Chapter 27
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
SIMONA
A s Dominic’s driver takes us to the airport, we call Hendrix and Ryder.
His phone rings once before we’re connected. And without exaggeration, I feel the link between us engage as clearly as I hear our call connecting.
Maybe I’m being super sensitive, or perhaps I am nearer to my heat than I realise but on top of feeling the link, I’m overly emotional when I see them both. “Before anything, I am sorry. I’m sure Dominic will fill you in on the details of why we ended up staying at his office, and I’m okay with him telling you what I shared. What I am apologising for though is I said I would be there for dinner last night, maybe stay the night to see you in the morning, Ryder. I feel terrible. I said I would be there, and I wasn’t.”
Ryder leans in, a small smile on his face. “You don’t need to apologise, Sin.”
“I want to though. I want you to understand that’s who I am. When I make a promise, I like to keep it. When I can’t it makes me feel awful. Other people might be able to brush those feelings aside, but they eat me alive.”
“Apology accepted then,” Hendrix says with a pointed stare which reads ‘do not feel bad, plus you apologised, I accepted. Get your butt back home to me’.
I get lost in Hendrix’s sincerity, and that strange, intensive place he takes me every time he looks my way. “Now I’m not sure when I’ll be able to again.”
“Why, sweetheart?” he asks.
My gaze falls away, and that’s only because of the surge of desire I’m struggling to contain. Dominic drops a hand on the top of my thigh and while it grounds me, it also adds fuel to the fire. I need to check my diary; I’m seriously second guessing when my heat is coming.
“Simona is going away with her girlfriends,” Dominic says, his voice and words keeping me in the present as opposed to counting days until I get to see Hendrix. No wait, it was my heat I was meant to be figuring out.
I glance at the screen quickly, and while they’re both listening intently, Ryder’s smirk is tinged in pure filth, while Hendrix doesn’t even bother to conceal his desire from his sparkling green eyes.
After shaking my head to contain my lusty haze, I turn to Dominic and latch on to his seriousness. “Can you repeat that, I was distracted?”
There’s another chuckle from Ryder, but Hendrix shows me he can do two things at once—listen and tease. “We’re making plans to keep you safe while you’re off with your girlfriends. Later, when you’re home, Dom will tell me why you have Kozantine Siderno getting territorial for your welfare. Although, if he is watching you, I feel slightly better.”
Dominic takes control and starts divvying up tasks to be completed in a short amount of time. “Hen, can you arrange a team to meet Simona out there? I’d like a couple of people with her as personal detail from this point on.”
“Done. Any requests?” Hendrix’s stare is on Dominic, but I don’t feel left out of the conversation at all. I sit back and a part of my anxiety lessens knowing they will do everything to protect me from Brody.
Names get listed between the three of them and they sound like strangers until Hendrix offers Nigel.
“The doorman from Noire? I like him,” I say without feeling overly self-conscious of sounding like a dick.
And that says a lot about the company I am currently keeping. Normally, I would spend more time debating whether I should speak at all—conditioned by the founding family members who so often made me feel like a fool.
“You do?” Hendrix triple checks. “Jesus, he’s going to love that when pay negotiation starts.”
“I can ask Dale to help,” Ryder offers, and Hendrix turns to look at him.
“No fucking way. Dale is a complete toss.”
“I’m not arguing with you there, Hen. But he is the most highly trained person on my security team. He is the best at his job, he’s just a shady dude. If I ask him to watch Sin, he will do it till his last breath.”
Hendrix grits his teeth but doesn’t disagree, instead he looks at me. “Are you okay with Dale being one of the men with you?”
I look at both of them, focusing on neither of them. “Maybe you’ll need to ask him if he’s okay helping. He didn’t seem to like me. Although, he was very protective of Ryder, and fast, so I’ll give him that.”
“Not fast enough though, he didn’t get you, thankfully,” Hendrix says with a wink.
“Admittedly, I was terrified of being caught because I didn’t want to go home. I had extra motivation to evade him. ”
I stop and realise how easy it is sharing long held secrets with them. But as always, my moment gets washed away by a wave of nausea that appears out of nowhere. I get it’s my mind playing cruel tricks and it’s solely attributed to how happy and safe I feel. It still sucks.
Dominic keeps his eyes on the screen, but he finds my hand with his and squeezes. Our emerging bond warms with his concern. I accept it greedily, trying to ignore the stab of reality invading my thoughts.
“What’s going on, Sin?”
My attention flies to Ryder. And again, the words spill before I have the chance to stop them, or wonder if I should even say them. “I’m having a moment. A good one, but you know bad too. I’m so happy but I’m not sure I’m going to get the ending I want.”
“But you’re not alone, you have us to help you now. A problem shared is a problem halved.”
I shake my head. “I have to ask myself if it’s right to drag you into this. I guarantee if he finds out we’re involved, your name will be mud,” I hold up my fingers as I list everything off. “Your reputation will be ruined and everything you’ve worked so hard to protect will be blown open.” He opens his mouth to say something, but I rush on. “Sometimes I think I should quit while I’m ahead. I already have a heart full of incredible memories. Every second I spend with you brings me more than I could ever have asked for. But in doing so, you take away my ability to cope. Up to now, I have been doing okay because any experience, or person I met was new and those reminders would be enough when I have to return home. Now, I have dreams, Ryder. Dreams involving you, Hendrix, and Dominic. I want to see you perform and then I want to learn all about Hendrix including Noire and how he got into photography. I also want to be a part of Dominic’s world, and I want him to know me forever. But dreams are dangerous. If I end up back home, instead of simply coping like I would have before now, I’ll suffer because I’m aware how incredible my life could have been.”
“You’re talking like we’ve already lost you,” he says quietly. “And that breaks my heart, Sin. It means we haven’t been clear enough that we won’t be letting you go. You are ours. There’s no ifs, buts, or maybes in that equation; it’s a done thing.”
“I should have put a ring of bites on your throat, then perhaps you wouldn’t be so insecure of our future,” Dominic says, pulling my face around.
We’d spoken with Hendrix and Ryder about what happened in the heat of the moment. I was shocked neither of them berated him for being impulsive, instead they congratulated the both of us. Without a skerrick of judgement. Before they admitted they felt a significant change occurring to Dominic through the pack bond the three of them share.
I rub my eyes hating how hard it is to break out of the cycle I’m caught in. “I hate Wren for being so complacent, and now I’m her. It’s so frustrating. It’s going to get so tiring for you to deal with me like this.”
“Enough!” Hendrix snaps. “Stop being so fucking hard on yourself. I don’t see my mate as weak. Your courage and resilience, Simona, are only some of your redeeming qualities that makes your grace and compassion shine even brighter. In the past you’ve had to be stout-hearted for a reason but now you are with us, you can allow yourself to be as soft and sensitive as you truly are. That is what a real pack does—become the yin to your yang, and vice versa. In case you didn’t realise, I think the three of us can attest we find it incredibly sexy having a woman as sweet hearted as you are, Simona. Don’t change. Please.”
I take a long deep breath and the smile from before returns. “Sorry you have to keep saying the same thing over and over, but I appreciate you seeing where I struggle. I guess I’m nervous about seeing the girls. I’m not a great actor and I have to sell them this stalker story.”
“Telling Siderno about your stalker will have added substance already. I’d put money on every Alpha going with you to your girlfriend’s packing already being aware of your situation. Which is what we want.” Ryder adds.
And it makes sense. Heidi has grown up with a professional team of guards watching her every step. Tristan is also used to the need for security since she’s a successful and popular model. While Raney, falling in love with an international arms dealer meant she too has been flanked by a team of people whose only job is to protect her. My having a stalker will be an easy tale to tell.
Hendrix waits until I’m looking at him before he takes over, adding his own power to the direction we’re talking about taking. “The stalker angle is a much smarter way of handling Brody, because that little fuck is too dangerous to face head on. I did some digging, and it looks like he’s the one who made the complaint to both the Fire Department and Liquor Licensing.”
“Without even knowing we’re all involved,” I say to prove my point about how malicious Brody, and the founding family can be.
“Correct,” Hendrix says, a wicked smile tugging at his lips.
“What’s that look for?”
“I love he was such a prick and made sure you were included in the membership to my club. He did it intentionally to hurt you. Unfortunately for him, when I cancelled his access and membership, I didn’t cancel yours. I want to see his face when he realises he pretty much single-handedly facilitated us becoming officially unfaithful together.”
Hendrix leans close to the camera. “In fact, I love the idea so much, I’m going to pay Rye to write a song for me called, ‘Tonguing her in my sex club before kicking your ass to the street’ and record it. And because Rye is so fucking talented, it will be his next hit. Which is great but what’s better is that every time Brody turns a radio on, our song will be playing, people will be singing along. It will haunt him and be a very fitting reminder of how perfect you are for me, and us.”
It’s impossible not to laugh. And it’s exactly what was needed to chase the darkness away.
Before I go I get lots of sweet promises to catch up properly as soon as I get back in a few days.
I really, really, really need to check my calendar because their goodbye—along with Dominic’s slightly possessive kiss as he tightens my seatbelt before racing off the plane—has me fanning my face.
By the time the private charter idles to the terminal, I’ve come to accept that I’m in serious trouble. All during the flight not only was I fanning my face, but I started to experience the deep ache I’ve come to recognise as the first signs of my heat.
Anyone looking at me wouldn’t know I’m in the earliest stage, but inside everything is starting to twist—my emotions included. Although when don’t they?
I wait until the aircraft is empty before calling Hendrix. He picks up after a handful of rings. “Simona, everything okay? I’m thrilled to hear from you, but I honestly wasn’t expecting…”
I interrupt him. “I’m going into heat.”
The immediate lack of noise has me triple checking our call hasn’t dropped .
“Oh, sweetheart,” he croons gently, and somehow, I hear his worry over the frantic race of my heart.
And his voice is like taking a Tylenol, instantly calming the tempest my body is trying to unleash. It won’t work for long, but I relax for the first time in a few hours.
I even smile when I answer him, it’s that noticeable how much better I feel. “I’ll be okay but after today, I don’t know if I’ll be able to fly. Even with all the lotions and sprays we got, nothing is working. I think I’ll have to check into a local Heat Clinic. I guess though the good thing is no one is going to notice I’m packed because they’re going to get gassed by my impending heat and all the medication I’m using.”
He snarls. The noise echoes through the phone he gave me, tickling and licking the soles of my feet, making me shiver. Okay, maybe talking with Hen wasn’t a good idea.
I chose Hendrix because Ryder’s voice already makes me weak at the knees. I figured the bond I share with Dominic would somehow feed my heat—my body instinctively yearning for my Alpha. Weird, I know, but I’m completely inexperienced when it comes to sharing a bond with anyone. As if to prove a point, there’s a slight yet noticeable shift in our bond before it floods with Dominic’s concern.
“No Heat Clinic,” Hendrix clarifies, barely moving past making noises as opposed to words when he answers.
I slam my eyes shut and count to ten, to stop the stupid tears stinging my eyes. Being trapped financially is awful. Having to rely on other people isn’t as bad but it sure makes me feel like a complete failure still. “I don’t have any money, Hendrix. I don’t have any option.”
“Simona,” he bites back, but it’s gentle and tender, making me have to blink even faster. “Baby, you have access to lots of money.”
“I don’t want to impose on you,” I admit.
“Honestly, I am putting you over my knee, Simona. A little session is what you need to remind you three Alphas are besotted by you, and each wants to give you the world.” He doesn’t stop to let me argue. “I’m aware asking is difficult, so I will keep reminding you, the card in your possession has no limit. It has a cash withdrawal function, that in retrospect I should have explained better. Put simply, there’s no way in fucking hell you are going to a Heat Clinic. I’ll book you a suite at the most luxurious, most secure building I can. It might not be a hotel because like you, I don’t trust the reach of the founding families. Instead, the place I book will be owned by someone in our world, but your safety will be guaranteed.”
“Thank you.” I close my eyes, relieved, overwhelmed, happy.
“You don’t have to thank me over the phone,” he teases. I can literally feel his happiness through the phone, and it makes me smile. “We’re coming to join you.”
My smile evaporates and my eyes bug out of my head. I’m glad we aren’t on a video call; he’d be horrified by my reactions.
“Pardon?” I ask to triple check in case I heard wrong.
And he laughs. A low, deep chuckle that lets me know he’s very aware of his effect on me. “Keep your phone next to you. I’ll message you updates as they come to hand before midnight tonight, you will be blushing exactly like you are right this second, but for different reasons.”
I hang up on him and race like my butt is on fire into the waiting limousine Koz arranged. My mind is a blur, filled with all these possibilities involving them. I mean, the man threatened to put me over his knee and instead of having me locked up in fear, all I can do is rub my thighs together in desperation while I watch the minutes pass slowly.
I seriously don’t know how I’m going to explain any of this to the girls.