Chapter 19
Study, Devil Estate
“I’m sorry that this is the best that I can offer as a date night, beloved.” Kai grips my hand between his much larger one. “It’s not how I expected our first one to go. There’s a storm warning, however, and we’re waiting on Gabriel pulling together the loose threads of the biggest mission so far. I don’t think that we’ll get any sleep. I’ll make it up to you.”
“It’s cozy.” I smile. “We’re the Devils, right? So, for us, this is perfect.”
Rain lashes against the arched windows of Kai and Gabriel’s joint study. Wind howls around the cabin, while branches scratch the glass like claws.
The storm isn’t yet at its height, even if it’s battering the cabin.
But it’s coming.
It’ll soon be here.
I shiver, wrapping my arms around myself.
I’m dressed in silk chestnut colored pajamas. They have a stag coat of arms sewn on over my heart and match the ones that Lark is wearing.
Is the coat of arms the one for the Scottish royal family?
I trace my finger over it.
Lark and I insisted that we were going to stay up and pull the same all-nighter as the rest of the pack (who still look sleek in their day clothes), when we realized that they were trying to get us to rest, while they worked.
Antonio excitedly called it our first date night.
It makes me wonder even more about his experiences, if working on a mission that would mark us as the most wanted criminals in America and possibly lead to our deaths, is his equivalent of snuggling under a blanket and stargazing, while asking questions like if your life was a rom-com, which famous Alpha would take the starring role?
Although, I have a sense that Antonio’s ideal date would be naked primal play through the forest, where he’s hunted, caught, then ravished.
Actually, I bet that he’s already done that with Gabriel.
Now, Antonio is sprawled out on the tan leather couch, which is pushed against the back wall of the study, underneath the golden light of a lamp that’s shaped like a leaf.
He looks even more roguish and rumpled than normal.
I didn’t think that was possible.
Antonio’s head is ducked over his iPhone, and his curls fall over it. He’s chuckling wickedly, and it pulls at something deep inside me.
The rich, rumbling sound also makes me feel warm all over.
What’s he watching?
Knowing Antonio it could be anything from recordings of his mafia rivals being pranked to funny cat videos.
Lark sits next to him with his arm casually thrown around his shoulder. The men’s thighs are touching.
Lark’s head is close to Antonio’s, as he crowds to see the small screen.
I love that Lark is laughing too.
Antonio is working hard to distract Lark from the nerves of waiting to find out the fate of his daughter.
The study is divided into two halves.
On one side of a crackling hearth, which spits up embers and smoke that stings my eyes, is an entire wall of built-in bookcases. They don’t appear to be ordered but are messy with papers and random files shoved on top.
Boxes of extra files are piled up in front of them, as well as around an overstuffed armchair by the fire.
To the side of the bookcases stands a cluttered desk, which looks like a whirlwind has hit it.
On the other side of the study, however, Gabriel is sitting hunched over the neatest oak desk that I’ve ever seen.
There’s nothing on the desk apart from three different monitors, along with at least ten phones and technology that I don’t recognize. It’s laid out in ranks like they’re on military parade.
Gabriel is talking quietly into one of his many phones with a professional intensity.
I study the outline of his handsome face.
I haven’t seen him like this.
From the moment that we returned from the forest, Gabriel had truly been on a mission: committed, relentless, and focused.
It’s impressive.
All I can do now, however, is wait on the outcome of the planning that we’ve been doing all afternoon.
The pieces are finally falling into place.
I can almost taste it.
Anticipation thrums through me, more than fear.
And it’s heady.
I glance at Kai’s desk. “Your filing system is interesting.”
“It’s called the writer’s method, lass.” Kai’s lips quirk. “Plus, I know where everything is. It’s good protection against anyone stealing my secrets. Nobody else would be able to make head nor tail of those papers. And look at my handwriting.”
I let go of his hand to wander forward and peer at his calligraphic style of handwriting that’s like a spider has slipped into ink and then crawled over the page.
I can tell that he writes quickly but with intense emotion. “Huh, is that Alpha rut or Alpha butt?”
Kai crosses his arms. “See? Foolproof. Only I will be able to read that. As an investigative journalist, it’s important that no one gets the jump on me, even if they steal my notes.”
I stroll back to Kai, running my fingers over the spines of his book.
This is a real treat.
Being able to touch this many books and know that I’m allowed to pull out and read whatever I like — as if I’m an Alpha — is the most precious thing that Kai has given me.
Does he realize it?
By the way that he’s watching me devour the book titles, I think that he does.
The books are a mix of treatises on ABO dynamics, cultures and sociology around the world, and journalism.
I tap my finger on one of the files. “What made you want to dedicate your life to this? You could have run away and then spent your time and money relaxing. I don’t know, doing what other billionaires do, yachting, traveling the world, or golfing…”
Kai huffs. “I’m already an excellent golfer.”
Of course he is.
“Then why aren’t you relaxing somewhere shooting eighteen holes, rather than being here…?”
“I’m hoping to get eighteen holes here too.” He waggles his eyebrows, and I nudge him with a groan. It doesn’t move him an inch. “But if I’d wanted a boring life, which was part of that circuit, then I’d have allowed myself to be married off to that rich widow.”
I grimace. “I’m glad that you didn’t.”
Kai drapes his arm around my neck, drawing me in to rest on his chest.
I listen to the rain lashing against the window and the howling wind.
Yet I’m safe surrounded by Kai’s musky heather ale scent that makes it feel like summer.
“I like this room,” I say. “It smells of all three of you.”
“It’s where we work together in evenings. Usually, with a glass of good wine or black coffee. Well, I say work, but when Antonio joins us, he’s sprawled like he is now, holding his phone about an inch from his nose. He plays games, watches funny videos on social media, or roasts his ex pack members on their boastful social media posts with that most cunning of all emoji, the eggplant.”
I laugh. “Shit, he has balls.”
“I’m pretty certain that his emoji is referring to something else. Other evenings, Antonio disappears across the house to the lounge to watch what he claims are true crime documentaries. It’s cute that he doesn’t realize that I know the truth.”
Antonio glances over at us. “I’m getting tips for work—
“He’s actually binge watching the early seasons of The Simpsons,” Kai teases.
Lark nudges Antonio. “Busted.”
I can feel lightness and not darkness through the bond with Antonio. He just fights hard to hide it.
Antonio shrugs. “Who doesn’t like comedy? I was raised on that show. It’s how I learned to be subversive. Perhaps, those creators were secretly rebels too.”
Huh, it’s a thought.
I peek up at Kai. “But why journalism?”
“I was always curious,” Kai says, slowly, as if he’s also working this out for himself as well. “It’s part of what makes me good as a journalist but bad as an Alpha in Scotland, where I was meant to accept my role and be proud of it. Looking at the outside world, where things were done differently to the laws of our Omega King, was highly discouraged. My brother and I broke that rule together. We were both driven by the strong desire to get to the truth. Now, I want to get to the heart of this story and tell it to the world. What I didn’t realize I was missing was the voices of those who truly needed the platform to speak out. But now, Lark and you are here. If you want, you have it.”
Hope soars through me.
I’m choking on it.
I stare at him. “Once we’re safe, and this is over, then I want my voice to finally be heard. Could that be my role?”
Kai arches his brow. “I’m going to need to teach you to negotiate, rather than ask. Of course, if you want that. In ancient times, there were many famous Omega writers. I’d love that. You’ll be a fine advocate and writing partner, beloved.”
Partner!
I grin, leaning up on tip-toes to kiss him.
He slides his hand into my hair to hold me in place.
I lose myself in the tangle of our tongues and the joy of my new job.
It’s real.
This is happening.
Finally, Kai pulls back, and I butt at his chin, trying to encourage him back into a kiss.
Kai chuckles but doesn’t relent, dragging me by my hand toward the olive armchair by the fire.
He sits down (looking exactly like an Alpha prince), with his tree trunk legs spread wide.
He taps his thigh with an invitation for me to sit in his lap.
Yet it feels natural, in the glow and warmth of the fire and with his dominance that’s based on fundamental respect for me, that I kneel instead between his thighs.
Kai draws in a sharp breath. His gaze becomes hungry.
For a moment, Gabriel raises his head to watch us. His eyes darken, and his tongue darts out to wet his lips, before he appears to shake himself.
He refocuses himself on his phone conversation.
That’s why he has self-discipline.
For a long moment, Kai and I look at each other.
Then Kai asks in low voice, “While we wait for our solider boy to do his work, why don’t you keep my cock warm?”
My eyes widen.
Fuck, that’s perfect.
I didn’t even know that it was what I needed, until he voiced it.
I love going to sleep with Lark’s cock in my pussy and feeling that connection.
I need touch, desperately.
Now, I need Kai in my mouth.
Kai leans over the chair and picks up a book on journalism from one of the many haphazard piles. Then he opens it on a bookmark and ignores me.
Already feeling relaxed, I reach forward and undo his suit trousers. I reach into his underwear and pull out his cock.
It’s large and starting to harden.
But this isn’t about making him come.
As he turns a page in his book, I shuffle forward and take his cock in my mouth, struggling to stretch my lips around his huge size.
Then I place my hands on my lap.
Saliva is already building in my mouth. I work my tongue around, trying to find a way to accommodate his dick.
Kai rests his hand on my head, petting me. “Only soft sucking. No licking.”
His words help to calm my racing thoughts.
This isn’t a BJ.
I don’t need to do anything.
Kai is reading his book. He’s not even fully hard.
Thoughts of Gabriel’s tense calls and the dangers of the next day fall away.
By centering my focus on the heat, feel, and weight of Kai’s gorgeous cock, I can still my racing thoughts.
My shoulders relax, and I struggle not to move.
As I sit here, servicing Kai, I fall fast into a blissful, meditative space.
I feel caught between Kai’s firm fingers petting my head, the sound as he turns the pages of his book like he’s not even aware of my mouth on him, and the cock lying against my tongue.
I breathe through my nose, allowing myself to feel safe, fuzzy, and calm.
“The mission is on,” Gabriel’s excited voice cuts across my relaxed state.
For a moment, I don’t react.
My mind is still confused and slow to put the words together.
Then I pull back, letting Kai’s cock slip from my mouth.
Sluggish, I watch, as he tucks his dick back into his pants.
I can hear enthusiastic voices all around me but I can’t quite speak yet.
Gabriel has slammed the phone down and is half standing.
“Good Omega,” Kai praises me, stroking down my cheek and over my hair. He stands up, encouraging me to my feet as well. When my knees buckle, he hooks his arm around my waist to keep me steady. “You were perfect. But are you able to come back to me now? That’s so good. You’re doing well, beloved.”
Slowly, I rise back to more awareness from my subspace.
I’m in the study, and Gabriel is standing fully behind his desk now with his hands resting on the surface. He looks exhausted with deep shadows underneath his eyes.
But he’s grinning.
It’s the width of his smile that’s so rare, however, which brings me back to myself.
“What’s happened?” I whisper.
Gabriel’s smile impossibly widens. “Every part of the plan is now in place for tomorrow. The mission has been given the go ahead. Now, all we have to do is catch a couple of hours sleep because we’re going to need it.”
Lark lets out a choked cry, and I know that he’s holding back tears.
“I love you.” I meet Gabriel’s tired eyes. “I’m so fucking proud of you right now.”
Gabriel doesn’t appear to know what to do with the praise. “I’d do this for any pack mate. It’s my duty.”
Duty.
I never knew how much I’d admire and respect that in a partner.
“I got a text about twenty minutes ago from one of the best hackers and cyber crime experts in America.” Antonio twirls his phone around with a flourish. “Joey is a fellow Beta who was also raised in the mafia but within a rival pack to me. He ended up in a resistance pack too, the Marshals. He’s helped to leak our address and make it look legitimate.”
“This is it then.” Gabriel’s jaw clenches, as he looks between Lark and me. “I would feel better, if you both stayed inside the cabin, while those of us with training—”
Lark and I both shake our heads at the same time.
“We’re the escaped Broks,” I say. “We’re the bait that makes this plan work.”
Gabriel sighs. “You know, you emphasizing the bait part, doesn’t make me like the plan more.”
“You don’t have to like it,” Lark growls. His gaze darts to mine. “We’re doing this for Millie.”
I nod.
Gabriel marches around the desk to join Kai and me, at the same time as Lark and Antonio do.
We stand in a silent circle for a moment, before we join hands.
Our foreheads rest together.
I can hear each of their breaths.
Our scents mingle.
The moment feels sacred.
“For every Omega in the Institute,” Antonio says with a solemnity, of which I didn’t even know he was capable.
“For all Omegas,” Kai adds.
“For the Broken, past, present, and future,” I murmur.
Gabriel’s eyes are luminous, as they meet mine across the circle. “For you, Mer. For your revenge.”