Chapter Three #2
“It appears that your mother was involved in starting the fire.”
“Oh. Well, my father was arrested trying to kill me this week, so she is mad about the arrest, and then he had some kind of a seizure when attacking me in my hospital bed. Mom has never done anything about his violence toward me, but I guess she is going to blame me for his poor health.”
The officer said, “Do you have any proof of that?”
“Sure. There was a detective, Thorstein Winghurst, who got a copy. He came and got our statements after my dad was removed from my hospital room.”
“Shit. Great. I will get that from him. That also answered my questions about motivation. Is your mother an omega?”
“Not as far as I know. My father always said that the only proper omegas were male, so my two brothers are the only omegas in the family.”
“But you are an omega?”
“Not legally, no.” Dex had switched to speaker phone because her guys were leaning over her shoulders. “I have a job, live alone, and have never been contacted by the Omega Centre. Until now. I don’t think the guys would be happy with me having a separate home.”
Tosh chuckled. “Good guess.”
She listened to the pause on the line. “Miss, am I on speaker?”
“Yes. Sorry. Forgotten to mention it. I was just thinking about not having to relay everything later.”
“Ah, gentlemen, can I get your names for the report?”
Dex enjoyed the first responsibility handoff as they gave their names, occupations, and genetic status. They both confirmed that they had been with her all night and that she had no access to a phone or vehicle. She was in the clear as far as the arson investigation was concerned.
Dex sighed. “Great, now I have to talk to Arwell. I want to make sure she’s okay.”
The officer said, “You haven’t spoken to her?”
“Uh, no. The alphas in the bed are fussy about phones. I really don’t want anyone’s mind to turn to photography.”
Tosh chuckled. “Oh, we will have pack photos. Don’t doubt that.”
“Great. Do I have to sign a statement or anything?”
“We will send someone to get your statement.”
“Good. Dex has just recovered from surgery and is not up to a lot of travel.”
“Oh, right.”
“Ask Detective Thor about that as well. The sooner, the better. We have arrangements to be made as a new pack.” Etienne smiled.
“Of course, sir.” He paused. “The investigator will be available and on their way to you in ten minutes. Where are they going?”
Etienne gave the address, and the call was over.
Dex looked at him. “You own a bank?”
“I am on the board of a few banks and investment firms.”
“And on the board of the ballet.”
“Correct.”
Dr. Aquilar smiled. “He’s also on a rugby team, so he can keep himself calm, though I believe you have just signed up for that job.”
“If it is only taking a pounding for an hour, once a week, I think I can manage that.”
Etienne coughed.
Tosh chuckled. “Nice. That leaves her with me the rest of the week.”
Etienne looked at him with narrowed eyes. “We are going to discuss this at length.”
Dr. Aquilar stared at her. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“You were the dumbass who said he could take his frustrations out on me, and I don’t know what you think I will do, but I am not really a meek, little omega. I will kick his ass and then go looking for the rest of him.”
Etienne’s mom laughed with a bright sound. “Dex, I want to hold you so much right now.”
Dex sighed and got up, extending her arms. Her omega-in-law hugged her in a soft and sweetly scented cloud.
They stood that way for a while, and then she was released.
“So, have you considered having kids?”
“Well, since I don’t have to have them the same way as male omegas, I am thinking that if they show up, they show up. I am willing to engage in the summoning ritual as often as necessary or just when I am bored.”
Everyone was grinning.
Dex looked around. “Any more Danish?”
Tosh found one for her, and when it was gone, she was herded into the living room and pulled onto Etienne’s lap while the family discussed things like registrations, introduction parties, and social events where she would be running into a few of Etienne’s exes.
They discussed her appearance at different events and decided that her light elf appearance would be better socially.
When the investigator arrived, Detective Thor sat and made notes about their whereabouts and digital confirmations in the form of the vehicle GPS as well as the door cameras.
The security cameras at the hospital had already been scanned, and they left when they said they had and arrived at the house.
It took Dex ten minutes, and then she said, “My mom is blaming me.”
Detective Thor looked up from his notepad. “Correct. She is insisting that you were there, and if you had spoken to her, nothing would have happened.”
“But you can prove I wasn’t there.”
“Correct. Well, we can now. She also hasn’t explained her bringing an accelerant to your apartment. Your brother’s statement about the family attitude toward female omegas is now on record and confirms your comments in hospital and your father’s declarations.”
“Even in his state?”
“Yes. He’s insistent that female omegas are an abomination. Charming fellow.”
Dex nodded. “He was never able to back up his logic. I think he’s upset that he couldn’t get himself a proper omega, so he made do with Mom. He always resented it.”
“But your older brothers were omegas.”
“Yes, and proof that the only omegas were proper male omegas. I was an aberration, but I am guessing that I am an affair baby or something. Dad never let me do genetic testing.”
“But you have a half-sister.”
“Yup. Wizard. She works for a gaming company, and they created that video for Emery. Well, she and Ax made it.”
Thor grinned. “It’s a great video.”
“Oh, I haven’t sent it to Emery yet.”
“They are out of their celebration, so you are good to visit anytime.” Thor smiled.
Dex nodded. “I just need a thumb drive. I want Emery to be able to keep an uncorrupted file. It was because of him that I am here now. If not for him, I would have tried to drive to hospital and would have ended up in a conjugal visit with a tree.”
Dr. Aquilar sighed. “Do you always have lousy problem-solving skills?”
“Only when I have internal bleeding and sepsis. It doesn’t happen often.”
Etienne hugged her. “And it won’t happen again.”
Tosh smiled. “I am in the same building as you, and now there are security measures in the hallway and a guard at the entrance.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I was there when Etienne asked where we needed silent alarms and guards.”
Dex frowned. “To guard shoes and costumes?”
Etienne whispered, “To guard you, precious. Until you want to retire from your position as shoe doctor, you will be watched, and anyone coming below stairs or backstage will be guided and guarded.”
“Why would I want to stop? Even if I get pregnant, I can still wear the respirator, lenses, and use the fume hood.”
Mrs. Aquilar gasped. “You would endanger yourself like that?”
“Do you know what it takes to get solid non-bleeding pigment into satin with a reliable colour for the same characters year after year? I do. I protect myself. I insisted on the fume hood and drying racks. It is the only upgrade that office has had in years. The rest is just pretty, supportive shoes in different skin tones, and a lot of tinted stretch elastic and ribbon.”
“Do you do the shoes for the men as well as the ladies?”
“When needed. Tosh has a set of shoes being worked on, but he’s playing one of the characters that actually is a male on pointe.
That doesn’t happen often unless they are doing a modern ballet display.
Then, everyone needs the shoes. And my life gets busy.
I am already behind on the ordering for the holiday performances.
It takes weeks, months, or years to order some of the freaky sizes. ”
Dr. Aquilar smiled. “That is where I met dear Esme.”
“Aw, that’s sweet. What was your other name, and have you introduced yourself to the king again? His name is Avor Rush, and his wife’s name is Regis. Their daughter is Amiraith or Ira.”
He blinked. “I will call them. Do you have the number?”
“I do.” Dex looked it up and rattled it off.
Dr. Aquilar kissed his wife’s cheek and walked outside to make the call.
Detective Thor smiled. “Well, I have what I need. Dex, you are looking better every time I see you.”
She smiled. “That’s just the baby sleep deprivation. I am guessing Jax’s contracts are getting more festive as well.”
He laughed. “Right. Giggles works for the same company.”
“She really hates that name, but it’s all her mother left behind, so she keeps it.”
He paused. “Noted. Wizard it is.”
She nodded, and the detective left the house.
She looked to Etienne’s mother. “Your name is Esme?”
“Yes. I am the same colour as you but shorter.”
Dex held out her hand. “I am happy to meet you, Esme.” The soft pulse of magic left Dex and moved through Esme.
Esme looked at Dex with wide eyes, and then a slow smile crossed her features. “How often can you do that?”
“Your birthday and major holidays.”
Esme grinned. “I am going to go find Darien. Don’t want to waste this.”
As she got up and gracefully pursued her husband, Etienne murmured, “What did you do to my mother?”
“Um, just gave her some extra energy. Now the question is, does she haul him out of here or defile your back yard or one of the guestrooms?”
Etienne laughed. “That will be interesting. My father loses himself in work regularly.”
“Now, she is motivated to go find him for an organized distraction.”
Etienne snickered. “A lovely addition to the family.”
“You won’t think so when I tell you that now I know her frequency, I can charge her any time.” Dex kicked her feet idly and grinned.
“Oh, lord. Will you let her know?”
“Eventually. If she ticks me off, I will charge her up randomly during socialite lunches.”
Etienne laughed. “Oh, can I have one of those for a present?”
“No. No man gets to control that kind of thing. I would make her slightly uncomfortable but not embarrass her. Women are judgy. It has to be precise.”
He paused and nodded. “Sensible and thoughtful.”
“Arousal isn’t a toy. It is an earned response. The good doctor has earned it, but he forgot about it. Esme just wants to even the books.”
The parents came through the back of the house, and Dr. Aquilar looked stunned but was very pleased as Esme hauled him out through the front door.
Dex snickered. “That never gets old. It’s just a mild aphrodisiac, but a couple familiar with each other can bloom it into so much more.”
Etienne chuckled. “Then, as soon as they get home, they are going to have a marvellous time.”
Dex glanced toward the window and laughed, covering Etienne’s eyes.
Tosh looked and laughed. “They made it to the car, and now the back seat is getting a workout. I hope he doesn’t shift all the way.”
The car shuddered hard, and one of the rear doors dented outward. They laughed and then diverted their attention.
They sat in the house and waited the Aquilars out.
An hour later, they left for the ballet so Dex could see her precious workshop. Then, they would meet with a lawyer, a seamstress, and have lunch with Etienne’s parents before going to visit Vincent and his pack. It was a big day for the family.