Chapter Twenty-Five
Friday
Ford
His phone rang as Ford slipped his jacket on, hovering by his desk in the hope it would stop or someone else would pick up. The blinking light said it was a direct call to his number, not part of the switchboard.
He was two minutes from leaving this place to head out for lunch. Cursing his rotten luck, Ford grabbed the receiver, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. “King.”
“I need a favour.”
He huffed and sank into his seat. “I’m about to leave headquarters.”
“I’ve just arrived.” Wynna sounded pissed off, which was never good.
“The adoption paperwork is pending and Hana’s time has run out.
I have sole custody of Pip and made it known I was not to be called in for work.
However, I just got a frantic call from an extraction team to say that one of the omegas they’ve found has gone into a contact heat.
It sounds like another case of OX, but we can’t be sure until they get to the medical ward. ”
Ford rubbed his eyes, hating that this was the problem he’d hoped the team would have prevented. “I get it. You need me to take Pip?”
“Please. The extraction team need a high-ranking omega with the child as they get treatment.” Wynna cleared her throat. “I’m parked. Meet me in the lobby, I’ll hand Pip over and tell you the rest. It’s better he doesn’t hear.” She hung up before he could reply.
Ford figured there was no point. He didn’t want Pip knowing anything about the ORT—or the Market—until he was old enough to apply, and he hoped that by then he’d be so turned-off the idea of joining that Ford wouldn’t have to refuse him the application.
Ain’t no way he was letting one of his kids put his life at risk. It was no way to live.
Hanging up, Ford left before he could get caught and headed into the main hallway. Wynna was already swiping her card at the entrance.
Pip waved enthusiastically, though he was smart enough to never let go of Wynna’s hand. He had a small backpack over his shoulder, clutched a book in one hand, and looked miles happier than the last time he’d seen the kid.
“Hi, Tauri.”
“Hey, monster. Can you sit and read while I have a chat with Tiloo? I need to make sure I ain’t gonna get in trouble if we get snacks later.”
He nodded, like the good kid he was, and climbed into one of the chairs along the corridor. He was so patient and obedient, he literally opened his book to start reading.
Wynna walked a few paces away, to put more distance between them, waiting for Ford to join her before she filled him in.
“The extraction team arrived at a warehouse about an hour from here to find three omegas trapped in a storage locker. Someone had reported the smell, but thankfully it was just a local gas leak and all the omegas are unharmed.”
Thank Azrah. Whenever a call came into the ORT about a smell, nine times out of ten there were dead bodies involved.
“They suspect OX because of the contact heat?”
“Yes.” She reached into the bag hanging from her arm and removed a small pouch with Pip’s name embroidered on the front.
“He’s been sneezing a lot. There’s hay fever medication and lozenges, if he starts coughing.
” The change of pace was just like her, multiple plates spinning but each perfectly balanced.
“The good news is that the local police had reports from that area of suspicious activity. While half the team took care of the omegas, the other half went to investigate that report. They found the lair of these bastards, who were all dead. Three men in their mid to late twenties, and it appears they’d been dead for a few days. ”
Ford frowned, because that was unusual. “The omegas were left to rot, because their handlers died?” he guessed, hating that she nodded because it meant the omegas would be dehydrated, starving and have medical needs.
Yet, they’d been safe since those bastards died, just waiting for when the ORT came to the rescue. Thank Azrah they’d made it in time.
Wynna lowered her voice. “The bodies flagged on our system. They’re the three young men who were in contact with Lincoln,” she explained, frowning as she glanced at Pip with concern.
“There were only three of them, but Sykes confirmed they were the same men. They had a lot of money, with some lying around their hang out, and had gorged themselves on Mania. They died from overdoses.”
Ford didn’t say it out loud, but he recognised the threads of Omha’s influence.
A year ago he never would have considered it, but what were the odds that the Seer had told him ‘there were only three’ and ‘it’s all over now’.
Days later, he was being told that those three bastards were dead, and probably had been that night, and there really were only three involved.
They’d died from an overdose of Mania, which was a drug that mimicked an omega’s heat. They’d tried to force Lucky into an early heat, but had been killed by the very same thing. This had justice and Omha’s name written all over it.
“That closes the Lincoln case then?” Ford glanced up at Wynna, knowing she’d never believe him even if he could explain his suspicion. “I’m glad these fuckers are off the street. Now they’re gone, we don’t gotta worry ‘bout them, and three omegas get to go home.”
“You’re right.” Wynna sagged and brushed a hand against his arm. “Thank you for taking Pip.”
“Of course.” Ford walked over to Pip and lifted his backpack from the seat. He waited until Pip flashed a nervous smile, then brushed a hand over the kid’s hair, which sat at all angles. “You ready to go?”
Pip carefully closed what ended up being a comic book.
Ford unzipped his bag and held it out, to let him put the book safely away, and pointed to Wynna when he was done. “Say goodbye. Tiloo has important work to do and you get to spend the afternoon with me.”
Pip gasped and ran to hug Wynna. “I promise to be good,” he said, like there was any doubt.
Wynna hugged him and cupped his face with a sad smile. “I’m sure you will be. Ford will bring you home before tea time.” She shot him a questioning look that asked if he could agree.
“Sounds good.” He brushed his hand over Pip’s hair. “We can have lunch with Lucky and Chase, if you like? Then you can get tea later,” he hinted, giving Wynna that bargaining look back, to make it clear he didn’t mind keeping the kid longer, if she needed the time.
She heaved a sigh that aged her ten years. “I’ll keep you informed.”
“Sure.”
* * * *
Lucky
By the time his friends arrived at the quad for lunch, everyone was working and eating with little conversation, immersed in their coursework. Lucky should have known it was suspicious, but he didn’t realise how dangerous their silence was until it was too late to escape.
Caroline slammed her notebook shut, giving Grant such a fright that his pen slid across the page. He shot her a dark look, scribbled something out, and buried his head in his notebook.
“I heard that one of your alphas has arranged your bonds.”
Chase laughed, like he didn’t care that Lucky had told his friends. It had only been a quick text, while Pip was with them, so he hadn’t had the chance to go into detail. Now Lucky wished he’d taken the time to clarify everything.
“There’s some uncertainty within the ORT, about whether the OX will intensify my heat, and Chase wanted us to be prepared,” he admitted, able to say those words without the rush of anxiety and fear that used to shoot through him.
Phoenix glanced up, silently warning Caroline to shut up. “It’s a good job you have such good alphas, to take that into account.”
“I really do.”
Kain cleared his throat and leaned in. “Is it true that you guys will be equal in the bond? Do you and Ford, or you and Chase, and do they…when you’re not there?”
“We’re not jealous of one another, if that’s what you mean. It works however feels right,” Chase clarified, with a one-shouldered shrug and a faint smile. “It’s fucking hot.”
Lucky shook his head when Chase reached out to take his hand. “Says you, but I wouldn’t know.”
“You’ll find out.” Chase eyed him with flirty amusement and ducked to lick a drop of spicy sauce from Lucky’s finger.
Grant slammed his fist on the table, startling everyone. “Hell no! I am not having this conversation about my best friend.”
Omha preserve him, but Grant was adorable. While Chase snickered and Kain eyed Lucky with renewed interest, he tried his hardest not to blush.
“How will you…do that?” Phoenix whispered, cementing him as the poster-boy for unusual conversations.
“One at a time, I hope.” He was only teasing, but Chase cleared his throat.
“I promise you, Ford is already getting inventive about how we’re gonna tag-team you,” he whispered, with a look that made Lucky weak at the knees.
“Why don’t you just climb the fucking table?” Grant muttered, tearing a page from his notebook.
“Maybe I will.” Chase drank from his bottle and opened his books.
There was a quiet lull in conversation as everyone ate lunch or worked on their papers. Lucky smiled, looking around in amazement at how well the two groups of friends had managed to integrate in such a short time.
Grant popped three peanuts into his mouth. Neko bit into a slice of pizza, while Kain stole a slice from his box. It was quiet, contented companionship, with no expectation of conversation. Which meant it was inevitable that someone would break the silence.
Closing his notebook, Phoenix huffed a breath and grinned across the table at Lucky. “I can’t believe we’re invited to an ORT event.” Phoenix looked embarrassed but excited, no doubt thinking about the alphas who would be there and how it might bring him closer to his true mate.
Lucky agreed, excited to properly introduce his friends to Ford.
Kain rubbed his hands. “I am so ready! The ORT have the hottest alphas.”
“They really do.” Lucky licked dressing from his finger. When Chase shared a smile, he could barely contain the beating of his heart. Then a sight behind his alpha made it beat triple time.