Chapter 43 #2
Tears stream from her eyes, and we all sit silently as we cry with her. It’s unfathomable that this is the world we live in, yet here we are.
“I wasn’t drinking, I didn’t dress a certain way, I just wanted to get to know my co-workers,” she whispers.
“I will take being boring and staying inside instead every time. They kept me in their apartment for the entire weekend, high out of my mind while they raped me. They forced me to swallow drugs and plugged my nose while massaging my throat a few times. I remember bits and pieces, and I’m not sure if that’s a blessing or a curse. ”
Erika falls silent for a moment before she sniffles, shaking her head.
“It gets worse,” she finally says. “By the time the drugs fully cleared my system, I was bound, gagged, and sold to Max’s cousin to clear one of his debts.
He apparently owed César money for swallowing the MDMA he was supposed to sell, so he offered me up as collateral.
I spent five years doing really fucked up things for César, until he was picked up for tax evasion, and the police eventually followed the rabbit hole down.
I was lucky not to end up in prison myself.
Now, I’m starting over in a new city. I don’t want to go back to New York City. There’s too many bad memories there.”
“Are you safe now?” Mabel, the leader of the group, finally asks. I can tell that she was affected too, because she’s dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever feel safe,” Erika says, shrugging. I can’t tell how old she is since her hair is in her face. I want to place her in her late twenties, but it’s hard to tell. “I haven’t been here long, and I’m trying to find a job.”
“Do you know about the Lobby Housing Authority?” Mabel asks. “They offer short term housing assistance for people. The rooms are small, and it works like a shelter, but it’ll give you a place to stay that’s safe.”
Erika flushes, and my eyes drop as I think about what Mabel isn’t saying. Erika is an omega. I’m fairly certain she’s on some type of blockers, however, she’s petite like an omega. They’re also the most likely to be trafficked.
Ask me how I know. Fuck, I hate the world.
Bellamy squeezes my hand, telling me he’s thinking the exact same thing.
“I don’t know about them, but I will go talk to them,” Erika promises. “Thank you.”
Group finishes soon after and I can tell Cassidy is feeling antsy.
“What’s up?” I ask, standing with her.
“I’m going to go offer Erika a job,” she says under her breath. “Is that wrong? I mean, she could think I’m trying to con her.”
“She could, but I doubt it,” Bell says. “Let’s go talk to her. She’s with Mabel now.”
Crossing the room together, we wait until Erika turns to leave. Cassidy usually gives her fake name when we’re out and about, which she now leans into.
“Hi, I hope this isn’t inappropriate. I own a few businesses in Savannah, and two are restaurants.
There’s always some type of position available if you’d be interested in working at one,” Cassidy says quickly.
“My name is Casey Tremaine. If you give my name at La Boheme, I’ll make sure they’ll offer you a job.
Zero strings, it’ll be up to you to hack it or not. ”
“This can’t be real,” Erika says, shaking her head.
Meanwhile, Mabel goes very pale at Cassidy’s words.
“Ah, it definitely is,” she says. “Pack Tremaine is a very wealthy family name. She’s new in town, she couldn’t have known—”
Oh damn. I didn’t have someone bowing and scraping at group on my bingo card today.
Cute, Beloved. My cheeks heat at Bellamy’s words because he heard me through our bond. No one else notices my embarrassment though.
“Please, it’s fine. We keep a very low profile.
Erika, I’m a silent owner at the restaurant, and I rarely do this.
If you want a job as a waitress or even washing dishes if that’s what is needed, it’s there,” Cassidy says easily.
“Everyone who works there is very protective of each other, and you will never be fucked over while working there. Okay?”
“Yeah,” Erika whispers. “Why me?”
“My alpha is one of the best humans that I know,” I reply. “She saw something in you, and your story. Take the opportunity to have a safe place to work.”
“I will,” she says.
“Go in tomorrow so I have a chance to call the owner,” Cass says. “He’s always complaining about needing someone who can work a flex position. He’ll love you forever if you’re able to do dishes one day and waitress the next.”
“I was a waitress for a really brief period when I was in college,” Erika admits. “I think I can change positions depending on what’s needed. Le Boheme sounds really…fancy.”
“It is,” Bellamy says. “The ambience is really nice, and everyone seemed to work together well. Pack Tremaine isn’t likely to allow something bad to happen somewhere they’ve invested in. It’s just not their style.”
“Our style, Lovey,” Cassidy corrects with a smirk.
“The restaurant isn’t stuffy, and they’ll teach you what you need to learn about the menu.
Every Sunday, the head chef has the staff try the speciality menu and he walks them through the ingredients.
It also means that he feeds his staff one of the best meals on a reset day.
The restaurant is always closed on Sundays. ”
“Wow,” Erika breathes. “Okay, I’m sold. This is so nice of you. Oh! Will my hair color be a problem? It’s not something I chose, I’m not even sure I like it.”
“It’s no trouble. Your hair color also isn’t an issue. It just needs to be up when you’re around food,” Cassidy says with a nod. “Stay safe.”
Cass, Bell, and I head out of the room, and Henri falls into step with us as we leave the building.
“What was that about?” I ask. “Why did Mabel respond the way she did?”
“I think someone she knows may work for us,” Cass explains. “I need to have Shi look into it.”
Our pack is there, ready to deliver lots of hugs. Our eyes are all red from crying, and they’re naturally worried about us.
“I think ice cream is definitely necessary,” Abbott murmurs, his arm staying around my shoulders as we walk. “We’ll do that, and then on the way home, we need to go to the animal shelter.”
“What for?” I ask, allowing his scent to wrap around me. It smells like safety.
I notice that Cassidy is a little quiet as she walks beside Shiloh, and he kisses her forehead as he holds her close. Hopefully, she does decide to ask him about Mabel. I think there may be a story there.
“We’re getting a puppy,” Ansel murmurs nonchalantly.
“A what?!” Cassidy squeals. “Are you serious?”
“See how it feels when you bury the lede?” Abbott asks, smirking. “Yes, we’re getting a puppy. But first, it looks like you’ve all shed some tears and need sugar.”
There’s the tone that there will be no discussion to the contrary, and it feels a little insane. Who the hell would argue about ice cream and a puppy anyway?
Not me!