Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
BECKETT
“ B aby, baby, wake up. Fuck, Angel he needs a doctor.” Someone shakes me, and I peek open my eyes, but my head is killing me. What the hell happened?
“Hey, easy,” Ken says as I try to sit up. My temple throbs, and when I reach up, pressing on it, it’s sticky.
Bringing my fingers out so I can see what it is, my stomach twists. Blood? “Belle,” I groan, and Tate freezes.
“Belle did this?” he shouts, and I wince, shaking my head a little.
“No, someone came up to us and knocked her out, then hit me. I think he was familiar, but I can’t remember. He took her, Tate.”
“Yeah, I'm not so sure about that, baby. Her things are missing from the car. That was the first place Angel checked when we couldn’t find you guys. Her bags are gone and all of her blankets. It’s like she was trying to remove every sign that she was even here.”
“No, that’s not right,” I groan, then look around me. “Where the fuck am I?” I’m in a dark hallway, on the floor, but it doesn’t look familiar.
“It’s the storage area of the restaurant. We have been looking for you for three hours, Beck. Losing our fucking minds… and we had to call the cops, so I’m sure we will be all over the media soon.” Angel has the decency to wince, but I would have done the same thing.
“It’s okay. I will handle it, but first we need to get back to the car. I’ll need my laptop. I can track Belle,” I mumble, and Tate barks out a laugh, shaking his head.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from our little hacker,” he says, then helps me onto my feet. I’m not stable by any means, and I need to lean on him. Angel comes to my other side and helps as we escape out a side door.
Ken runs ahead to start the car, then inform the police that I was found. The parking lot is a sea of blue and red and fuck, yep, theres the media. They are going to eat this shit up. I’m surprised Tate’s dad isn’t calling yet.
As we reach the car, I instantly smell it before the door is opened. “Someone used descenting spray. The whole car reeks of it,” I say, then cough, and Tate looks murderous.
“Why would they do this? Who would do this?” I climb in and grab my bag, but my laptop is missing.
“They took my backpack. I need to go to a Best Buy or something right now. I can’t track her without my laptop, or at least a tablet.”
“So she’s not only a little heartbreaking omega, she’s a thief,” Tate growls, and Angel looks heartbroken. He’s shaking his head, but the evidence isn’t helping things.
“I still think someone took her. Someone we know, but I can’t remember. It’s just a feeling,” I mutter, resting my head against the leather seat, trying to think.
Tate shouts next to me, and I jump. “Where the fuck is Rich? You don’t think…”
“No, he would never hurt me. He’s our friend, and your bodyguard. Call him. I’m sure he’s just delayed,” I mutter, and Angel pulls out his phone. I notice he’s changed his home screen to a photo of him and Belle.
Fuck. Please, baby, please don’t tell me you betrayed us.
ANGEL
I continue to call Rich for the next day and a half, but it’s all the same. His voicemail. I am so sick of hearing his voice, and now it’s filled with messages of me shouting, pleading, and trying to reason with him.
Tate is pissed, and Beck is beside himself. After we cleaned up his cut, Ken took us to a mall, but the stores were closed for the night. We haven’t been able to replace his stolen electronics.
A lot of stores are closed for the holidays. Which makes sense, but this is bullshit. Why would Rich do this? If he is responsible… I refuse to think Belle left us without even a goodbye, or a note.
She had to know how much I was falling for her. She’s everything I never knew I needed in an omega, and she’s mine. Scent match or not. I am hers.
Ken pulls over, and he looks awful. His skin is pale, and he has dark shadows under his eyes. Rich was supposed to give him a break, but instead we’ve been racing to LA. I have a feeling that’s where we will find my Vixen.
“Guys, I’m sorry, but I can’t keep going. My eyes are closing, and I don’t want to kill anyone.”
“I do. I want to beat Rich to a bloody pulp and then if he’s still breathing, burn him alive,” I growl, and Tate scoffs. Beck doesn’t even react.
“Ken, can you get us to the next airport? My dad said our tour bus is waiting in Arizona. We will just fly there.”
“No, I’m not going to Arizona. Let’s just fly to LA. Get this shit trip over with,” Beck mutters, and I have to agree with him. This trip started off amazing, but now we are all in a Hell of someone else’s making.
“Yeah, plus I have my tablet at home. We can finally track her,” Tate grunts, and I am ready to beat his ass.
“She didn’t leave us, Tate, so drop the fucking attitude.”
Ken yawns, cracks another energy drink, then continues driving us. “After I drop you off, I am getting a hotel room, but I’ll continue the drive tomorrow,” he says, and I feel bad.
“No, you are getting on a plane with us. The car can stay in Oklahoma. My father will get over it,” Tate mutters, and Ken nods.
I stare out the window as we drive, wishing Belle was still here in my arms. I enjoyed our cuddles, and I fucking miss her. Beck sighs and moves to sit next to me. Tate is coloring again, but it’s aggressive.
“My memory is still hazy, but I think right before I was hit, she scented me. We kissed, and when she pulled away, her gray eyes were wide and she was stammering. Do you think she freaked out and ran after learning I was hers?” he asks quietly, and I turn to look at him.
“Belle didn’t leave us, and I will die on this hill until I convince you. She wasn’t malicious, not like her… Fuck!” I shout, and the car swerves.
“Angel, don't do that!” Ken barks, and I wince.
“Sorry.”
Tate looks at me like I’m fucking crazy and maybe I am. “I think I know where Belle is, and she’s in danger.”
As we touch down at LAX, I don’t bother with luggage, as Ken will grab it. Rushing through the airport, I ignore the people who recognize me and race out to the parking garage. Uncle Russel has a car there waiting for us.
“Are you sure about this?” Beck asks, and I nod.
“Yes, but first we need to run to the studio and get something.”
Tate jumps in and off we go into the LA traffic. This place is crazy and my knee won’t stop bouncing. I am anxious as hell. We are so damn close.
“So, what’s the plan?” Tate asks, chewing a piece of gum. He still think Belle tried to fuck with us, and I am over it. If he keeps this shit up I may leave his ass on the side of the highway.
“The plan is to go to the studio for five minutes tops, then storm Belle’s family home. I don’t care how powerful her father is. He’s going to meet the end of my 45.”
Beck freezes and looks at me. “You’re getting your gun!” he shouts, and I wince. “Have you lost your fucking mind? The media’s already having kittens about what happened in Tennessee. We can not risk any more headlines, Angel. You have a charity concert next week for the veterans. Are you really going to let them down?”
Crossing my arms, I grumble. I know he’s right, but I saw the fear in Belle’s eyes when she would talk about her dad and that creep in New York.
“These aren’t good people, Beck, we are going to need protection, and Rich is out of the question.”
“If I may speak up, Sir,” the driver says and we look his way. “Mr. Baron has arranged a full security detail that he’s personally vetted, and we have an undercover team watching Belle’s father’s estate.”
“Wait, so my father is actually trying to help us? I called him begging he let me marry Belle, and he said no again and again.”
“You did what?” Beck gasps, and Tate takes his hand.
“I saw how much the wedding was weighing on you. I called my dad in Tennessee and told him all about Belle and her being our possible scent match. He refused. Said our omega was already chosen.”
Tate runs his hand through his hair and sighs. “I don’t know what made him change his mind, or even if he did.”
We’re quiet the rest of the way to the studio. I’ve changed my mind on my gun, but I am grabbing my taser. Never know when a prick needs a shock.
BELLE
As I open my eyes I instantly know that I have been drugged. It doesn’t surprise me to see the twinkle lights and pale lavender canopy of my childhood bed. What does shock me is the man sitting at the end of my mattress staring at me.
He’s so familiar, yet he looks completely different. “Paul,” I croak, and he sighs, leaning closer to hand me a drink. I don’t accept it, and he laughs.
“You always were smart, Bella,” he says using the nickname he would call me when we dated.
“What happened? Why am I here?” I ask, and he shakes his head, offering me the glass again.
“It’s just water. You need fluids before tomorrow.” I hesitantly take it from him, and he gives me that grin I once loved.
His red hair flops over his hazel eyes, and he still has that boyish swagger. I always resented my father for keeping us apart. Paul was my friend before he became my lover. I didn't care about his social stature.
He was kind to me, but that doesn’t explain… “Why are you here, Paul?”
“I just don’t get it, Bella, how did you meet them? From LA to NY. You were never supposed to know.”
I furrow my eyebrows. “What are you talking about? Who?”
He groans, then stands and begins to pace. “Don’t play dumb, Bella. You were always the smartest omega in the class.”
Moving the glass I place it on my nightstand table. He may say it’s safe, but I’m not trusting it right now. This man is not the same as the one I loved. Kicking the blanket off, I move slowly.
It’s not my first time being drugged, and it won’t be my last. My heat is any day now and I know my father is going to keep me asleep for it. He never cared about my well being or how much pain I was in.
I may have been knocked out, but I still felt pain. He never bothered to give me medication to ease my discomfort. It was brutal, and I am not looking for a repeat performance.
When I get my feet steady on the floor, Paul stops moving and offers me his hand. It’s clammy and gross.
“Sorry,” he grumbles, letting me go and wiping it on his pants. He seems nervous, and there are shadows under his eyes. Honestly now that I’m getting a better look at him, he looks like shit.
“What’s going on, Paul? Please tell me. I hate being blindsided,” I groan as the room spins. Placing my hand on my stomach, I pray I don’t hurl.
“How did you meet my boys? The Knotty Trip? How the hell did my worlds collide so exponentially?”
“What?” I gasp, and sit back down on the bed. My mind whirls, and all I can see are the damn signs that I missed. The way they were upset I hated the band. The singing. The song writing. The hostess. “Holy shit!”
“Oh this is precious. You didn't know. You have been their little pet for days and didn’t even know the alphas you were alone with. Did you fuck them? I bet you did. Let me guess… Tate right? He always gets the omega sluts,” he sneers, and I glare as my eyes fill.
“How do you know them?”
“We have been friends for a long time, but they call me by my last name, Rich instead of Paul.”
Rich? Fuck. My heart aches. Why didn't they tell me? I made an ass out of myself. I even gave Angel his own CD. Wow, I bet they all had a nice laugh at my expense.
“Get out,” I croak, and he cackles, watching as my heart breaks. My chest hurts. Physically it feels like a dagger is sticking into me, shredding what was left of myself. I was vulnerable. I let them…
“I’m going to be sick,” I rush out, then race to the ensuite, just making it as I lose what stomach bile I have. I feel like I haven’t eaten in a few days, and who knows how long I’ve been drugged for.
“Gross. Don’t tell me they knocked your whore ass up,” Paul groans, and I shake my head.
God he’s so dumb. “You knew my father forced me to get the implant,” I mumble, then stand and brush my teeth. Not caring that he’s watching, I strip my clothes and step into the shower.
It’s not like he hasn’t seen it all before. He was my first and only until Beckett, and then Angel. Or should I call them Knotty Trip? Like what the fuck! And Beckett, I can’t even think about him right now.
I scented him, and he’s mine, and I think he’s known it since that first night at the airport, but he never said a word. I guess he was hoping I’d leave before finding out. How heartless can someone be?
Even after learning that I was destined to be an alpha’s whore.
Maybe it’s for the best that Paul kidnapped me and brought me here. I’m not worth their breath, and I doubt I will ever see them again.
I quickly wash, and when I step out of the shower, Paul is there with a towel.
“So can you tell me how you know them?” I ask, trying to fight the second round of tears.
He laughs and shakes his head. “I’ve known them longer than you, Bella. I’m their friend, Rich.”
My hands shake, and the towel falls. He gives my chest an appreciated glance, licking his lips, and I cringe, bending to pick it up and cover myself once more.
“You’re the friend they were waiting for at the restaurant. What, did they plan this all along? If they didn’t want me around I would have left on my own. They didn't have to go to such extremes,” I growl, getting angrier at the thought.
“Oh, Bella,” he says with a smile on his face. “I’m going to enjoy this. Hurry up and get dressed. Your father is waiting for you in the kitchen.”
He walks out and leaves me confused, and my heart shredded and bleeding on the bathroom tile. The moment my bedroom door closes, I fall to the floor and sob. Why did I ever think things could be different?