15. Ford
Ford
W orking for Kent Banks was like working for the devil himself. He was a liar and a cheat, and anytime a woman, especially an omega walked in, he would upcharge the fuck out of them.
I’d already been on the brink of quitting when she walked in.
The omega was confident, but not cocky, and I hoped she’d be enough to challenge him. I watched from my desk as he chatted her up, his self-inflation going to new heights at the prospect of taking her for every penny she had.
This must be the omega who called in a few days ago. He went out to the property to survey it… alone, like usual. He didn’t want our opinions, just liked to boss us around when it was time to work.
“Oh, we can certainly help with that,” he rumbled, but she cut him off.
“I’m only asking for a quote right now. I’d like to consider my options,” she warned him, refusing to be bulldozed.
“Right, of course. Well, I sent my men out to survey the property in question and checked out the paperwork,” he said, more subdued now but I recognized that slight gleam in his eye. He was fuming at being cut off by an omega and doing his best to not show it.
Mason and I had our usual text chain going and I felt my phone vibrate, pulling my attention from the scene for a moment.
Mason: Remind me why we stay here?
Ford: I’m about to lose it. Wait for it, here comes his best line… “I’ve crunched the numbers, and found you the best deals.”
Kent puffed out his chest as he pulled out some schematics that his staff created for him.
“I’ve crunched the numbers, and found you the best deals,” he said, Mason and I sharing a look across the room. He was perched behind the financing window and I was at my desk, working on plans for a different project. Another one with an over-inflated price.
Even my jaw dropped as he gave her the final numbers. Mason’s face twisted in anger and I stood. Her choked gasp was enough to trigger something in me, my feet moving closer before I could stop myself.
“He’s lying.”
She blinked up at me, shocked. That’s when I was hit with the sweet and tart scent of cranberries, fig, and a hint of warm spice. It almost reminded me of holiday cider.
“Ford,” Kent growled. “You’re seconds away from being fired. How dare you tell lies in my shop.”
I turned to him, my face a mask of neutrality. “I quit… and there is no lie. You up-charged this omega thirty thousand dollars easy, and that’s just today. You’re finished when word spreads how you’ve swindled money out of your clients.”
“I’ll sue you for defamation.”
“And I’ll bring in facts, receipts, and an auditor,” I countered with a laugh before turning to the stunned omega. “Let us walk you out?”
“Us?” she managed to ask, now stepping away from Kent who was stuttering out apologies for my behavior and reassurance that were simply more lies.
“Mason, my packmate. I’m Ford, by the way,” I said simply, going for the door and holding it open. She gaped at us but nodded, stopping herself halfway to the door and letting out another squeak as Mason was right behind her by then.
Poor omega was flustered, but so was I if the erratic pounding of my heart was anything to go by.
She stepped around Mason to look at our former boss.
“Shame on you for trying to take advantage of me. If you had done well, you’d have landed three more projects because the land I’m building on? There’s three more spaces for my brothers just like it. Fuck you, Kent, I’ll be spreading word myself.”
“Omega trash,” he bit out. “Stupid fucking bitch!”
It was like watching a failed king fall. He was digging his own grave even further with each word that fell from his lips. His pudgy face was contorted and purple with rage and his suit was flexing against his rounded belly.
Mason froze at Kent’s words, turning around with pure murder in his eyes. Of the two of us, I was the more level-headed. Instead of stopping him, I ushered the omega out of the front door.
She let out a shaky breath as we stepped onto the porch. In fact, her entire body was shaking. I crouched down so we were eye level. Towering over her wouldn’t help her breathe any easier.
“Hey, hey, you’re alright. Did he scare you?”
She huffed out a laugh. “No, I’m fucking angry. I’m not usually the run and tell my brother’s type, but fuck that.”
She pulled out her phone before I could question her further, dialing and putting it up to her ear. The gruff voice grew louder as she explained until the call ended abruptly.
“Oh, my name is Avery,” she said to me. “Sorry, I didn’t tell you earlier.”
“That’s a beautiful name,” I said, my grin spreading. She was a gorgeous omega. Her frame was petite but curvy, straight black hair hanging around her shoulders and bright hazel eyes blinking up at me. There were flecks of green in them that looked amazing in the sunlight.
Her scent was stronger out here, as if the sun was warming her up and bringing it out.
“Should we be worried?” she asked, gesturing inside where Mason was squaring off with Kent.
“Wait him out,” I said. “He won’t touch him unless Kent hits first. There are cameras in there.”
“Did he really try to swindle me?” she asked, rage building all over again.
“Yup,” I answered, not bothering to sugar-coat it. “He’s done it before and we’ve called him on it, but sometimes you have to bite your tongue and pay your bills.”
“What will you do now?” she asked, likely just registering we’d both walked out over this. “Don’t let me be the reason you suffer.”
“We’ll be fine. We’ve both needed a reason to walk away and we’ve saved up some,” I shrugged. Getting worked up wasn’t my style.
Tires screeching on the street was followed by a big black pickup pulling into the lot. They didn’t bother with parking properly, coming to a halt right in front, blocking several parking spaces.
Three alphas hopped out, each one more intimidating than the rest. All of hell's fury lit up their faces—faces that were all the same.
“Triplets,” I guessed. “Your brothers?”
“Yes,” the closest one growled, heading for me but she stepped in front.
“Not him,” she argued. “The old man in there. Stop the guy defending me from killing him, please? And remember Mama will kick your ass if you go to jail.”
“I know the sheriff,” the one with the black, wavy hair said, grinning as he shrugged out of his leather jacket.
She groaned as they charged inside. Mason turned then stepped back, walking outside the moment the triplets circled Kent who was probably pissing his pants right about now.
Mason’s laughter followed him out and he looked over at the omega. “Your brothers are my new heroes.”
“Mine, too,” she snorted before giving him a small smile. “I’m Avery. Thanks for sticking up for me.”
“Fuck that asshole,” Mason growled. She eyed him, tensing slightly at his growl but not backing away.
“Agreed,” she said before we all turned to shouting. Kent was blustering at them and clutching a phone to his chest. “He must have called the cops.”
“Should we be concerned?” I asked. We’d both heard her brothers give zero fucks about the cops.
“My brother’s best friend is a cop. He’ll be just as angry if he hears what this guy has been doing. He’s clearly going to lose every bit of his reputation over this. I should probably feel a bit bad about that.”
“Don’t. He’s a dick,” Mason concluded before stepping closer to the omega.
He was a strong alpha. Fit and tattooed, buzzed hair on the sides and longer deep green on top. His eyes were a bluish-green and always seemed to see right through you. He always tanned, giving him a bronzed look that only made the dark, brooding look more intense. Judging from the shiver that ran through her, she was thinking the same thing.
We were night and day. I had shaggy, platinum blond hair and pale skin, making my tattoos stand out more starkly than his. My eyes were pale, but they suited me. Mason was also bulky, where I was more lithe and defined. We’d been compared to each other our entire friendship and I couldn’t help but wonder if our mate was doing that now.
“Are we going to talk about you being our mate?”
She made a noise in answer but said nothing, swallowing hard.
“No?”
He let out a quiet laugh that was full of promise.
“Oh, we’re going to talk about it, omega.”
Her eyes narrowed and I half-expected her to slap him. As if he thought the same thing he took a step out of her personal bubble and sighed.
“I’m not into games,” he said simply. “We’re mates. Scent-matches. If you think I’m going to just let you walk back out of my life you’re mistaken.”
“Scent matches?” The deep voice was quiet and deadly and we turned to face the wall of alpha that her brothers had formed.
“I’m guessing from the lack of sirens you resolved things?” I asked, ignoring the intimidation attempt.
“We did,” one of the triplets confirmed. “Now, I believe my brother here asked you all a question.”
“They’re not the first I’ve found in town,” Avery admitted. That was enough for all five of us to turn to face her. She didn’t shrink away from five alphas staring her down, she just gave a bored look, crossed her arms, and raised an eyebrow.
“Look, we aren’t going to fuck up like last time and intervene, but are you sure?”
She looked at us and sighed. “Apparently, I can’t escape fate.”
One of the brothers moved closer, putting a hand on her shoulder and waiting until she looked up at him. She raised a hand to shield the sun and waited for him to speak.
“This is how it’s supposed to happen. They didn’t fabricate this, but be careful,” he warned. She shot us a panicked look before looking back at him and nodding.
“Okay,” she whispered.
He released her and the brothers rounded on me and Mason. They weren’t angry but they were definitely about to give us ‘the talk’.
“That’s our baby sister. She’s been through enough and if you think you’re going to use some alpha bullshit on her, I’ll end your life and bury you in the mountains where no one can find you,” the one with long hair said. For not yelling, his point came across loud and clear.
“We have no intention of being assholes. We’re not perfect, but we show respect,” I reassured him with a shrug. I wasn’t intimidated. In fact, my alpha was pleased she had strong protectors, though we were here now, and we weren’t going anywhere.
“Come on, Mav,” the brother that reassured her said, clapping him on the shoulder. The final brother followed, but gave us one last warning glare before climbing in the truck. They didn’t leave, and that was probably the only reason that Kent didn’t run out to bitch at us some more.
“Do you have anything inside, Ford?” Mason asked, gesturing to the door. I shook my head.
“My backpack is in my truck.” Mason had his own shrugged over one shoulder and he nodded.
“Can we take you for a coffee or something?”
She laughed. “The last thing I need is caffeine after that.”
“Brunch? It’s still early and I know Lakeside Bistro has an amazing brunch spread,” I offered, not giving up yet. “We can get to know each other a bit, exchange numbers, no pressure.”
“Sure,” she relented. “I’ll meet you there.”
I glanced down at her shaking hands and frowned. “Mind if we drive you there. You’re a bit shaken up.”
She followed my gaze and balled her hands into fists. “Okay.”
I could tell it took a lot for her to agree to that. Pride filled me for this omega I barely knew. I had always heard that finding your mate was this instant connection that made you crave being around them, and now I could believe it. I wanted her close, with me, safe and protected.
She climbed into her passenger seat, waiting for us to figure out who was going to drive her and who was taking our SUV.
Mason looked at me and I nodded, heading for her truck while he took the other. We both saw how she reacted to his possessive, intense behavior, and I guess I was the buffer.
He wouldn’t find me complaining.