Chapter Eight
Voss
I slowly wipe blood from my hands as I study the piece of shit hanging before me.
I haven’t done anything to him yet other than a few cuts from Jace getting him here.
He’s a lanky pale man with a shit ton of freckles and bright orange hair.
He kind of reminds me of an off-brand version of that comedian Carrot Top.
“Are you sure you have no information?” Kingston’s voice booms through the warehouse.
He’s sitting in a chair, ankle propped on his knee.
Fingertips pressed together. I want to laugh.
He knows what he’s doing. The Godfather act actually works sometimes.
I’ll give it to him. He’s a lot braver than the last guy. He stares me straight in the eye. His lip split in the middle of his bottom lip. He doesn't even seem to care. He is hanging naked in the middle of the room. He gave my tools a mere glace. There is something like resignation in his eyes.
“I will give you this because I also want these trash humans taken down. Someone stole my omega.” He tilts his head as far as it will go. There is a silvery bond mark in his hairline at the side of his neck.
Jace takes a half step forward from where he was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He stares at the man, who silently stares back before Jace’s face goes carefully blank. “You were hanging around trying to get information yourself?”
The man in front of me nods. I’m half glad I actually hadn’t hurt this man.
I don’t actually like hurting people. Ok, maybe that’s a lie.
I don’t love to hurt people. I do kind of like it, though.
I motion to Jace, who hits the button to lower the chains slowly, allowing the man to get his feet under him.
I grab a pair of sweats and hand them to him. I watch his face as he slides them on.
“It’s true. You can feel what’s happening to your omega?” Kingston's voice is hard. Romano makes a strangled sound, no doubt thinking of Fallon. The man nods, rubbing the red marks on his wrist.
“What is your name? I ask, watching his face for micro expressions.
“John.” He says, clearly feeling pain. “Robert has been missing since yesterday night. Whatever they are doing to him, he is in pain and terrified.”
Romano stands up and rushes over at that point. “Robert? Does he work at House of Creed?”
John’s gaze sharpened on Romano’s face, and it suddenly clicked for me.
“Fuck.” Jace grunts.
“He does. How do you know that?” His voice is like ice.
“We are married to Fallon Creed. We briefly met him and two of your other packmates.”
John’s shoulder slumped, and his eyes suddenly filled with tears. He tilts his head back, blinking rapidly, his voice hoarse and full of pain. “Please help me get him back. Callie is catatonic. I can’t get her to snap out of it.” he begs.“I can feel everything. Everything they do to him.”
I respect a man who shows his emotions about the ones he loves, but he doesn’t have to beg. The fucked-up part is now we have to tell Fallon and ruin the happy bubble we’ve been in this past month.
Kingston stands, his movements measured as he grabs a hoodie and a pair of shoes, pressing them into John’s hands.
His voice is steady and unwavering, carrying the weight of a promise that leaves no room for doubt.
“Go home to your pack. Come back tomorrow—whether it’s just you or all of you, that’s your call.
We’ll tell Fallon in the morning, then we start planning.
Don’t worry, brother. We will find him.”
What he doesn’t say out loud is we will find him dead or alive.
Fallon
March 16th
9:37 A.M
I don’t like the expressions on my husband's face as we sit in the living room. I sit with my legs crossed in the middle in the corner of the couch, holding a soft blue pillow. My heart is racing. Is this the moment they tell me they don’t want me anymore?
I’m emotionally locked into this marriage.
I will be devastated if that happens. Voss is standing, leaning against the fireplace.
He’s wearing a black sleeveless shirt that has me mildly distracted by his forearms. The tattoos move each time he flexes.
His long legs are encased by the black jeans he’s wearing.
I’m pretty sure he just went out and bought every pair of black jeans in varying shades he could find.
Other than being naked, I’ve mostly seen him in jeans.
He’s staring at me in a way that both turns me on and scares me.
Romano sits beside me, holding my hand and rubbing small circles across my knuckles.
He pushes up his glasses as he watches me.
He’s in light grey joggers and a red hoodie.
His bare feet propped up on the table in front of him.
Jace is sitting in the chair next to us.
His hair is down, which is the first sign that something isn’t ok.
He usually only wears it down if we go out and wants to be intimidating.
He’s wearing black slacks and a black sweater that looks so soft.
I want to rub my face all over it. Kingston is in one of his usual black suits.
His white shirt is unbuttoned at his throat, and his hair is a little messy as if it’s the last thing he cares about.
“Fallon.” Kingston sighs, looking down with his elbows, propping his heads up. “Have you heard about what's happening with omegas going missing?”
My heart feels like it’s stopped beating. That was not what I was expecting him to say. “I only know that they have gone missing, but I don’t know any details.” my voice sounds small. Romano squeezes my hand, and a sad look is on his face. “What is going on?”
“Little one, We need to tell you something. I really hope it doesn't change your opinion of us.” Kingston runs his hands through his hair, his brows furrowing.
“As long as you don’t tell me you're the one stealing omegas, I don’t think my opinion will change.” my halfhearted joke falls flat.
“No, of course not. We are classified as an asset acquisition company.
We are in some ways. We have a legitimate business with teams and other employees.
The four of us, however, are a bit different.
I find people who are, let's say, really terrible people. Jace “acquires” them. We take them to a warehouse we have.”
I stopped him, holding up my hand. “Should you be telling me this here? Like, have you checked for bugs?”
Voss’ lips part in surprise, and Jace chuckles, mumbling something about perfect mate. I ignore them and focus back on Kingston.
He’s got a slight smile on his lips. “We checked for bugs, and this room is soundproof. It’s the room we like to relax in, so it seems appropriate. This little box,” he lifts a small black box with a few blinking green lights. “Disrupts cell phones and other electronic devices.”
I want to tell him how cool that is, but he keeps going. “Voss,” he pauses, glancing at Voss, who nods. “Voss is the one who extracts information from them.”
I glance at Voss, studying him. I could see that being his job. I turn to Romano, my sweet puppy of a man. “What do you do?”
He smiles at me loving my attention on him. “I am the tech genius. I hack files to find everything I can find on people.”
I smile at him. These men think I’m worried about them being violent. I literally broke a bitch’s hand for touching Romano. I sigh at their worried looks. “I came into this marriage thinking you guys are mafia. So I’m unsure what you expect me to do or feel.”
Voss laughs. It sounds dark and deep. “I forgot about that. We aren’t mafia, Princess.”
“Back to the problem at hand.” Kingston cuts in. “Someone out there is kidnapping omegas whether they are bonded or not.”
I know my face pales because I can feel it. That means their pack members can feel everything. I must make some sort of noise because Romano pulls me into his lap and starts purring. The sound makes the tension in my body relax. I burrow my face into his chest, rubbing my face back and forth.
“I know this is a lot, but we are trying to find who is behind the kidnappings. All we have so far is it’s someone named “M,” which is really not helpful at his point.” Kingston continues. “There is some terrible news I wish we didn’t have to tell you.”
“Just tell me.” My voice is soft but full of fear.
“They got Robert.”
Three words. Three simple words that had the power to destroy me.
Robert and I had gotten close during the weeks after I fired Marline.
I’d been out with him and his pack many times.
He’s as important to me as Violet and Odette.
And even if he weren’t, it wouldn’t matter.
He is a fellow omega and doesn’t deserve this.
I gasp, trying to drag in the air. My lungs feel like they are on fire. “No, no, no, no.” I try to pull away from Romano, but he holds me tighter. I push into his chest, trying to get away from the pain. A warm body presses into my side as four purrs start-up in the room.
“Shhh, Princess. Calm.” Voss’ soft voice gets through the blood rushing in my ears. “We will find him and the other omegas. I vow it to you.”
The tears hit me then. Pouring down my cheeks as I gasped for breath. I don’t know how long I sat in Romano’s arms. Eventually, my tears slowed and stopped. I feel weak and lightheaded.
A thought crosses my mind, making me gasp and struggle from his grip. “I need to call Violet and Odette!”
Jace finally speaks up. “Don’t worry, Kitten. I’ve already sent someone to watch Violet and Henry was already helping Odette.”
I sag in relief. “What now? How can I help?”
They tell me that Robert's pack will be coming over. About Callie not functioning and what they want to do moving forward.