Chapter 11 Evan
Chapter Eleven
Evan
“Iris wants me to come home for summer, but I don’t want to,” Rose blurted as we met in the lounge of her dorm at Finchley.
Today was a school baby afternoon, where I met with my students here at Finchley, going over exactly that–confirming everyone’s summer plans. After all, not everyone had a home to go back to. I’d been doing the same with my students across the city.
After Rose, I just had one more omega. Then I could go home. I’d like a nice dinner, a cocktail, and some alone time with Grace. I even got us something new to try.
“That’s fine. We’ve already got you enrolled in the summer semester here,” I assured as we sat on the couch. The room was painted in relaxing colors, with soothing artwork, comfortable furniture for lounging, and tables for studying or collaborative projects.
Rose thought for a moment. “After our talk, I got in contact with my dad. He invited me to visit for the summer. While I’d like to see him, I don’t know if I want to spend the entire summer there.
Being enrolled in classes here, at least for one session, would give me a reason to stay for just a little bit.
At the same time, he said that I could have a job as a stable hand for the summer.
I know nothing about horses, but I love the idea of learning to ride.
Then I could send half the money to Iris, and people would be less mad about me not going home because I’d be working. ”
“What do you want?” The fact that she even had to come up with this made my heart hurt.
“I’m leaning toward the first, even though it would make Iris angry.
She wants me to work at the diner and help take care of our siblings.
Though her interview went well and she’s going to be starting as a receptionist at the car place, and then picking up diner shifts when she needs to.
” Rose added more tiny beads to her bracelet.
Today she was making elaborate bracelets that looked like vines.
“I’m so glad.” I was pretty sure their father had arranged that. He was trying to help, though Iris still refused direct assistance.
“Me, too.”
“You should do what makes you comfortable, Rose. It’s perfectly fine to want to get to know your father.
I’m glad your reconnection went well. It’s also fine to do it in small increments.
Your idea of having it set up so that you have a reason to only spend a certain amount of time there is a good one,” I praised.
“There were some things that my dad wanted me to see and do, so maybe we can figure out a schedule, so if I’m not doing one of the session’s here, someone else can have my spot.
” She got out her phone. “Also, I have so many bracelets. Someone at the Center suggested that I sell them online. I could create a little store and send Iris the money.”
“That sounds like a great idea. Though don’t think you have to send the money to Iris. Having a little extra money is always a good thing. You can always get a summer job. Your school does job placements.” With carefully screened omega-friendly places.
Her face lit up. “I want to work at CoCoCozy.”
Every omega wanted to work at CoCoCozy. I should take Grace there. Usually, I didn’t shop at the omega-only home store because I enjoyed going to the home store with my alphas. At CoCoCozy alphas weren’t allowed past the alpha waiting area. But Grace should get a chance to experience it.
I pulled up a calendar on my laptop, and we started going through everything.
“My dad says that I can move in with them permanently, but he’ll also support me wanting to stay here. I like Finchley,” she told me.
“You can always finish here and then attend university near them, if after you get to know them you still want contact,” I replied.
She thought for a moment. “I’ll have to see what sort of pre-med programs are near him. Having a place to go on weekends would be nice. Especially if they let me bring my laundry.”
“Yeah, that would be nice. Hey, those creepy alphas haven’t come back, have they?”
The look on her face said it all.
“Just one. I thought I saw him yesterday when we went for coffee. But they haven’t sent any more gifts.” Her bubblegum scent went worried.
We were almost done figuring everything out when my phone rang.
“Jett, what’s going on?” I frowned. He didn’t call me when he was at work unless something was wrong.
“Yeah, so those bad alphas that were interested in Rose? They just had her uncle killed in jail. Apparently, the uncle owed them a lot, and he didn’t make his payment deadline,” Jett told me.
“Fuck.” I eyed her as she added more dark green beads to the stretchy string. They killed Rose’s uncle? That wasn’t good.
“Yeah. But we knew he probably owed them money.” Jett sighed.
“How much?” My stomach tightened. I had a feeling that it was a lot of money… enough that giving them a young omega in exchange might pay it off. My phone beeped with another call. “Hey. Detective Esposito is on the other line.”
“You’re at Finchley, right? Stay safe. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I… I have a bad feeling. Love you.” Jett ended the call.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Detective?” Taking the call, I stood and went to the other side of the lounge, lowering my voice.
“Rose’s uncle is dead,” she stated.
“I just heard. Is she in danger?” I looked over at her as another girl entered the lounge, and the two omegas chatted.
For a moment silence hung in the air. “What do you know?”
“Nothing. Just suspicions.” Worry coiled in my belly.
“She was supposed to be the payment for his debts, and they got tired of waiting. But they haven’t just taken her because she’s sixteen. That’s kidnapping. But they’re also not trafficking omegas,” she divulged.
“Maybe they want her for themselves. That’s way more common, at least in my experience,” I replied.
“Also, if they were trafficking, they probably would have just snatched her, not caring about it being kidnapping. Instead, it feels like they’re trying to keep it legal–like mentioning matching with Rose to the headmistress. ”
It all came together as I sucked in a breath.
“Oh, you’re right. The mom thinks giving Rose Mega-push and turning her into an omega is for the good of the family, and then realizes Rose isn’t being matched to rich alphas but given to gangsters.
She drives Rose hours away to find better alphas, hoping to solve all of their problems while keeping Rose safe,” the detective breathed, echoing my own thoughts.
“It makes sense.” I’d half-suspected it, because as much as I’d like to think people wouldn’t be that horrible to their own relatives, I’d been doing this long enough to know that sometimes they did.
“It’s hard to prove and will be harder with the uncle dead.
He admitted nothing. But for all we know, he was ordered by them to not speak of it.
He’s been trying very hard to bring her home, not because his family needs the help, but because if you don’t pay your debts to people like this you end up dead.
We need proof, but so far we have nothing concrete.
Local police are rounding them up on suspicion of the death of Rose’s uncle, which hopefully will keep her safe for the moment,” she commented.
“Rose says that one of them was watching her yesterday. I’m with her now.” I monitored her as she talked to one of her friends. Everything Detective Esposito said sounded right.
Of course, why Rose’s mom took the blame for injecting her with Mega-Push when it was probably the uncle's idea, I didn’t know.
“Stay with her for the moment? We’re trying to get a hold of the headmistress to see what would be better, bringing Rose into protective custody or sending an officer. I’ve got to go.” She ended the call.
Shit.
I called Jett back and told him everything. The friend had joined some others at a table to work on something. Rose was now on her phone.
“I’m on my way.” Jett ended the call.
Rose frowned as I rejoined her. “What’s wrong? Is it my mom? I worry about her being in jail.”
“I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your uncle passed while in jail,” I explained.
“Oh no.” Her eyes grew misty. “I don’t really like him. He’s scary. He’s always making us do things because he’s an alpha–and what he did to Iris was just mean. But I love his mate and my cousins. What is everyone going to do without him?”
Um, thrive? Especially once her step-dad finished the job placement program and finally went back to work.
“We’ll get it figured out,” I assured. Oh shit. Rose’s mom might be in danger, too. I texted Detective Esposito.
“How about if we get this schedule finished? I have another client coming soon, but maybe you can hang out here with me for a little bit?” I didn’t want to scare her.
“Okay. But not for long. There’s an end-of-the-year mixer happening today, and we get extra credit for going.” She added more beads.
I nearly dropped my phone. “Rose, you’re sixteen. Why are they having you go to mixers?”
“It’s so we get comfortable with them, I guess. It’s just a casual one. A warmup for the big graduation one, which I’m not going to. For this one, I’m just going to get a cupcake and my extra credit and leave.” She shrugged.
A chill shot up my spine. No, we were in the dorms. Mixers kept to the public areas of the school.
“Rose, you’re coming to the mixer, right?” Headmistress Nikita appeared in the lounge doorway, scent panicked.
Another scent hung in the air.
My phone rang.
A gun clicked. “Don’t answer it,” a male voice hissed.
Oh fuck.