Chapter 56
Chapter Fifty-Six
SANTIAGO
My Omega is going into heat, beats like a drum, as steady and constant as my pulse.
I leave her arguing with Kade about the possibility of her actually going into heat. As soon as Aleksei pointed it out to her, her beautiful, logical mind started shutting down the reality.
We heard it all in the space of a minute—Not here.
We can’t. Marco needs me. Deena needs me more.
The dogs, what about them? I don’t have a nest. This has to be a joke.
I can’t do this here. Victor is still out there.
I have to get Deena to a hospital. Exactly where do you think I’ll find a nest?
Stop saying heat! Oh god, oh god, oh god, Aleksei, please don’t stop.
I shut the door behind me and return to where I was sitting before with Isabella.
“We have a situation,” I say, touching her arm gently.
She looks like she’s napping, but I know she’s not.
“Good luck with that. She will fight you tooth and nail before she turns her focus inward and wrestles her heat back to where it came from.” She grins when she talks, until she shuffles on her seat and grimaces.
Her finger is up in my face before I can fathom a thought. “Keep my pain to yourself, Santiago. If you’re family, like you suggest you are, you’ll prove it by not breathing a word to Quinn. You think she’s pigheaded now… If she thinks someone needs her, she’ll be stubborn like a bull.”
I smile, shrugging. “You know my mate so well.”
“And we haven’t even gotten to the part where you and her happened, or the Russian or Kade. But here's the thing, nephew. I will peel the skin off your body slowly, and the same goes for each of them, if you ever, and I mean ever, treat her badly. Quintessa has suffered enough.”
I lean in close, dropping all pretenses, along with my shields. I don’t feel good about the way Isabella recoils under the impact of my designation, but I also don’t feel good about her insinuation.
“I have killed for her. I will keep killing for her. The only reward I need is her happiness. Please don’t ever suggest I would hurt the one thing in this world I treasure above all else again.
I want our family reunions to be a place of joy, Isabella, so I appreciate the warning, but don’t fucking push me like that. ”
Isabella proves to me the blood that runs through her veins is Cabal as she raises her chin and stares me down. Or tries to. Her gaze drops eventually, but she stays righteous the whole time, not submitting. But I don't need her submission. “I think we understand each other.”
I sit down on the stair, dropping lower than her as a sign of respect. “It seems we do. Now I need your help, she really is going into heat.”
KADE
Aleksei helps Quinn pull her jeans back up. He’d stopped her growing anxiety and argument by taking her to the ground and eating her out until she was gushing over his face.
“Now, my darling wife, you keep making breakfast for us. We have enough time to deal with all your concerns, but your pack will be doing that, not you. Your job is to feed your pack and your family, then do whatever your heat drives you to. One of us will always be with Marco or Deena. Can you do that for me?” He’s insistent but gentle, and his question might be a question, but there’s weight in it, making it nearly impossible for her to deny her Alpha.
Quinny’s small “yes” is tentative.
“Quinny.” I pull her to me, brushing her hair off her face. “Do you want me to help you with breakfast, or I could write a list so we don’t miss anything or any jobs you want done.”
Her face is flushed, and she smells like sex and her vanilla scent, though today, that is like standing in a vanilla factory.
It’s intense, and I feel myself responding to her.
The time will come when I can’t stop the craving of being inside her body, but for now, I’m driven by another need—allaying all her worries.
Aleksei slips away on his own mission. Considering we have a list a mile long from our anxious, heat-affected Omega, it makes sense we divide and conquer.
I keep brushing the hair off her face until the glaze in her eyes drifts away, and her hormones give her a small reprieve. Guiding her to the sink, I turn the taps to cold, then bring the inside of her wrists to the stream of water.
“Where did you learn this trick?” she asks, her voice still breathy.
I blow out a steadying exhale and will my cock to deflate. I need to focus on her.
“I spent a lot of time, when we were pretending not to be scent-matched mates, studying how to look after Omegas.”
She rolls her eyes and leans over for a kiss. Of course, I give her what she wants. I will always give her what she wants.
Quinny pulls back and looks down at the water cascading over her skin. “Can you check on Marco for me? I would, but…”
“I’m pretty sure your Alpha gave you an order before,” I tease her, dipping down to kiss the side of her head. “Nalla is with Marco, but I’ll go see what they’re up to.”
Before I leave, I dip another piece of bread into the batter she has already made and drop it into the waiting frypan. Giving Quinny a task—in this instance, our breakfast—is going to help her stay on track.
I walk past Aleksei talking on his phone, and even before I’m at Marco’s room, I can hear movement inside. I push open the door, making sure he can see me before I move inside.
Last night, we each spent time with Marco. Not enough for him to trust us implicitly, but kids trust their instincts. He saw Quinny being comfortable with us too.
Marco also has another method of figuring out people, Nalla. She’s his protector. They bonded last night, and even Roshka is sulky with how he’s been dumped for the little guy.
Quinny coached us on how to communicate with Marco. I’ve got no doubt that when we catch a break, we will be looking for a private sign coach to give us a crash course. Until then, we’re opting for face-to-face interaction and lipreading.
“Quinny is making breakfast. So much food, Marco! You have to see what she’s made us.”
He nods eagerly, fighting himself free of his blankets.
I tap his shoulder, stopping him from racing away. “How about we show Quinny what a big guy you are? You take a shower, and I’ll get your clothes ready for you. Nalla will try to get in with you, but don’t you let her. You’re her boss, so you tell her no!”
He agrees and waves me to follow, taking us across the hall to the bathroom. I’m not going to give Quinny any reason to panic about Marco showering, so I fix the shower, then squat in front of him.
“Five minutes only. And I will be back. You clap if you need me and leave the door open.”
He pulls off his pj’s top and then stops undressing until I’m out in the hallway. I don’t watch like a creeper; I watch like a responsible carer and only leave when I see for myself he’s obviously done this for himself before today.
I split my focus. Part of me stays with Marco, another part picks up Quinny setting the table, and I walk towards Quinny’s bedroom where Aleksei is now.
He’s hanging up as I walk in. “I’ve arranged a delivery truck.”
“What?”
“Food, Kade. We needed food. I called the town, and someone is bringing a load here.”
“Okay, what can I do?”
“I think you keeping her occupied is the best action at the minute. I need Santiago to stop his family reunion and make some calls. Victor is a priority. I could call the Italians, but I’m not sure yet they would take my call.”
I leave Aleksei grinning like a lunatic at his poor joke and go back to check on Marco; he’s sitting on the floor of the shower. I pull back so he can’t see me and hit the lights before popping my head in.
“Are you ready to hop out? We’ve got chores to do!”
The kid steps out of the shower, and as soon as he grabs the towel and wraps himself up, I walk past him and shut the shower off. I help him dress, turning around when he needs his privacy, and he’s racing up, scaring the crap out of Quinny within a few minutes.
“Roshka, Nalla.” I call the dogs to the back, and they take off, doing their business and also a check of the property.
Since I’m out back, I do a once-over of the house, checking the window locks and door locks, but everything is in order. And so it should. Last night, the people who attacked Deena caught her by surprise at the front door.
“Kade, can you please set the table with Marco?” Quinny calls out just as I’m walking back in.
And it works out that it’s also the same time Santiago is helping Deena back in. She’s obviously sore, but Deena has the same stubborn streak in her that Quinny has.
Aleksei joins us just as Deena takes a seat. I leave them and stick close to Quinny.
“What can I do?”
She’s staring at the plate of food in her hands. I go to take it from her, but she doesn’t let it go. “Kade, I can’t go into heat.”
“Yes, you can. I promise you, everything will be okay.”
SANTIAGO
Kade catches Quinn right as she starts to crest another wave of her impending heat.
He holds out the plate for me to grab, then steers her into a quiet corner of the kitchen.
He turns her around so she can see us, his arms looped around her waist, and he whispers in her ear, chasing away the latest round of worries.
I get it—our Omega is a control freak, just like I am. Just like Aleksei is. Kade too.
Handing Aleksei the plate, I ask him, “Can you serve? I’ll grab my phone and also some medication for Isabella.”
He recoils, like I slapped him. “Who the fuck is Isabella?”
“Language!” Isabella hisses under her breath. “And apparently that's me. Now, Marco, do you want one or two pieces of French toast?”
She answers Aleksei, then diverts his focus in a handful of words, and I know in her doing that everything is going to be fine. When I check on my Omega, she’s clearly come to the same conclusion I have because she joins us and eats without additional fretting.
Quinn is nesting. I doubt she’s recognized the signs yet, but all the food she’s prepared for us, the stacks of food containers on the counter for later, and the neat piles of washing are proof enough.
Just because her nesting isn’t presenting typically doesn’t make it any less impactful or important in her cycle.
Now we just need her a little distracted.
My phone lights up with a text, and I interrupt the light conversation. “Marco, do you want to come with Aleksei and I to get something special for Quinn?”
Quinn’s fork clatters to her plate, and Isabella reaches over and places it to the side before she shifts to Marco. Her fingers move with a fluidity that is beautiful to watch as she asks Marco.
The fact he gets up and races away isn’t missed by any of us.
“Bebe, you’re in charge here.” I stress that point unnecessarily, but Quinn needs to feel in control.
And she needs to know the people she loves are protected.
“Kade will be with you and Isabella, Roshka’s here too.
Nalla, Aleksei, and I will watch over Marco like a hawk.
And while he’s not here, I want you to both know I'm very proud of what you have done with him, and also in how you’ve protected each other.
I’m not being patronizing, I hope you know that.
Marco is proof of how successful you guys have been.
“He is well-rounded and understands boundaries. He’s a very headstrong boy, and he’s already displaying the hallmarks of being a strong Alpha.
He’s also a Cabal, when you both are ready, and when he is too, he will have to be introduced to his family.
I’ve spoken with Isabella, and in time, we’ll travel together to reintroduce her and her son to her Cabal family.
Once your heat is done, we will work out our next move, but as part of that next move, all this comes to an end. ”
“What?” Quinn growls, sudden irritation bringing a flush to her already pink cheeks.
“Bebe, don’t misinterpret my words. I’m simply saying you are a part of a pack now, and caring for Marco and Isabella is a responsibility our pack shoulders.
You have a pack, you’re not alone, and you are all a part of something bigger now.
Aside from being mine, Quinn, Isabella is the sister of Alejandro Cabal, making her Cartel royalty. ”
“My wife is Bratva royalty before she is Cartel royalty.” Aleksei thumps the table, unnecessarily.
I was talking about Isabella, but considering I’ll be taking over from Alejandro before long, I guess the Russian isn’t wrong in what he says.
Quinn swings around to face him, and he ruins her rising temper with a wink and a flirty smile. Her mouth parts, and she blinks through the haze of her Alpha’s influence.
I growl at him. We can wind her up for hours, but I’d prefer everything settled as well as it can be before she gets a taste of what’s coming.
“I want you both aware that Victor is locked down. He won’t be going anywhere. He is something we will resolve later, but the Cartel will want their pound of flesh for the grief he has brought our family.”
I check over my shoulder to see if Marco has rejoined us, but he hasn’t, so I keep talking as fast as I can, hopefully bringing more comfort.
“I do have to let Alejandro know I’ve found his sister.
It’s only fair I stop his grieving as soon as I can.
While Quinn is in her heat, there will be Cartel watching over all of us.
He will send only his best men. I would trust them with your safety, bebe. ”
And that’s the point where Quinn races around the table and knocks the wind out of me. Being on the receiving end of her gratitude is a beautiful thing.