Chapter 4 #2
They are younger than me in the photograph, and smile from it with their arms casually around each other. It looks like it was taken after a soccer match.
Ryan was a handsome jock with black hair and eyes that twinkle with playfulness. He is wearing a soccer kit, looking tired but happy like he’s just won a match.
It’s hard to recognize Cooper — Dad.
I have never seen Dad look so happy and carefree.
It hurt me when I first saw the photograph because it showed me what Dad looked like before Ryan’s death and the Shattered Bond Syndrome.
Dad may still be prettier than most Omegas.
He may still have raised me with love.
But he is shattered.
He gave me the most precious item that he possessed, however, to make sure that I would have a way to remember the past.
How much did it hurt him to part with this photograph?
How much did it hurt Dad when that bitch Maya burned every other photograph, painting, and letter? When she wiped Ryan’s films, emails, and texts?
But she can’t wipe Dad’s memory.
I hold up the photograph in front of Zoe.
Maya can’t control me here. Plus, I can start to form memories for Zoe, even if Maya keeps Dad away from his own granddaughter.
“Grandad.” I point to Dad. “Can you say Grandad?”
Zoe drops the scarf, pointing at the picture with a smile. “ ’Andad.”
“Grandad,” I repeat. “Good Omega.”
Then I point to Ryan with a trembling finger.
Maya may have tried to rewrite history in order to make this hotel belong to the Frosts.
Yet Ryan deserves to be remembered.
“Ryan,” I say, firmly. Bird looks uncomfortable. He knows as much as I do how forbidden it is for anyone in our family to mention Ryan’s name. “Your other grandad.”
“ ‘Andad,” Zoe chirps, snatching up the velvet handkerchief and whipping it at Bird.
Bird splutters. “Hey, Omega solidarity. We’re on the same side. Help, somebody save me from the baby.”
He pretends to fall dramatically onto his back like Zoe has defeated him.
Zoe giggles, crawling to climb onto Bird’s stomach like he’s her felled trophy. Then she bounces up and down.
Bird throws out his arms and makes sounds like a dying duck.
Zoe bounces even more.
I roll my eyes but leave them to their game.
It’s one of Zoe’s favorites.
I am leaning closer to assassin as her future career path.
But then, it’s not surprising when she is my daughter.
I turn back to the box, tracing over my favorite stethoscope.
Dad is the best Dad because he taught me how to act submissive in front of the public but in private, he whispered stories to me about Omega criminals.
He allowed me to train to become an Omega safe cracker.
The truth is that there aren’t only secret passageways in this hotel.
When I was nine, I had broken the rule to go into Maya’s large study to play. A book on her wall of books had fascinated me. It had a spine in swirling colors with the title: The Book of ABO Secrets.
I pushed myself up onto my tiptoes, tottering to pull out the book.
To my shock, instead the entire wall swung open, revealing a giant vault like something in a bank. It was intimidating but beautiful, a work of art in iron and gold with a giant wheel in the middle, as if it was a wheel from a pirate’s ship.
Panic skittered through me but also the type of thrill that I hadn’t felt before.
I gasped, falling backward, and was shocked to find myself caught in Dad’s arms.
“I wasn’t doing anything,” I squeaked on reflex.
“Looks like it,” Dad replied, dryly. “You’re not meant to know about this. You mustn’t tell your mom.”
I scrunched up my nose. “She isn’t my mom.”
“She is our Head Alpha, however, and this is the pack’s safe. It has everything in here from gold to bonds.” Dad walked to the safe, resting his hand reverentially on it. “My bond rings and jewelry — gifts from Ryan. Well, they’re in here. They were too valuable for your mom to throw out.”
When he trailed off, I rushed to his side, nuzzling against his middle in comfort.
Ryan’s gifts should belong to Dad.
But Maya controlled everything. One day, I would free them from this safe.
It would be the first mission for the Merry Men.
“I’ll get them back for you, Daddy,” I swore.
“Will you?” Dad gave me a sharp look, rapping his fingers on the front of the safe.
“One of your ancestors in the 1920s was a notorious safe cracker turned safe engineer. He became the most famous in America because he knew the tricks to break in and so could make the strongest to keep others out. Safe cracking was seen as glamorous in the 1920s, when this hotel was built. There were even contests to see who could be the fastest.”
My fingers twitched, as my eyes widened in excitement. “Can I learn like that Alpha?”
Dad leaned down; his eyes glistened with a rare type of roguishness for him.
He appeared more alive than I had seen him before. It made my heart beat fast.
Dad’s lip turned up at the side. “Who said that he was an Alpha?”
“An Omega?” The realization that Omegas could not only be famous engineers but truly could be famous criminals was like being struck with lightning.
My entire life before felt like it was in shadows, only half lived. Now, the world was lit around me and would never be the same.
Dad nodded. “The secret that Alphas in recent years would like us to forget is that Omegas are not only equal to them but better at some skills. Omegas are savants at safe cracking because they can sense vibrations best. Alphas would always take an Omega on bank heists.” He jerked his head at the safe.
“Want to give it a try? But this would have to be strictly between you and me. When the others are out, you can practice.”
Bird manages to escape from underneath Zoe, glancing at the stethoscope. “Only your dad would choose to send you this as the one item that he could rescue out of everything.”
I chuckle. “That’s because he knows me so well.
My happiest times were snuggled on his lap, while he broke every household rule to whisper to me about outlaw Omegas who both designed and cracked safes.
I would stand on a chair for hours learning how to not only crack the combination lock but also, how to beat my fastest time, while he held a stopwatch.
Father and daughter bonding experiences, huh? ”
“Mom thinks that she has Cooper tamed but she has no idea who he really is.”
I ball my fists. “She’s never understood any of us. Working on those safes with Dad made me feel safe in a world that was…”
I break off, glancing at Zoe who is sniffing happily at Icarus’ tie.
“Not safe. I miss both Dad and Papa.” Bird picks Zoe up and places her on his lap. My heart aches; I miss them too. “Is this you giving me permission to become the disreputable uncle who passes on the same traditions to my niece?”
“You’re already the disreputable uncle. And somehow, I don’t think that you’ll need to.” I laugh, as Zoe slaps the tie into Bird’s face.
“Dada,” she declares.
“Did she just say…?” Bird blinks, before appeasing the toddler tyrant by sniffing the tie.
My mind is still frozen that Zoe has smelled Icarus in the nest and named the scent Dada.
If she calls Icarus that to his face, what will he do?
Bird catches my eye. “He could be her dad, you know. The baby knows best.”
I shake my head. I can’t talk about that now.
It hurts too much.
“I just wish that we could give her a proper Christmas, you know?” I say, gripped with guilt.
“What are you talking about? Chris is baking sugar-free gingerbread. Zoe has snow outside to play in. As far as she knows, a hundred of her loving family are around her. I’m planning a ton of Christmas games.
And a certain Santa Claus who looks really like an Alpha we both know is bringing her a toy. ”
I brighten.
Bird cups my cheek. “Zoe is lucky to have you as a mom. Take it from someone who grew up with a mom who cared about wealth and not love. I’m lucky to have you as a sis.”
“Only as lucky as I am to have you as my bro.”
Zoe breaks the moment by yanking on Bird’s long curls.
He yelps, carefully pulling free his hair.
“See the danger of having long hair?” I say.
“The price of beauty.”
“How about you this morning? Are you okay?” I study Bird with a critical eye. “Your pheromones are fluctuating. You’re being used too often without a break between guests.”
Bird’s smile is tight. “Can I help it if I’m the prettiest Omega?
Anyway, I heard that your favorite Idol is coming to the hotel.
I’d have thought that you would have your whole mind on Immortal.
I remember being driven crazy when we were teenagers because you played Immortal’s album “Star-struck” on repeat.
I may punch him in the…you know where…to take my revenge for younger brothers everywhere. ”
“Don’t you dare,” I reply, outraged, reaching to cover Zoe’s ears. “Or I will punch you in the…you know where. I should have known that you’d have already heard.”
“Guess what I also heard? Michah says that he saw Immortal’s bonded pack when they signed in last night: A male Alpha and male Omega. They’re the most beautiful pack of guests that he’s seen, and Michah sees beautiful guests every day. That Beta is never impressed normally.”
My face falls.
I duck my head to hide my expression.
Of course Immortal has a pack.
Of course he’s bonded with an Omega already.
Of course they’re beautiful.
Why did I expect anything different?
I’m happy that Immortal isn’t lonely and that he’s loved.
Yet an Omega can dream, right?
“Do you think that they will take part in the matching ball?” Bird asks, casually.
I shrug.
“Second piece of gossip because I’m spoiling you,” Bird says.
“I overheard the financial manager moaning that the hotel may be in financial trouble. They are quietly bringing in outside Alpha accountants to help out. It appears that there are not as many Traditional packs as there once were who are okay with how the HOs are treated.”
I scrunch up my nose. “The financial manager told you that…?”