Chapter 39
Chapter
Thirty-Nine
REID
I lied to Hamish that Milo and Danny were coming over to discuss the ups and downs of pregnancy. I hated being untruthful with someone who had always treated me honestly, but if he knew what we were really meeting about, he’d have been on the phone to Zander within a minute.
Instead, I had to endure his proud smile as I escorted the two omegas to my bedroom. It made me feel two feet tall.
“Are you okay?” Milo asked, one hand curled protectively around his belly as he slumped on the opposite bed. “Everett said someone tried to kidnap you.”
“I’m fine.” Or at least, as fine as I could be. “No one actually tried to take me. We spotted them before they could make a move.”
“Thank the Gods.”
Danny sat beside Milo and cocked his head curiously. “Why do I get the feeling we aren’t just here for moral support?”
I squirmed, wondering where to begin. It had seemed so straightforward in my head. If the alphas wouldn’t help, then surely the omegas would. Especially these two, who both knew how it felt to be held against their will.
I closed the door and sat on the other bed. “One of the men admitted that they’re part of an omega trafficking ring.”
Milo gasped, his eyes wide, and Danny turned a faint shade of gray.
“Apparently, they find omegas and take them back to the people in charge. Trent and his pack were supplying them.” The thought made me sick.
“Do the police know where the others are?” Danny asked, leaning forward before grimacing slightly and adjusting his position.
Being tall, he wore his pregnancy better than Milo and it was easy to forget he was carrying another life in there.
Suddenly, I felt guilty for calling these pregnant omegas to help me.
They wouldn’t only be risking themselves but their babies too.
“They don’t, but I’m sure they’ll figure it out,” I muttered, looking down at the faded denim of my jeans. “Maybe you guys should call one of your mates to come and get you. It might be dangerous for you to be away from home.”
Danny huffed. “You aren’t getting rid of us that easily. You called us for a reason, right?”
I fidgeted, instinctively running my fingertips along the scars on my wrists.
“We want to help,” Milo said, his voice gentle, his tone sincere. “Is there something we can do?”
My stomach rolled nauseatingly, reminding me that they weren’t the only ones pregnant. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“We won’t do anything dangerous,” Milo assured me. “There must be some way we can help though.”
I sighed. “At least one of the men knew where the omegas were but he was killed by a spell before he told us. The others want to wait and go through all the proper channels before questioning the other man further in case the same thing happens.”
Danny’s eyebrow twitched. “That could take days, if not more.”
“I know.” I gripped the blanket and clenched my hands in it, hoping that it would ground me enough that my magic wouldn’t go haywire again.
“Nathaniel has been teaching me a tracking spell. He’s much better than me, but if I had something the dead guy touched—especially something he kept close to him for a long time—then I might be able to trace the locations where he’s spent most of his time. ”
Milo nodded his understanding. “And if one of those locations is where the omegas are being kept, then we’d find them.”
“Exactly. I just…” I stared at the fabric of my jeans until my vision blurred and hot tears stung my eyes.
I blinked rapidly, not wanting them to see my weakness.
“I can’t leave them there. Shouldn’t they be more important than some federal paperwork and the safety of one of the monsters who kidnapped them? ”
The mattress shifted beside me and then an arm wrapped around my waist. I stiffened instinctively but relaxed when I dared to glance sideways and realized Milo was… hugging me. Kind of. His head was next to mine and his small frame trembled.
“You’re right,” he murmured. “They should be our priority.”
Danny sat on my other side and took my hand, sandwiching me between them. One of the tears I’d been holding back streaked down my cheek, dripped off my chin, and soaked a small, dark circle on my jeans.
“What do you need from us?” he asked, squeezing my hand.
I drew in a shuddering breath. “I know this is asking a lot, but would it be possible for one of you to get something that belonged to the dead guy so I can use it as a focus for the spell? Perhaps his wallet or his phone since he would have taken those with him everywhere.”
“Why don’t you get it?” Danny asked, confused but not accusatory.
I squeezed my eyes shut and inhaled slowly and deeply, trying to stop the way my chest quivered and the back of my throat ached. “Nathaniel did something to the wards so they’ll alert him if I try to leave. If I go anywhere, they’ll know, and they’ll come looking for me.”
Danny’s hand tightened around mine. “Excuse me?” he demanded, his expression outraged. “You’re not a prisoner! How dare they treat you like one!”
My heart pounded in a way that wasn’t entirely unpleasant. I wasn’t used to having omegas defend me. Most of the ones I’d spent more than a few days around either resented me because of my role in their imprisonment or pitied me because of how badly I was used.
“They want to protect him,” Milo said quietly. In moments like this, it was obvious that he was the more levelheaded of the two. “But you’re right, it isn’t fair.”
“We’ll get you what you need,” Danny said, meeting my gaze. “Or rather, I’ll get it. Milo will stay here with you.”
Milo snorted. “I’ll come with you, thank you very much.”
“It might not be safe,” Danny said pointedly.
Milo raised his chin. “Which is why it should be both of us.” He removed his arm from around my waist and scooted back far enough for us to look at each other comfortably.
“I’ll drive Danny there and I’ll distract the others while he gets what you need.
When we come back, we’ll sit with you while we do the spell.
You have to promise not to try to go after them on your own though.
It isn’t safe and none of us can afford to put our babies at risk. ”
I nodded. “I understand, and I wouldn’t ask you to. If I manage to get the information, hopefully that will be enough to convince someone to investigate.”
It had to be, right?
I couldn’t do all of this for nothing.