His voice was low and husky. “Figures.”

I scratched at my skin as if to remove his essence.

Two familiar voices took me out of my self-reflection. One was my Pa screaming, and the other was well, mine – sort of.

Oh hell.

I ran out of the house first while Becky and Nate followed behind me. In the gravel driveway was my Pa, face down with his hand behind his back. His ‘pregnant’ assailant was on top.

“Get the hell off him,” I yelled.

I wouldn’t say there was panic on his face. Frustrated rage with some confusion seemed more appropriate. Especially, since his pregnant son had him in an arm lock and there was a twin in front of him.

Amid my Pa’s yells, my twin spoke. “He would not remain in the vehicle.”

“Because it’s my goddamn house.”

I’m sure there was more to it like confusion and seeing me with a noticeable full stomach.

Pa wasn’t an educated man per se, but he was clever. In another time, the farm would have been a success. He had the rotten luck of being under the Volardi – both figuratively and now literally.

I stepped up to my twin. “Let him go.”

To its credit it did.

Pa mumbled to himself, “None of those things are any good. None.”

My Pa wasn’t prejudiced, but stuck in the old ways. He wouldn’t use their Smart-Boxes or the energy allotments. Still, I understood where the man was coming from. His farm was in danger of being taken. All indirectly due to the Volardi. Now his son too.

My twin already released him. Pa dusted off the bits of gravel and dirt that clung to his blue jeans and flannel shirt.

“Boy,” he said. “Didn’t think I’d see you so soon.” His gaze lingered on the other me. “Especially one so...”

I got it. Pregnant.

I close my eyes for several seconds and let the anger drift off. With slow steps I walked toward my double as my robe blew in the soft breeze. “Stop protecting me.”

“I cannot. It’s my function.”

“Your ‘function’ isn’t to attack my family.

“You must be protected.”

An idea came. “Why?” I asked.

“You are Omega. Our future children depend on you.”

From behind, I heard Nate laugh.

Nate was bigger, but I spoke anyway. “Aren’t you leaving?”

“No. You think I’m missing this?”

“Yes,” said Becky. “You are.”

Nate’s eyes narrowed, and he shot a quick glance at my Pa.

I didn’t like the guy. Hell, ‘hate’ was a more appropriate word but I think I understood him. He was a typical ‘bro’ inside and out. Not the kind that would listen to his girlfriend nor someone he didn’t think was as masculine as he. I didn’t agree with the suspected logic, but my ability to get pregnant put me lower on the guy scale with him.

That said, my Pa was here. For good or bad, male respect carried a lot of weight around here. My Pa looked healthier, but he still couldn’t take on Nate. Still, it was respect from one man to another.