"This way, Sir..." Ivaniez led us into the penthouse.
The place was huge! It looked more like a fancy exhibit in a luxurious furniture store than a place where people were actually living in.
"Atty. del Mirasol and Young Master Josh were on their way home when the incident happened," she said. "Atorni1 drove the young master home, but the young master suddenly went into heat while they were parking in the basement, causing Atorni to go into rut."
"And just what were they doing in the parked car in the first place?" I asked with a frown.
"W-well, anyway," Ivaniez hurriedly changed the subject, "it was a good thing that Atorni had some suppressants in his car, he was able to use it on himself, and on the young master as well. They are currently sleeping in their room right now..."
"They are sleeping in their room?" I repeated.
Ivaniez looked sideways to escape my gaze. She led me to a room with double doors and opened it. Aahmes and I entered a large, finely decorated bedroom with expensive looking furniture, much like the rest of the place, and in the middle of the room, lying on a gigantic bed that could probably fit ten people, was my good for nothing brother-in-law with a kid in his arms.
And I mean a kid.
A blond Caucasian boy, who seemed to be the same age as Mercy!
"Why did you place a kid beside my stu- my brother-in-law?" I confronted the woman. "Are you planing to frame him up as a pedophile?! Well, no one's gonna believe you anyway, since that man has turned impotent right after his partner died!"
The woman's eyes bulged out in surprise. Her face turned red and her thick lips flapped like a fish out of water.
"P-please don't misunderstand," she finally blabbered out. "We just couldn't pull Young Master Josh away from him... we already tried but..."
"The omega is already in his late teens." Aahmes piped in. I didn't notice him approach the bed! "He's about 19 years old, he just looks young due to stunted growth."
"Ha?!" I frowned at him.
"That's right, Mr. Antonio," said the Warrior Princess Ivaniez. "Young master Joshua is already of legal age2. Also, the two of them have been getting along... really well... that's why we decided to leave them that way."
"Habibi! Don't touch the crime scene!" I called to Aahmes who was now crouching over the two.
"So, this is your brother-in-law?" he asked, staring at Louie.
I stared at him, holding my breath, waiting for some kind of reaction.
"Doesn't look much," said Aahmes in his flat tone, "but he's dominant alright, I can smell his pheromones in the room."
I gave a big sigh. I can finally relax!
"The omega did go into heat," he added, touching the kid's forehead. "He triggered your brother-in-law to go into rut. Good thing they had the suppressants with them."
"Hmph. Louie always carries some wherever he goes. He's a paranoid mess, thinking he might end up biting some other omega by accident."
"There doesn't seem to be anything else wrong with them," Aahmes continued to check on the two. He held Louie's forehead next. "They would probably wake up soon."
"Okay, good." I pulled his hand away and disinfected it with some alcohol. "Now, let's first get that idiot away from the kid. I can't help but squirm at the repulsive sight of those two sleeping together."
"Actually, they look quite good together," Aahmes said.
"Good?" I sneered at him, "Do you know what pedophilia is? Pedophilia! Besides, I still need to take that idiot home to his kids!"
I grabbed Louie's arm.
"Ivaniez, go grab your young master."
"Okay, Sir," she replied.
But the little blond kid's fingers were intertwined with Louie's and they were impossible to pry loose!
I tried forcing them off, but the kid moaned in his sleep and held on even tighter.
"I think the omega is being protective of his alpha," said Aahmes who kept observing us at a corner.
"How about helping us out?!" I told him.
Aahmes touched my shoulder
"You can do it, professor."
I looked at him with disdain.
"Let's try prying their fingers off together. Pull your kid away at my signal..."
"Okay," Ivaniez nodded at me.
We both pried their fingers off. Ivaniez lifted the kid's leg off Louie, but as soon as we pulled away, the kid started screaming at the top of his voice!
"Nooo! Louie! Louie!" he cried in a shrill voice.
He started slapping away at us even with his eyes closed! We had no choice but to let go.
"The hell... just what did Louie do to your kid to make him act that way?!" I asked Ivaniez who simply sighed and shook her large head slowly.
"Please pardon the young master, earlier, there were three of us trying to pull them apart, but to no avail... Young Master Josh simply refuses to let go."
"Haay..."
I looked at the two who were now, more tangled up than they were before. Now, even Louie was holding the little kid in his arms!
"Huh. I guess we have no choice but to let them be for now," I said in disgust.
"We're really sorry about this," Ivaniez said, her head bowed.
"I'll call my niece and tell her about the situation."
Well, there really was nothing we can do in the end but call Blessing to tell her their father wouldn't be able to make it home that night.
"Oh my, and how is Josh doing?"
I was surprised to know that she knew about the kid!
"They're both sleeping right now. I'll be here waiting for him to wake up so I can give him a piece of my mind!"
"I'm glad you're with them, Tito Eric," Bless sounded relieved. "I'll just tell Nathan and Mercy what happened."
"Tell them not to worry. And don't forget to close all the doors in the house. Don't let anyone in! Have you set the burglar alarm?"
"Yes, Tito."
"Good. Take care of your siblings."
I took another sigh as I ended the call and looked at my idiot brother-in-law.
"I guess I have no choice but to look after this moron," I told my two companions. "Aahmes, why don't you head on home first?"
Aahmes looked at the couple on the bed.
"Is it okay if I get blood samples before I leave?" he asked. "I can check in the lab if there are any abnormalities in their system."
"Okay, Doc, I give you my consent as Joshua's legal guardian," said Ivaniez.
If she only knew what Aahmes wants it for, I doubt she would give him her consent.
Aahmes opened his metal briefcase and got his tools ready.
"I'll go home as soon as Louie wakes up," I told him as he was replacing the samples he took into his briefcase.
"No, stay the night," Aahmes looked at Ivaniez. "It is already late."
"That's right, Sir Antonio," said the Amazonian, "please stay the night, we have a lot of extra rooms for you to use, we can even give you a change of clothes if you wish."
"We'll see... it looks like this will be a long night."
"Would you like something to eat, Sir?" she asked as I settled on a reclining armchair.
"Habibi," I called to Aahmes before he could exit the room, "can you please make me some coffee before you leave?" I asked with a grin.
And so, here I am, lounging in a room where a crazed omega is currently holding my bro-in-law hostage. Well, at least I have a whole pitcher my my Habibi's delicious coffee. Good thing their kitchen had everything needed for Aahmes to make my favorite blend.
Honestly, I guess Louie hit the jackpot.
Now I understand why he was chosen to handle this case, or why people were threatening him to drop it. With a kid this young and a fortune this big, who knows what the ending might be?
Well, what ever it is, I just hope it doesn't get the kids into any trouble.
I slouch on the lazy boy and take a sip of my coffee, closing my eyes to visit my mental library. I enter the section containing memories of my childhood. At a time when we didn't give a care about the world as long as we could play all day.
Kuya Jonas and Louie were already close even then. We got to know each other since our Mom was a maid in their mansion, while our Father was their driver. They always bring us with them on weekends since there was no one to look after us, and mostly because Louie felt lonely as an only child.
The elderly del Mirasol couple had Louie in late forties. They were good people who paid for our schooling, even after our parents passed away. They actually wanted to adopt us, but our uncle, as next of kin, decided to take us in.
Mostly for the insurance money.
Partly for the free manual labor.
Needless to say, we were neglected and taken advantage of at home. Good thing Louie brought more than enough food to school to feed us both.
Aside from the occasional mental abuse, the situation was mostly bearable.
Until Kuya Jonas manifested as an omega and the unthinkable happened.
To be honest, I know that Louie never meant to hurt Kuya Jonas that day. I know better than anyone how pheromones affect alphas and omegas, especially when they first manifest. I have long accepted that he's my brother's beloved mate. I mean, how can I not, when Kuya Jonas even rejected his so-called fated pair just to stay with him?
In fact, I'm glad that Kuya fell in love with Louie, instead of some strange alpha I know nothing of.
Deep down, I was happy for them both.
Very, very, deep down.
I just can't help but get pissed at Louie since he took my big brother away from me!
Like Florence said, I'm just a kid who can't forgive the guy who took my candy from me. And I still feel that way, no matter how many years have passed.
I guess I'm just a petty guy who will harbor this grudge to my grave.
But really, I'm just all talk.
I just can't stop myself from blurting out all those hurtful words sometimes. Particularly when I'm already pissed. I mean, Louie really is one irritating mother fucking bastard. But truth is, I still love that sunofagun, no matter how much I curse at him.
After all, when all's said and done, he's still my big brother, too.
But of course, I would never admit that to him.
He can just shrivel up and die a thousand deaths before I do. I'd even kick him in the gut to make sure he's croaked, just not as hard as I usually do...
I open my eyes to the sound of moaning and saw Louie stirring in his sleep, trying to pull away from the kid beside him. I approach the bed and hit him on the head.
"Ouch!"
He scowled and looked up, his face draining of color as he recognized me from the light of a nearby lamp. His face went even paler when the blond kid reached out and locked his arms around his waist.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do, Louie," I told him. "Now, get the fuck up before I kick you off that bed."
1Atorni (attorney) – this is how Filipinos address lawyers, just like calling a doctor 'doc', or a policeman 'chief'
2The legal age in the Philippines is 18 years old. This is also the legal drinking and smoking age.