Chapter 5
Chapter
Five
Nikolai
Things were quiet, but not necessarily tense, as Ronan navigated through the city. I didn’t like being around anyone, so the easy silence was strange.
He hummed quietly to the radio as he drove through the empty streets. At this time of night there was barely any traffic on this side of the town. It wasn’t exactly known for its night life.
My hands clenched and unclutched methodically, the movement giving me something to focus on so I wouldn’t lose my shit yet.
All I could think about was that cop's words. It felt a bit too convenient. They knew I’d call but somehow beat me to it? And today of all days, after four goddamned years, suddenly they had answers?
I wasn’t fucking buying it.
They clearly thought I was some unhinged alpha who wouldn’t ask further questions. If they thought that their word with zero proof was enough, then they’d lost their minds.
What scared me more was how long it had been since Aries had gone missing without a trace. When an omega disappeared like that, it didn’t usually end well. That was enough to haunt me every second of every day.
“Tell me about her,” Ronan finally broke the silence. He cast a look from me, the orange glow of the streetlights shining off of his rose gold hair. He looked far too innocent for this life. I had a feeling that let him get away with far more than the average criminal.
“The mom or my mate?” I clarified.
“I’m going to be real here because that’s who I am,” Ronan said evenly, not answering the question quite yet. “If the omega was your mate, she was likely mine as well. I already have a packmate, and it felt like this when I met him. A little too easy and calm. We’re pack, too, brother.”
What an odd thought. I couldn’t deny I felt like I’ve known him for years despite just meeting, like I could trust him… but that surely didn’t equate to pack. Family, maybe? Fuck, I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had one.
“You don’t want someone like me in your pack. I’m not suited for that kind of life anymore,” I said in a rough voice, the pain coming through despite my usual control. My gaze shifted to the window, looking out to avoid his penetrating stare.
We couldn’t be. Not when I didn’t have my omega.
“I get it,” he said. His voice was a quiet whisper, and full of far too much compassion. I didn’t deserve it. I couldn't even save my omega.
At least he wasn’t dismissive. I would have hated that more.
“Tell me about our omega,” he tried again, to the point this time. My alpha started to growl but the fucker just laughed. He might be even crazier than I was.
On a sigh, I looked out the window, watching the buildings thin out and give way to the random lone business or run-down gas station. Then we were back in society again. The buildings upkept, streets clean, people filling the sidewalks.
“I can’t.” My voice broke before I took a breath and steadied it. “Not yet. But, her mom was about as useless as mine was.”
I wanted to give him the full picture. He deserved to know what we were getting into. What kind of mess he was about to clean up for me.
“She was an omega that never made it anywhere in life. Probably was offered some kind of deal from some shitty pack, but, of course, those assholes never follow through once they get what they want. Rinse and repeat.”
“So, she took it out on her daughter?” he bit out, hands clenching the steering wheel hard enough his knuckles turned white.
If he thought hearing it was rough, it was nothing on witnessing it over the years when I was too young to be able to do anything about it.
That day was one I’d never be able to forget. The way Aries tore out of that trailer, her body already covered in blood and bruises, eyes wild and terrified. She looked at me like I could fix it all for her, and god… I fucking tried.
“The day she disappeared was the day she designated,” I managed to speak again. “I think it was the worst I’ve ever seen her. That bitch beat her black and blue for being an omega. My omega tried to hide what she was, but her mother was feral and out for blood.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t interrupt. I knew that feeling of helplessness, and oddly, knowing he was suffering through this story eased some of the tightness in my chest.
Maybe there was merit to his pack claim after all.
“I sent her to work that day knowing that her boss would look out for her. She made it, worked some, then when she took out trash someone snatched her in the alley. The only way they would know where she was, was her ‘waste of fucking space’ mother.”
“She would go that far?” he asked, though he didn’t seem all that surprised, either.
“She wanted to be rid of her for years. She likely saw an opportunity and took it. The old bitch could have just waited. I was getting Aries out of there that night. It was already taken care of.”
“I’d ask how you could hate your own child that much, but I have no delusions about paternal or maternal love,” Ronan said.
The urge to ask him for more information was there but I didn’t want distractions.
Not tonight. Though, Ronan threw me some information anyway.
“In my world, birth order and usefulness are the only things that matter.”
Two different worlds, yet the same old bullshit.
“I confronted her that day. She had a fresh supply of booze and pills all laid out on the table in front of her like a fucking banquet. Anything to get her fix.”
“So, she sold her for money?” Ronan clarified.
“That or they supplied her addiction outright,” I shrugged, trying for nonchalant and failing. “Either way, she sent her daughter to people that she knew exactly what they’d do with her. She’s been guilty since day one.”
“Well, she’ll pay her penance soon, brother,” Ronan promised, a real glimmer of vengeance in his eyes now. He’d heard enough to be invested.
“She wouldn’t outright confess. The bitch played dumb. I went straight to the police, turned in everything I saw and she said. Of course, they didn’t do a fucking thing. They never did. Do you know how many times she was reported over the years? They didn’t fucking care.”
“Well, I fucking care now. Tell me something that’s not depressing about her. What’s her name?”
“Aries,” I whispered, almost reverently. “She was gorgeous. This pretty, little omega with long, blonde hair and more attitude than you could ever imagine. She was tough, too. Snarky and blunt, never taking anyone’s shit. Her mom was her one weakness.”
“I meant what I said about us having reach. We will help find her.”
“I’ve looked for four years,” I replied, leveling him with a serious look. For some reason, I didn’t want him to get his hopes up, to think that he’d find her easily. “I’ve looked for her relentlessly. I’ve hired investigators. She’s gone.”
“You’ve tried all of the legal routes,” he clarified, a vicious smile lighting up his face. “You know who we are, so you are well aware that we have contact with people that would do this kind of shit. Not all of them are our allies, but we might have more answers nonetheless.”
“Alright,” I relented, not pushing. I had to keep my head right now.
His smile turned almost wicked, taking away the playful demeanor he had previously, showing his darker side underneath.
“Where am I headed, now?”
We’d reached the edge of town, so I gave him the full address instead of the town now that I trusted him just a little bit more. Or at least my alpha did.
“It’s a bit of a drive. Let me call some contacts.”
I just shrugged. I wasn’t about to question whatever he wanted to do. I just wanted to make sure that my loose ends were tied up before I agreed to anything.
“Yeah, boss,” someone answered on the second ring.
I raised my eyebrows at Ronan, but he didn’t say anything.
“I need a cleanup crew,” he said carefully, giving him the same address that I had. “However, you will need to give us a little time first. I’ll send the signal when I’m ready. Just head that way.”
“Understood.”
The phone call ended just as abruptly as it started.
“Showtime,” he said with a grin before picking up speed and heading through town. His eyes were focused ahead now, his body almost relaxed, as if this drive was leading us on some fun adventure.
He didn’t bother to speak again as we drove out of the city to the smaller town down the road. I hadn’t faced this portion of my life in four years. I didn’t even come back to talk to the police. I called them these days.
“Share with the class, what’s going on over there?” he questioned.
I shot him a look that had Ronan cracking up.
“No Kumbaya by the fire then, brother?”
“Hardly,” I finally admitted. That was the best he was getting out of me.
The GPS navigated us right back to the trailer park that held too many memories.
The alpha gazed out at the run-down trailers and shitty roads but gave no reaction.
He simply pulled over just inside the entryway before parking among the trees.
He cut the headlights. Between the dark of night and shitty streetlights, we were practically invisible here.
“Lead the way, brother,” he said as he climbed out, going around to the trunk.
He waited until I joined him to lift it. I raised an eyebrow at the empty trunk until he pulled open the spot where the spare tire should be. It was loaded down with various weapons and enough ammo to last a full battle. More than enough for what I needed.
Plus, a gun would have this over a bit too quickly. I was more of a knife guy, myself.
He gestured for me to take my pick. I took my time looking over the options. A gun would just draw attention, and I frankly didn’t want her to go that easily. Instead, I snagged a short blade that had a hook on one end and then a pick.
Both of those would do just fine.