Chapter Thirteen
Azlan
I was back in the villa getting ready for bed when a banging came on my door. Heart in my throat, afraid something happened to Trace, I opened it wearing only my leather pants.
One of the other servers I’d seen Trace talking to stood there. “Um, you are the alpha that Trace likes, right?”
“Yes. At least he’s the omega I like.” I stepped back. “Want to come in?”
He glanced over his shoulder then ducked inside. “Thank you.”
I closed the door behind him, alarm rising higher and higher inside me. “Who are you?”
“I’m Eddie, Trace’s friend.” One of the names I had written down to tip but had been so focused on Trace, I forgot.
“Oh right. Is everything all right? Did I accidentally call for someone to come?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s…I saw him talking to this man.
I didn’t mean to be spying. I was just coming back from taking a dessert to someone and I stopped so I wouldn’t interrupt, but then the man went to talk to others, and I think they’re all in crime.
Everyone has been saying they are mafia. ” He dropped his voice on the word.
“And then what happened?” I gritted my jaw, certain I wouldn’t like the answer.
“Trace turned and ran away. Out of sight. I can’t find him anywhere.”
“Why didn’t you lead with that?” I cursed under my breath, marching into the bedroom to grab clothing. “Anything else you can tell me? Do you know if he’s still on the property, or at least do you think he is?”
“I don’t know, but he was headed toward the road to the highway, I think.”
Returning to the living area, dragging my shirt over my head, I paused. “I’ll go look.” Grabbing my key and wallet, I stuffed them in my pocket and headed out the door. “Lock up after me.”
Heading for the main building, I went to the front desk. Because my urge to rescue the omega did not come with a very important thing. A car. The disadvantage of arriving by helicopter. “Can I rent a car?”
“No, but you may borrow one.” The attendant snapped her fingers and a bell man came over. “Would you please bring a car around for the gentleman? Sir, did you want a driver as well?”
“No, just the keys. Thank you.”
I had never heard of a car coming with a hotel stay, but now was not the time to argue. I just thanked her and followed the man to the front where a sedan waited. All this took time, but I caught up with the omega just as he reached the highway and stuck out his thumb.
Pulling up alongside him, I reached over and opened the door. “Get in, omega.”
“No, it’s fine.” He began to walk down the roadside. “I’m just heading to town.”
“Then I’ll take you.”
He stopped and turned back, climbed in. “Thank you.”
“Not a problem, but you have to admit it’s funny to see you walking along the highway out here still in your clothes from earlier. I gather town is a pretty good distance.”
“That’s why I was hitching.” He leaned back in the seat and crossed his arms.
“Want to tell me why?”
“Not really.”
I changed lanes and sped up into the flow of traffic. “Then I’ll have to assume I did something to upset you and drove you away.”
“Alpha!” He turned sideways horror rounding hi eyes and lips. “Never. It wasn’t you.”
“Well, I was the last one you spent time with, right?”
“N-no.” He sniffed and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. “You were great and the time I spent with you was the best ever. I just ran into a situation from my old life and probably overreacted.”
“I don’t think you overreacted. You don’t strike me as the type. If something frightened you enough to head out on foot without even packing first, it must be serious.”
“It’s, oh it’s embarrassing.”
“Omega, talk.”
And he did. My hands shook at the thought of it all. He’d been sold like a cheap trinket over a hand of cards. And if these guys were here to take possession, it was not going to happen. But for now, I listened and absorbed. And then I said, “Let’s continue on to town and get something to eat.”