Chapter Twenty
Azlan
Returning to the precinct after my time off should have been fine.
I was certainly refreshed and anxious to, as my omega called it, “saving the world.” Most of my job was nowhere near that dramatic, but I liked to think I made positive changes, which had been my goal since the beginning.
But something had changed. For one, my supervisor had not been allowed to fire me, and he lost no opportunity to let me know how disappointed that left him.
In the past, the long hours and lack of personal time had chafed, but not to the point where I would consider making a change.
The criminal underbelly of our town didn’t work nine to five, and, as everyone knew from watching TV, the first forty-eight hours after a crime were the most critical.
So, in all logic, I’d work most of those then lapse back to a more reasonable schedule.
But, with a pregnant omega at home hoping to feed me a hot dinner, the lack of “reasonable” became clearer.
I could quit.
Finances certainly offered no issue, but my desire to be helpful in the world continued to dominate. I was bringing a child into it, and any bit better I could make it was worth almost any cost.
Almost.
And then one night, after a very bad day, I got home at eleven to find Trace curled up on the sofa, dinner dried up on the stove, and something broke inside me.
He’d never complained once about being left alone.
Our friends at Cuffed did their best, the other omegas often reaching out to invite him to lunch or shopping or just coming by to visit, and I knew it helped.
But friends shouldn’t have to make up for an alpha’s lacking, and a decision was going to have to be made. For all our sakes.
My supervisor’s derision about the length of time it was taking to resolve a case involving a prominent family had pushed me hard earlier in the day.
He wanted it to take prominence over a case involving a vulnerable family without the money and power it took to get attention.
The situation was not new, it happened way too often, but it reminded me strongly of the world of privilege I grew up in.
Not in a good way.
But maybe I didn’t have to save the world. Maybe it was enough to be a good alpha and take care of my family.
As I stood there, on the cusp of some kind of big change, my phone rang. I snagged it from my pocket before it chimed again and woke my sleeping omega.
“Azlan?”
I took a few steps away and into the hallway, not hard in this small space. We were going to have to move before the baby came or be cramped. “Yes. Hello, Talon. How are you and the family?”
“We’re great. I wondered the same about you.”
“Do you always read my mind?”
“I never do. But we’ve talked enough over the years for me to recognize how your work life can spill over and you have a mate who is sitting home waiting for you. Add in that we haven’t seen you two at Cuffed in over a month, and alarm bells are clanging in my mate’s head.
“Rowan is reading my mind.” I chuckled. “Kidding, but we’re okay.
No…we’re not. My job is more than spilling over.
Trace is so determinedly cheerful, but I know it’s wearing on him, and if I felt like my work was appreciated, it might be different.
But my supervisor is dogged in his attempts to treat me like crap.
I am starting to think he knows or suspects I am a shifter and might be a little bit prejudiced. ”
“Fuck him.”
I held the phone away from me. Talon was the most easygoing, calm, and controlled male I knew. It was part of why the other owners in the clubs looked up to him. “I’d really rather not. He’s got an ugly smooshed-up ass, probably looks a lot like his face.”
“Yeah, and cooties.” Talon waited a beat and said, “Ready to join the team?”
“I am open to investing, but only if I can provide the same kind of hands-on service the rest of you do, and with my current hours—”
“Azlan? It’s true some of our owners have other work but none of them continue to do something that sucks the soul out of them.
The human world operates under their own rules, and I am sure there are plenty of police and other officials happy doing it.
But you’re in a bad situation with people who offer you no respect. ”
“Thanks. I feel much better now.”
He chuckled. “It’s just facts, but I have good news for you.
Something to sweeten the pot. We could use someone in security for the resort.
I know it’s not like crime-fighting through the streets, but you’d be in charge of things to keep our people safe.
Like screening guests before they are allowed to even go there. ”
It did seem like that was needed.
But just then Trace woke and sat up, looking over the back of the sofa to where I stood in the hallway. And I didn’t like the sadness in his eyes.
“Send me the details so I can discuss them with Trace.”
He liked the idea. So much so that when he’d finished listening to what Talon had to offer, he threw his arms around my neck and squealed with the first real joy I’d heard in weeks. What choice did I have but to accept for all our sakes.
I gave notice, the detective sergeant quipped, “I guess you might as well leave now then,” and I did.
While I completed all the paperwork and we packed up our place, I got multiple emails from the force asking me to reconsider and also why I left without notice.
So, I sent a letter explaining in detail why.
I had dates and quotes and all sorts of receipts that I’d saved for the past several years, and I ended with, I appreciate your concern but have already accepted another position.
Wishing you well and grateful for my time with the force.
It wasn’t until we were on the semi-private jet with Talon and his family on our way to my new home that it began to seem real.
If I’d had any doubts at all, Trace’s happiness would have dispelled them.
He was going back to work, he informed me, and I agreed.
My omega was not one to sit around all day alone.
He didn’t even want a promotion. Just a chance to spend his days with his friends and his evenings with me.
Any wonder I adored him?
We’d be staying in a villa until we made other arrangements, which would hopefully be soon so Trace could nest before the baby came.
Talon was making this trip a family vacation, doing double duty with installing me in my position, and Rowan, his mate, was describing their nursery to Trace in a way that had my omega clapping with delight.
“Nice huh?” Talon smiled. “Rowan has enjoyed getting to know your omega. He insists we make these trips more often.”
“It is nice out here, but we need to figure out what to do for families who want to come and need somewhere for their kids to be while they go to the club.”
“I’ll take care of that.” It would be a priority.