Slick (The Grayverse #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Three Weeks Later

“I thought this was a cooking class, not a painting lesson,” a deep voice says behind me, and I jump, shoving my sticky fingers into my mouth. But it’s not the expensive French chef Jake hired to come to the governor’s mansion and give us cooking lessons. He packed up half an hour ago, leaving a chocolate cake with silky raspberry filling on the counter, exactly like the one in Rowan’s cookbook. To my delight, that deep, alpha rasp belongs to the governor himself, looking mouth-watering in one of his three-piece suits. As he corners me against the bench, I suck my fingers clean and wrap them around the navy suspenders lying against his crisp white shirt. It's crazy how such a simple accessory can make my knees weak, but one peek under his jacket and I’m putty in his hands.

“I think you missed a spot there,” he says, pointing to the unfinished flower on Rowan’s stomach. My favorite omega is lying across the kitchen counter, naked from the waist up, my chocolate fingerprints all over his perfect, pale skin. “I’m pretty sure it’s nature’s law that all roses must have more than two petals.”

“Very true,” Rowan grins as he lifts his hips and rolls his abs like an exotic dancer. “I’m sure that Chef André would tell you to lick them up and start from scratch.”

Jake chuckles as he bends down to nuzzle the mating bite on my neck. “Glad to see the cooking class was inspiring.”

“Chocolate is an aphrodisiac,” Rowan explains, fluttering his lashes at our alpha. “Besides, Diana wouldn’t let me eat the cake until you got home, so we had to amuse ourselves somehow.”

“Good, Omega,” Jake purrs, nuzzling my neck. “But you enjoyed the class?”

There’s that familiar note of concern in his voice, the same way he always sounds when he’s checking in with me. Jake’s taken his commitment to listening very seriously, and my heart melts that he’s trying so hard to keep his promise.

“It was perfect,” I reply, turning to meet his hungry kiss. It’s been three weeks since my heat spike, and while I now know his body as well as any of my mates, I still catch my breath every time Jake gets close. Rowan told me it’s our scent connection sparking some primitive part of my brain, but I think it’s the flare of heat in his eyes every time he looks my way. All my mates make me feel loved and wanted, but Jake looks at me the same way Rowan looks at chocolate cake. Like one slice will never be enough.

“Want to help out, governor?” he asks now, grinning up at Jake. “If Diana’s prepared to share her chocolate pot, I’m game.”

He waggles his brows, but I know this is one of Rowan’s little tests. We’re a pack in every way that matters, but there’s still a physical line between the guys and our alphas. We share a nest, and clothes are always optional, but at this stage, the alphas keep their knots to themselves, and the guys seem to like it that way.

“Tempting,” Jake murmurs, “but I’m pretty sure she’d bite my fingers off if they went anywhere near her chocolate pot.”

I giggle, but the sound dies away as Kane saunters into the room. He’s been working on his bike in the garage, and he smells of machine oil and sweaty alpha. His gaze licks over me before he opens the fridge and pulls out a jug of juice. “Why does this room smell like fucking, but he’s the only one with his clothes off?”

He points his elbow at Rowan as he drains the jug, and I giggle at the look Jake shoots him. There’s nothing I love more than watching my mates drive each other up the wall, but I bite my lip as their attention swings my way. Heat burns in Kane’s eyes as he stalks closer, the two alphas herding me between them until I’m trapped against the counter. I breathe deep, my eyelashes fluttering as their combined scents invade my senses.

“Nope,” Rowan says, sitting up and swinging his legs off the counter. “How many times do I have to tell you, the only knots in the kitchen are the ones on cinnamon buns?”

I laugh at the scowl he shoots the two alphas, stealing a swirl of chocolate off his stomach as he slips past us. He makes it all the way to the door before he cocks a brow at me. “Shower, sweetheart?”

I’ve learned a lot in the last few weeks, and I’m certain that his teasing smile is code for some hot bathroom sex. “As long as I get to lick your back.”

“That’s scrub your back,” Jake corrects me, but as I start to follow Rowan, he blocks my path with his arm. A protest bubbles on my lips until I realize the humor has faded from his eyes. “Can you give me a minute, Diana? There’s something we need to discuss.”

Rowan is still in the doorway, but at Jake’s serious tone, he immediately turns and strides over to the sink. Grabbing a dishcloth from the rack, he quickly runs it over the chocolate smears on his stomach. “Want me to get Dex?”

“Good idea,” Jake replies, nodding towards the kitchen table. “And we should probably sit down for this.”

I frown, all sorts of fears creeping into my mind, but Kane just huffs and sweeps me up. He carries me the few feet to the table and settles me on his lap, the chair creaking under our combined weight. “Get that scared look off your face, Omega.”

I snuggle into his sweaty embrace, as delicious as chocolate to my omega instincts. “You smell angry.”

“That’s because I’m a grumpy bastard.” He drops his mouth to my throat, his teeth teasing the edges of his bite. “But a chocolate-dipped omega always improves my mood.”

I tip my head back, staring into his dark eyes as I wiggle on his lap. “And what about a raw ride on a V-twin Softail? Does that fix your mood, too?”

“Only if I get to bend you over it.” His mouth latches onto my fingers, sucking the last of the chocolate from my skin. When he’s done, he takes my hand and drags it down his chest until I’m cupping his swollen cock. The guys have been updating my sexual vocabulary, and while a part of me will always think of it as their equipment , I’ve grown to love the word cock almost as much as I love taking a knot. “If you keep looking at me like that, Omega, I’m taking you out to the garage right now and giving you the ride of your life.”

I shiver at his hungry growl, but Jake makes an exasperated sound and nudges Kane’s shoulder. “That’ll have to wait, you horndog. We need clear heads, so put her in someone else’s lap if you can’t control yourself.”

I blink, realizing the others have joined us while I’ve been caught up in Kane’s spell. “Um… sorry. What did you want to talk about?”

“The Carrillos.” The name sends a different kind of shiver through me, and I sink back against Kane, watching as both Dex and Rowan turn grim looks on Jake. “As you know, the task force has been raiding their properties all week. They found their last compound at dawn this morning, and I’ve just had confirmation that both Carrillo brothers are dead. They refused to surrender when ordered, and the team had to take them out.”

“Good fucking riddance,” Kane growls, biting gently on my shoulder. “They deserved a hell of a lot worse.”

“Agreed,” Dex says, folding his arms across his chest. “I would’ve liked to see them rot in a jail cell for a few decades, but this is the next best thing.”

“So, what now?” Rowan asks quietly. “What happens to the omegas they were abusing?”

I flinch at the word, but the longer I’m with my pack, the more I understand what was stolen from me at The Serenity Center. I’ve spoken to a therapist about my experiences, and while I’m scheduled for some more in-depth tests, she said that the return of my earliest memories is unlikely. Not only were they stripped away by force, but the little I remember of my childhood hints at a trauma my mind is happy to forget.

“They’re in new accommodation, and we’ve got some therapists on board to help them through their early days.” Jake looks at me, sympathy shining in his eyes. “The rehabilitation team is sifting through their records to see if they can locate their families. It’s not easy, and even if they’re successful, some of them may not want to go back to their old lives.”

“Because they were given away.” I rub at the ache in my chest. “Or sold. I think that’s what happened to me, because I remember a little about my father. He was in trouble with a violent alpha and had to pay off a debt. I was the only thing he had of any value.”

Kane has gone as stiff as stone under me, but he sweeps me up now, a growl vibrating in his chest. “Fuck this. She’s heard enough.” He stomps towards the door, his body curled protectively around mine. “We’re going for a ride, and a nice, long fuck. So don’t wait up for us-.”

“We found Lily Luscious.”

“Are you fucking deaf? ” Kane explodes, spinning around and glaring at Jake. “That bitch doesn’t exist, especially not here!”

“I agree, but Diana should know that she can’t hurt her anymore.”

“It’s okay,” I tell Kane, my hand pressed over his thumping heart. Even if I wasn’t in his arms, I’d be able to feel his rage through our bond, and it gives me the courage to say, “I need to hear this. Please, Kane. Just stay close by and I can bear anything.”

He grumbles an angry retort but presses me back against the wall like he’s shielding me from an explosion. It also smothers me in his delicious scent, and I have to blink through my haze to hear Jake. “She was also hiding in the compound, but unlike the Carrillo brothers, gave herself up without a fight. She’s claiming they were holding her hostage, and she denies that she was anything other than an unwilling partner in their slick business.”

Dex is on his feet so fast, his chair makes a screeching sound on the tile. “No one is going to believe that!”

“We don’t,” Jake says quickly, holding up a reassuring hand. “But a confession means we avoid a lengthy trial where she will no doubt spin a lot more lies.”

A frustrated groan rips from Rowan’s throat, his clenched fist bouncing off the table. “Will that witch never fucking die? ”

“Two minutes with me and she will,” Kane snarls. “Give me the address, Jake.”

“I’m heading there in an hour.”

The words hit me like a slap, and I shove off the wall so hard Kane stumbles back a step. “Not without me, you aren’t!” I hiss, sliding out of my alpha’s protective arms. “You’re not going anywhere near her unless I’m there, too.”

Pandemonium erupts at my declaration, the guys all shouting their objections while I cross my arms and glare at Jake. Instead of adding his protests, he jerks his head at me, and I stalk across the floor, grabbing him by the end of his tie. I’m not exactly gentle, and I watch his throat bob as he tilts his head back to look at me. “I want you to come. All of you,” he adds as the other guys scowl at him. “I’ve requested a private meeting before they transfer her to the holding facility. I thought we’d see what she has to say when the proof is right in front of her.”

“What proof?” I demand, tugging the knot on his tie. I’m obsessed with the silky material, but right now I’m tempted to swap it out for a collar, just so he remembers who he belongs to.

Instead of looking contrite, he grins into my flushed face. “That I’m crazy in love with my mate. And that we’re all part of something that she was too selfish and cruel to ever have for herself.”

I consider that for a moment, stroking my fingers over the side of his neck. “You want to flaunt our perfect pack in her face?”

“I want her to choke on it,” he replies, catching my hand and kissing the palm. “But only if it doesn’t cause you any further pain. That bitch never gets another thing from you, including your tears.”

“I won’t cry,” I promise him. “But I’m going to rain hell down on her if she looks at you the wrong way.”

Jake cocks a brow at the venom in my voice, but I can see the delighted glint in his eye. “I’ll enjoy watching you put her in her place.” His hands cup my waist, just as hot and possessive as the blood pumping in my veins. “And afterwards, I’ll really enjoy giving you that shower you missed out on.”

“ We’ll enjoy,” Rowan corrects him, a challenging glint in his eyes. “I’ve still got some sticky patches to wash off.”

But Kane’s not in the mood for games, snatching his jacket off the back of a chair and jerking his head towards the door. “Let’s go bury the bitch once and for all.”

It’s an hour’s drive to the warehouse where Lily Luscious is being held. I get a vindictive pleasure from comparing the drab gray walls and rough concrete floors to the gaudy extravagance of Sultry Studios. Instead of an elaborate throne room, she’s being held in a storeroom with some kind of machine parts stacked on the shelves. She’s dressed in a plain blue jumpsuit and is sitting at a dented metal table, her hands cuffed in front of her. Without her usual flawless makeup, I can see the small scar on her temple from where I hit her with her shoe. A kinder person might not notice that her nails are chipped, and her long blonde hair is limp and unwashed, but kindness is the last thing I’m feeling as we enter the room.

Sawdust and oil hang heavy in the air, but there’s no mistaking the sour scent coming from the only other omega in the warehouse. Rowan wrinkles his nose, and I have to cough into my hand at the rotten fruit smell. Kane, however, gives a loud, vicious laugh. “I guess toxic shit really can’t be buried forever. Fuck me .”

He makes a gagging sound while Dex crosses his arms and gives Lily a look of pure loathing. “That stink isn’t going to make you very popular in jail.”

“Yeah, what’s the saying?” Rowan chimes in with a vindictive smile. “ One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. I’d say you could infect a whole city block with that stench, Luscious .”

Lily narrows her eyes at them, but Jake smooths down his tie and says in a cool voice, “The attorney general is talking about solitary confinement. Twenty years in a room that’s half the size of your closet. He’s citing safety issues given your… aroma, and he believes that anything else would be unfair to the other inmates.”

“Unfair?” Lily squawks, her broken nails digging into the edge of the table as she tries to surge up from her seat. “ None of this is fair. I’m the victim here.”

“Still spinning that tired old story, Lily?” Jake sighs like he’s deeply disappointed in her. “If you confess to your crimes, I could ask the warden to give you a cell with a window. He might even let you crack it open once a week.”

“I don’t care about any of that,” Lily snaps, leaning towards him with adoring eyes. “I only want to prove myself to you , Jacob.”

“It’s Jake,” he says grimly. “But only to my friends. And since this is the last conversation I plan to have with you, I really don’t care what else you have to say.”

He sounds like he’s already left the building, but I know he needs a confession to really be free of her. Otherwise, her lawyers could spin this nightmare out for years, dragging his name through the gutter in the process.

I’ll be damned if I give the bitch the opportunity.

She must sense my anger, because she shoots me a malicious glance before fluttering her lashes at him. “I bet she can’t take your knot like I can. Those slick bitches are little more than plastic sex dolls. Good for deposits, but lousy for pleasure.” She licks her lips and leans as close to him as her chains will allow. “If you give me another chance, darling, I promise I’ll remind you of exactly what you’re missing…”

Kane makes a disgusted sound as he surges away from the wall, his teeth bared in rage. “Shut her fucking mouth, Jake, before I bury my boot in it.”

“No, let her talk.” I shoot Kane an appeasing glance as I slide onto Jake’s lap. I’m not sure how he’s sitting so close to the source of the horrible stink in the air, but I smile up into his eyes as I stroke a hand down his chest. “What does it really matter what she says? She might have tricked you into touching her B-grade body, but you saved your bite for the real thing.”

“The only real thing about you is the scent you don’t deserve!” Lilly hisses, venom twisting her mouth into an ugly line. “Your memories are fake, your father threw you away like trash, and one of your precious mates was actually your jailer.” She laughs at the rage flickering in Dex’s eyes. “Oh, yes, your employers told me all about you and your pathetic brother. The real crime here is that you’ve all wormed your way into Jacob’s life, when he could have had me .”

“You had your chance,” I say coldly. “And you only got that by stealing and lying. You should know that the first time I met Jake, he purred for me. Pure instinct, because he knew in his heart he’d met his scent match. Did he ever purr for you , Omega?”

I’m glossing over a lot of things here, but Lily doesn’t know that, and jealousy darkens her strained face. “ I’m his perfect match!” she snaps. “You’ve just confused him with your slutty scent!”

The hypocrisy is astounding, but I click my tongue and give her a pitying look. “Sorry to blow your bubble, Lily, but Jake told me you didn’t even really smell that good. I’d check with the investigators to see if the Carrillos were even giving you my scent. It was probably just a B-grade version they cooked up in their labs.”

“Stop calling me B-grade! ” she shrieks, trying to launch across the table at me. She doesn’t get far in her chains, and Kane is there anyway, shoving her back into her seat. “I bought the exclusive rights to your slick, and my accountant has the records to prove it!”

I lean back against Jake as he starts to chuckle, his thumb stroking lovingly over his mating bite. “Well done, Diana. Nothing like baiting a piranha into giving itself a death bite.”

“What?” Lily demands, her gaze flicking from my smug face to Jake’s grin. “I didn’t… What? ”

I should probably be gracious at this point and leave it there, but I can’t resist leaning across the table. “The thing is, Lily, if you’d just asked for my scent, I probably would’ve shared it with you for free.”

She looks like she wants to strangle me, but she swallows it down enough to demand, “Then tell the authorities that! I just did what any other woman in love would do.”

“Except,” I snarl, rising to my feet and leaning down into her face, “you stole my mate , and then tried to erase his memories so he’d forget who he was. For that, I hope you rot in hell for a long, long time.”

While Lily starts to spit curses at me, Jake gets to his feet and pulls me into a hug. Dex and Rowan immediately form ranks around us, but Kane is staring down at Lily with murder in his eyes. “You want to end her here, Diana, just say the word and she’s gone.”

It’s tempting, but she needs to ponder her sins. Especially if it’s alone in a jail cell that’s no bigger than my room in the slick factory. “No, let her stew in her stink for the rest of her days. I’m going home to shower with my mates.”