Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
I knock on the door to Kieran’s office, my heart in my throat.
It’s my first time seeing him since Puck told me the truth about everything, and I don’t know how I will keep it together.
How will I sit here and take what he’s planning on throwing at me now that I know everything I do?
A small part of me hopes Puck is lying, which is absolutely bonkers. Why would I hope that I do have a debt to be repaid?
Because it would mean that I didn’t fall into a trap.
That has to be what it is.
I rub the back of my neck, feeling the fading blighted bond. It seems to be disappearing faster than before, and I wonder if it’s exposure to my Alpha’s pheromones.
Is there a way to subtly ask Dr. Knight if he knows anything about them?
Eventually, I give up waiting in silence and knock again. This time, I hear Kieran exhale heavily and call out, “Come in, Queenie.”
Why does he sound annoyed with me if he’s the one who called me here?
He’s sitting behind his desk, the corners of his eyes crinkled, dark bags underneath them. He looks old. Much older than he has before. His suit is still impeccably pressed, and not a single hair is out of place, but something weighs him down. I don’t think others would notice, but it’s abundantly clear to me after all these years working for him.
Something is bothering Kieran Cobb.
“You wanted to see me?” I ask quietly. It feels like I’m standing in front of a grizzly bear, and one small step out of line could have him attacking me.
“The corset looks nice,” he says dismissively.
I wrap my arms around my waist absentmindedly. He picked out an authentic, steel-boned corset for tonight that is periwinkle and ruffled at the top. Matching hot pants with ruffles on the ass and white knee-high boots complete the outfit.
It’s almost sweet compared to many of the things he has me wear.
“Thank you. It’s very luxe,” I say after a beat. “Though I must admit I cannot picture what crowd this is for.”
“Do you know why I like having you work for me?”
The question jars me, and I take a small step back. It takes me a moment to swallow down the lecture I want to give about how he stole me and indentured me to him under false pretenses.
“Because I took on a debt owed to you.”
He waves his hand dismissively. “That’s not why I like it.” He picks up a crystal glass from his bar cart and fills it from a decanter full of brown liquor. “You provide a certain status to the club—the Omega Queen. As an Alpha without a pack or a bonded Omega, I always risk being seen as feral. Society has this false belief that an Alpha needs an Omega to be whole. Unfortunately, I am unable to change that. That type of systematic overhaul is impossible with just a few people.”
“The revolution begins with a single brick,” I say quietly.
“Ah, yes, it does. But it ends with one, too. Except this one leaves your brains splattered on the pavement.”
I take another step back.
He can’t possibly know that Puck told me everything, can he? That I’m going to try to find a way out of this?
But the way he looks at me with a knowing glint in his eyes has my stomach bottoming out.
“You understand, then, why I need you? Having an Omega by my side lends credibility to my business dealings. It gives strength to our cause.”
And because I’m a fucking idiot, I can’t hold my tongue at that statement. “It’s not my cause, Kieran. I never asked for this! I didn’t ask to be your trophy.”
He’s around the desk in a blink, hand around my throat, a growl rumbling from him that leaves me whining in fear. “I don’t care if you asked for this. When will you get it through your stupid fucking head that I own you, Crystal?” His face is wild and furious, and his pupils are blown out, making his eyes appear black. His pheromones are aggressive, making his scent sour.
“I have made you the Queen and given you so much freedom, but you continuously test me.”
I feel vindicated after his little speech. Four years of fear and worry, and secretly hoping he drops dead, is all justified.
Not that it wasn’t before.
But it’s easier to excuse when he’s morphed into the monster I knew he was hiding.
“There he is,” I snarl, “the real Kieran Cobb. The one you show to everyone else. I’ve wondered for so long why you treat me with kid gloves, but I haven’t wanted to ask for fear you’ll drop all pretenses. But now I see. You needed me happy, compliant, and docile. Or as close to it as you could get me.”
I push my body closer to his, trying not to show the hitch in my breath as he tightens his fingers. “You need me to look happy. You need me to look like a willing participant. Because any kingpin can have an Omega captive, but Kieran Cobb has one who works with him and seems happy by his side. No way is he shady when he has such a sweet little Omega by his side.”
My mind is whirling now, ignoring the way his nails are digging into my flesh. They will leave a bruise, but I no longer care. “I’m a fucking checkmark on a list, is that it? Any Omega would do?”
His laugh has a chill running down my spine, and my body goes slack in fear.
“Not just any Omega, Queenie. You have no idea what I’ve done to have you by my side.” He leans down, lips brushing my ear. “What I’ll do to keep you here.”
True, visceral fear has my teeth chattering.
I’ve known that Kieran is dangerous, but I’ve gotten comfortable. I’ve become complacent in my role here, believing he found me too valuable to harm.
I see now just how wrong I was.
My body hits the cold concrete, making me bite my tongue. The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth. He leers over me from my position on the floor.
A cool mask of indifference has replaced the tired, worn-out expression he wore when I first walked through the door. It’s the same look he wears when I see him come out of the interrogation rooms.
“I see I have given you too many liberties, Crystal. So let me make myself perfectly, crystal clear.” He squats down, and from this angle, something about his jaw and nose tickles the back of my mind in familiarity. But it’s gone as soon as he wraps his hand around my throat, pinning me to the ground.
“You exist because I allow you to. You should thank me for every breath you take because I’m allowing you another. Do you think I can’t find another Omega? Really? You are not special, Crystal Manson. You are a cog in my machine, a prop in my life. A moderately attractive, middle-of-the-road Omega. Nothing offensive about you, but nothing special either.” He presses down, cutting off all airflow. My nails scratch at his hand as my feet kick. His eyes seem to light up with my struggle. “You belong to me. There is no escape. So whatever you’re planning with those men who have been coming to your home, you better stop it.”
His hand is gone as fast as it came, and I greedily suck in air as hot wetness lands on my cheek.
He spat on me.
Like fucking trash.
His shiny black dress shoe lands two blows to my ribs, and I curl up in a ball, tears falling freely down my face.
“I warned you, Crystal. I warned you that I wouldn’t always treat you well if you kept pushing me.” I hear his footsteps towards the door as he opens it. “Clean her up. She’s got a shift to work.”
Loud steps rush into the room at his words, but I don’t open my eyes.
I don’t need to.
There’s only one person it could be.
“Queenie…” Puck’s words are strangled. I pry my eyes open, forcing past the sandpaper feeling my raw tears have caused. “What happened?”
“He knows about the guys.” My voice is barely more than a whisper. My throat feels swollen, and I have no doubt Kieran could be identified by the prints he left on my throat, the bruises are so deep. “He knows.”
Puck swears quietly and gathers me in his arms. I find myself wishing he were an Alpha. Because maybe, just maybe, if he was, he could bond me and stand up against Kieran.
Protect me.
But Kieran wouldn’t trust another Alpha the way he trusts Puck. Sure, Ricky is an Alpha and manages the drug side of the Conglomorate, but he’s not as dangerous as Puck.
If Puck were an Alpha, he’d be unstoppable. He’d snap Kieran’s neck and be done with it.
Of course, I’m not blowing out candles on my birthday, so this wish won’t come true.
But it was a nice dream, for just a moment, that Puck could be my knight in shining armor.
At this moment, I don’t care that he’s kept so much from me. I don’t care that he’s been complicit in some terrible, dangerous things or that he’s stood by while Kieran forced bonds on me for four years.
At this moment, I only care that he’s holding me, picking up the shattered pieces of me.
That’s the thing.
Crystal is beautiful. It’s expensive and seen as a sign of luxury.
But if you’re not careful with it and don’t treat it like the precious thing it is, it can break.
And no matter how pretty that champagne flute is, it still ends up in the thrift store once it’s cracked.