
Gabriel placed his hand over hers and gently removed it from Taylor as he spoke calmly, “Never touch my husband. I have had enough of this. You are upsetting my man, so I must ask you all to leave.”
“We are not going anywhere without our boys,” Mr. O’Leary said with a clenched jaw.
“That is where you are wrong. Neither Taylor nor Jesse is your boy. You chose to throw your child away. You chose to turn your back on him for something he has no choice over, and these two”―Gabriel motioned to the two who claimed to be Jesse’s parents―“are not Jesse’s parents. So they have even less of a right to be here making demands. And I don’t give a rat’s ass that you are the two pieces of crap that gave my baby life. You tossed him out and told him to never return. Well, he hasn’t returned. He wants nothing to do with you. And none of this makes a fucking difference anyway. You cannot come into our home and make demands of any kind, especially from Taylor. You cannot just stroll in here and talk to him like he’s five and what he thinks and wants doesn’t matter. Now you better stop talking to my husband with disrespect before I show you both how to really toss someone from a house.”
“We were told that you are keeping our boys here against their will, and we will not allow this to go on,” Mr. O’Leary said in a monotone voice.
“And who told you that?” Jesse’s angelic voice came to them. Everyone turned to see Jesse glide into the room from the back hall. He stopped as he reached Micah’s side and looked up at his mate, giving him a smile. Micah bent down and gave Jesse a soft kiss. “Thank you, my love,” Jesse said sweetly and then turned to face their guests.
“Jesse?” Mrs. O’Leary said astonished as her eyes went wide at the sight of him.
Jesse looked at her and the smile dropped from his face as he answered, “Mrs. O’Leary. You are all upsetting Taylor and our family, so I must ask you to leave my home.”
“You mean his home,” Mr. O’Leary growled with disgust as he motioned toward Micah.
“No, I mean our home. This is my husband and all of these men are my brothers, so I mean our home. Now, I have already asked you nicely to leave. I am not asking again, I am telling you. Leave my house and never come back.”
“We’ll be back with the authorities.”
“Why? Why would you come here demanding Taylor’s return after all this time? And why in god’s name would you want me?” Jesse asked.
Mr. O’Leary looked at him in confusion as it looked like he was trying to find the answer. After a few minutes, he said, “Because he is our son.”
“Is that really why you are here, or have you been used as pawns by these two vile creatures to gain access into our home?”
“They are your parents―”
Jesse cut him off. “They are not my parents. They are evil demons who kidnapped me when I was a baby and then spent the next seventeen years torturing me,” Jesse snapped as he turned his cold eyes on the two who raised him. Their eyes went wide as they seemed
to shake. “Who sent you? I know it wasn’t Malachi, because he is gone. I defeated him and have given him to Lord Lucifer.” The two demons’ eyes went wide again at the news. Jesse gave them an evil smile. “Yes, I know who you are and what you are. I know that your precious demigod Malachi had you take me and raise me so that I wouldn’t find my way to my mate or my destiny. It was him, wasn’t it? The other demigod. Malachi’s partner. The one with the long white beard.”
The two turned pale at the mention of the other man, and they looked as if they were going to die from fear.
“Who is he? I will give you one chance to tell me before I turn my powers on you and take the information from you by force. And I will do it with great pain. I will return every moment of pain you caused me,” Jesse said in a hard, cold voice.
“What are you talking about?” Mr. O’Leary asked as he looked back and forth between Jesse and the demons.
Jesse ignored Mr. O’Leary’s question as he continued to stare at the demons. “Tell me now or suffer.”
“What would make you so different from us then?” the female demon, who claimed to be his mother his whole life, asked in a shaky voice.
“Mine would be revenge for what you did to a small helpless child. Mine would be just. Now tell me.” Jesse took a step toward them.
“He will destroy us,” the male demon whispered. The female’s head snapped in his direction and she gave him an evil look.
“Yes, but so will I. So what choice do you really have? If you tell me now who he is, I will kill you quickly, even though you deserve to die a very slow, painful death. Will he give you the same courtesy?”