Chapter 43
Chapter Forty-Three
~Thane~
I wait for hours at the strip club for Talon to return.
He’s pissing me off. He knows I’m waiting, and he’s deliberately dawdling, wasting my damn time.
I see Brianna walk in, and I know he won't be too far behind her.
Brianna spots me instantly and runs. They spent the last few days out of the country, but I called as soon as his plane landed this morning and told him to come to see me.
When he didn't show up, I came looking for him.
The moment he steps into the seedy place, he sighs.
"If you're here about the money, can we do this in my office?
My patrons don't need to witness this," he groans.
I wave him to go, and he trudges toward the steps.
I follow and climb the steps behind him to his office.
He immediately walks to the safe and opens it.
"I'm not here about that," I growl.
He seems taken aback and stands, kicking the safe door shut and spinning the handle.
"You're not here about the debt?" he asks warily as he makes his way to his desk.
I fall onto the couch, watching him. Scrubbing a hand down my face, I rub my eyes. I need sleep. I didn't sleep a wink the night before. It was impossible; I’m used to being curled up with one, or all, of my mates. The couch at work did not offer that.
"No, I’m here about Z, or Zara, whatever you want to call her," I tell him, and he swallows and leans back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest.
"What about her? You know if the girls request their identity to be kept secret, we abide by their wishes," he states. I raise my hand, and he quiets immediately. I should beat him senseless for giving me the runaround. He knows better than to push me.
"I know the rules you set for this place. I don't care about those. Do you have any idea how bad it could damage my company's reputation if it gets out that I hired a hooker?"
"Zara isn't a hooker. She mainly cleans dishes. The first time she took on clients was you lot, and only after you demanded her," Tal defends. I click my tongue, finding it hard to believe she had no intention of whoring herself out. But then again, she is a virgin.
"What do you know about her?" I ask, giving him my full attention. Tal gets up and moves toward the bar area he keeps in his office. He pours two generous drinks before handing me a glass. I sip mine, waiting for him to answer my question, but he only shrugs.
"Not much. She’s quiet, and I am pretty sure Bree is her only friend."
"She never mentioned family? Or anyone?" Tal shakes his head, and I groan. I’m no closer to figuring out who she is.
"So, you didn't know she’s homeless, I gather?"
Tal shakes his head. "No, I’ve been to her apartment; Bree lived next door to her. That's how they met," Tal quickly adds. I shake my head.
"I spoke with her former landlady. She kicked her out a couple of weeks ago. The owner thought she was staying with a friend until one of her other tenants told her she was on the streets, sleeping behind an old plaza," I tell him.
"A homeless Omega?" Talon laughs. Yeah, it’s almost unheard of.
We certainly don't get many homeless Omegas in the city.
Most are cherished possessions of their Alphas.
Or they make good money doing rotations, which is basically just being a breeder, jumping from pack to pack, spitting out a kid or two before moving on to the next.
"Wait, you're serious?" Tal asks. I click my tongue, annoyed he didn't realize one of his workers was in such dire straits. Then again, she pulled the wool over my eyes too. A homeless Omega in this city is dangerous.
"Fuck, I had no idea. Had I known, I would have organized something or told the council," he exclaims.
"That's another thing I wanted to see you about. Zara never registered, and her ID is fake," I tell him, and his brows furrow.
"They're forcing her into rotation?" he asks. I glare at him with a growl.
"No. I covered it up by telling the council my pack is claiming her," I snarl at him.
"Oh well, that's great news! No harm done then," he shrugs.
"You know I won't have an Omega in my pack. That is why I’m here. I need to find out who she really is because it’s clear to me that Zara is running from someone," I snap at him.
"She’s Bree's friend. I did her a favor. Honestly, Thane, if she is hiding something, I have no idea what it is. Besides giving her shifts, I don't have much to do with her outside this place."
"So, what do you suggest I do with her? I can't keep her," I tell him.
"Why not? Because of Harlow?” he snaps. “Do you know why Leon comes here so often? It’s not because he wants to feed on my workers, but because he’s hoping you fucking find one you like. Your pack needs an Omega."
"We don’t need an Omega. She would be useless to us," I retort.
"She wouldn't be useless. Sure, she can't take your knot, but does that matter? There’s more to Omegas than just being a piece of ass," Talon says.
I know he’s right, but it still irks me; we were so close to having an Omega, a family, yet Harlow blew that right out the window.