ELIANO #5
Holding my breath, I make my way down to the first floor. I am just as cautious here, but again I do not see any cameras. Apparently Tanner is only afraid of what might come from outside.
Even so, I know I am in the most dangerous zone. If Tanner comes back, there will be no easy way out.
I step into the kitchen. It is fairly modern, and what immediately catches my eye is the enormous refrigerator.
I wrap my hand in my jacket, grab the handle, and open it.
Wow. Tanner lives here alone, but the fridge is packed to the brim. Milk, packaged cold cuts, cheeses, even a large drawer full of fruit. The guy really eats.
Unless he is preparing for some kind of party? Or maybe it is for guests. I have no idea.
I decide to keep looking around.
On the ground floor there is a bathroom and two rooms. One looks like a stark, utilitarian office.
The other seems to be some kind of recording studio.
White screens stand against the wall, and there is a large bed that is clearly meant for porn scenes.
In a cabinet I spot various pieces of equipment, dildos, handcuffs with pink fur, anal beads, gag balls, and similar items.
Well, of course. If he shoots porn, he needs a studio, or maybe it’s just a decoy? Something placed where anyone who visits can see it and think this is all there is.
There are rumors about the Tanners producing illegal content, but I seriously doubt all of that happens here. This place is too clean. There are no lingering smells. I doubt anyone has had sex here in a long time.
There is nothing else on this level. I do not see any door leading to a basement, which is strange, because Tanner was clearly going down wooden stairs earlier.
I move from room to room, checking here and there, but I see nothing. There is no entrance to a damn basement anywhere.
I inch along the hallway walls, millimeter by millimeter.
Nothing. I go back into the office, look behind the cabinets.
Still nothing. Then I study the walls in the studio, but again, nothing!
Damn. Whatever is here is extremely well hidden, and that realization sends a strange wave of excitement through me.
Finally, in a stupid, impulsive move, I lie down on the floor and press my ear against it. I do not even know what I am expecting. It is more instinct than logic.
I flatten my ear against one spot, then another, but hear nothing. I return to the studio and move closer to the bed. As I examine it, I notice a thin outline on the floor around the legs. It is nothing obvious, more like a faint line in the surface of the wooden boards.
I press my ears to that spot, but there is only silence.
Still, as I lie there and focus with everything I have, right at the very edge of my perception, I think I hear something extremely faint, something more like a rustle. It could just be a mouse moving somewhere inside the walls.
Investigating it further would be risky. I know I should leave now. Tanner is far too unpredictable. But the whole thing will not let go of me.
Anyway, it's time to move. I spot a roll of tape on a shelf and take it with me. I head back up to the second floor and then to the attic. I know I have to leave the house the same way I came in, because the cameras would catch me if I exited through the front door.
Once I am back at the window, I tape the cardboard in place so it will not get blown away.
Then I start climbing down the downspout. It is not easy. Going down is much harder than climbing up. My hands are sweaty, my muscles trembling. It takes me about twenty minutes to reach the ground. Thankfully, Tanner does not return during that time.
I leave his property, skirt around the abandoned house next door, and get into my car.
While sitting there, I call Ennio.
"Yes?"
"It’s me."
He lets out an impatient sigh.
"Eliano, you need to be more careful. Rocco hasn’t shut up since yesterday about your fight. He’s furious, swearing he won’t stop until he gets his hands on you."
I fall silent for a moment, because what am I supposed to say? That I screwed up badly and my common sense went straight to hell?
"That’s why I need to speed things up with the Tanners. I found something strange in Daniel’s house."
I summarize everything for him, starting with the box of omegas’ clothes, then the fact that I could not find any basement even though there is clearly one in that house. I also describe the empty studio.
Ennio is silent for a moment, then says, "Wednesday is lighter for me. We can go there together and check it out."
A wave of relief washes over me. For some reason, I really do not want to go back there alone. Ennio has far more experience with situations like this.
That evening I am so energized that Storm and Damian, who are in the kitchen happily cooking together, notice it right away. The sight of them stirs a bittersweet memory of cooking together with Salt during the couples classes on the island.
"Any progress on the thing that brought you here?" Storm asks casually as he approaches me with a bowl of stew.
"You could say that. Wednesday should make things clearer."
I see hesitation on his face. Then he slowly sits down next to me and offers me the bowl. I take it with some embarrassment. Over the past two and a half weeks, they have been cooking for me, and it has been making me uncomfortable.
"Will you tell me what happened between you and Salt?" he asks, watching me closely. "I know something went wrong. If everything were fine, you would be calling him daily."
My face must darken, because even Damian, leaning against the kitchen counter, makes a strange expression.
"Well, we had a bit of a disagreement," I say. "You could say it was about different approaches to dealing with criminal matters."
"That sounds vague, but what bothers me is that you have been here for almost three weeks now, and Salt is alone on the island. Does that not get to you?"
I look away. I really do not want to talk about it, or about how I feel, because I feel… sick.
"I asked a few people to keep an eye on him and keep him company. I trust that they will."
Storm and Damian exchange looks.
"Eliano, that's not what I meant. I honestly believe you are True Mates."
"Well, I have the same suspicion," I say suddenly, surprising myself. "There was something that happened that, in my opinion, confirmed it beyond doubt. But Salt does not believe it, so it does not really matter right now."
"Eliano, remember that Salt is a beta. Because of that, the Pull will not start between you two as quickly as it would between an omega and an alpha. But it will start eventually, I promise you. You will begin to feel a longing you cannot control, and so will he. It will be torturous."
"We will see. When we parted, one of the last things he said to me was that he was ending our relationship, that he hated me," I blurt out before thinking it through.
"Damn!" Damian mutters, looking intrigued by the turn the conversation has taken. He steps closer and looks at Storm as if asking for confirmation. "That’s Mate Rejection! Could it be that?"
"Definitely," Storm murmurs.
"Storm, how could this even be possible between True Mates?" Damian asks, staring at him wide-eyed.
"It is," Storm says after a moment, his expression strange. "I can imagine exactly how it went down. I have already seen such a case. I know of one more Einarson. My own brother, Skye is the True Mate of Salt’s half-brother, Soren Einarson."
I blink. "Wait, what? Rewind!"
Storm laughs. "You did not know Salt was one of seven sons of a notorious breeder who left a trail of pregnant omegas behind him?"
"I heard something about it, he was a colonel, but—"
"It’s true. Salt and my brother-in-law, Soren are related."
"The fuck? Crazy coincidence!"
Storm leans in and shows me a picture of a young beta on his phone. The guy looks like Salt’s twin.
"Their situation was very similar to yours.
They broke up for two months, but Skye suffered physically more and more; finally, he simply had to follow Soren.
I am telling you this because with alphas and betas, it takes longer.
Counting on the True Mate Bond to fix everything usually means months of separation and continuous, rising suffering.
But I can see how it may be confusing since it does not hit as fast or as hard as it does with AOs. "
I snort in irritation. "I’ll deal with this TM thing later. I came here with a task to complete. Like I said, I hope to get some closure on Wednesday, but I’m not sure about anything beyond that. We’ll see what happens."
The silence hangs for a moment, then I add in a lighter tone, not wanting to drag the mood down too much, "The fact that your brother is the True Mate of Salt’s brother is an interesting coincidence, I will admit. That makes us, in a way, sort of family. Like co-brothers-in-law or something."
Storm laughs awkwardly. "Yeah. Something like this." He hesitates. "I hope whatever you are doing right now does not get you into trouble. And remember, if you need help, just say the word."
"Thanks, but I do not want to drag you into anything that could later put you at risk. Legally."
Storm frowns. "Eliano, please be sensible. Nothing is worth committing a crime and ending up in prison for years."
I grimace. "That is exactly what I tried to tell Salt, and it is what caused the rift between us. I want to handle this legally, but I need to make sure of a few things first."
"I am glad to hear that. Remember my offer to help. After all, we’re almost family now, right?"
"Yeah. Co-brother-in-law. Thanks." And I give him a crooked smile.
◆◆◆
On Wednesday, Ennio pulls up in front of Storm’s house to pick me up.