Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
THREE DAYS LATER
DARIO
It’s so quiet in our new rental, and I really dislike it. Shifting in my chair, I wince as the cock cage reminds me of its existence. I shouldn’t listen to Ciro as often as I do. It simply gets me into trouble.
I complained earlier that I was having trouble concentrating, and he goaded me into wearing this contraption.
I joked one fucking time about it, and here we are.
He’s unfortunately wearing one too, but you’d never be able to tell.
My brother is taking calls, organizing our men as they move into Savannah, and discreetly getting boots on the ground.
I fucking hate him.
Inhaling deeply, I struggle not to ask Pablo to spy on Rosalia and Verona. Pack Mayor has to have cameras somewhere on their property, right? As much as I disliked the complications they brought into our lives, the fact that they were taken so easily from us pisses me off.
The packs were completely right to say we weren’t taking proper care of them because our attention has been on Pablo under the guise of giving them space. In reality, this was a cold shoulder of sorts, because their presence is uncomfortable for me.
Since I don’t know how to relate or speak to either of them, I ignored them. Control over someone else happens in many ways, and we are guilty of this.
Rosalia couldn’t have weapons due to mental health concerns, we didn’t allow either of them a phone, and we controlled their movements due to their financial constraints.
Verona can’t spend money due to not having access to her money, while Rosalia’s money is tied to her father.
In any other marriage, Nico already would have set up his new wife’s accounts and bought her a car so she could move with ease.
I could drone on about safety, the danger Rosalia presents to herself, etc, but at the end of the day they’re just words. She made a good point as she reminded us that her life is tied to Verona’s. Rosalia won’t do anything to hurt herself that could potentially hurt her alpha.
We fucked up.
None of us realized that Rosalia was struggling as she came off years of medications that masked how she interacted with the world.
Dr. Walsh reported that Rosalia had high amounts of the blockers in her system, and that this will affect not only her heats, but her day to day interactions with others.
“Imagine a burn victim out in the world without protection and their nerves exposed. This is how Rosalia feels as she’s bombarded with scents she’s never encountered before. It’s as if she’s experiencing the world without any filters.”
His words ring in my ears, and I have to stifle the urge to throw my computer against the wall. It is my job to notice this shit, and I didn’t.
Nico rubs his temples on the couch, his lids closed as he takes deep breaths.
“Can you feel how she is at all?” I ask, not bothering to ask who she is.
I had two phones and clothing delivered two days ago on behalf of our pack, along with snacks that I know Rosalia likes. Ciro suggested a few comfort items he thought Verona would enjoy, and we received a text from Silas suggesting we be less obvious and try harder.
Neither Rosalia nor Verona texted any of us, despite inputting all of our numbers into the phones. I fucking hate that he’s right.
“I feel twitchy,” he growls. “When I stand, I feel as if I’m going to pass out, and the very idea of food makes me nauseous. She’s not doing so hot.”
“Go see her,” Pablo says, dropping onto the couch next to him. Ciro glances up as he finishes the text he’s sending off, waiting to see what Nico says. “Fix whatever is broken.”
“You’re not going to win her over alone,” I remind them, pushing my computer to the side. “Nico was doing alright connecting with her before the wedding.”
“Am I the problem?” Pablo asks, eyes widening.
The scent of something sour fills the air, showing his anxiety as I shake my head in denial.
“No. I have to be. I’ve been hiding in my room like a child.
I was hurt that Verona wouldn’t acknowledge me, and you all indulged me by helping me forget that she doesn’t want me with your cocks. I’m the problem!”
“Pablo, tesoro, as tempting as you and your body is, this is our fault,” Nico murmurs.
I can tell he has a headache, and I’m on my feet before I fully realize it.
He thanks me under his breath as I hand him pain medication and a glass of water, throwing the pills back easily.
“I treated Rosa as if she was one moment away from taking herself out of this world, because she’s admitted to being suicidal in the past.”
“You pushed her away despite wanting to protect her,” I agree. “We’re all at fault. We made them both our prisoners. It doesn’t matter that we gave Rosalia a nest, or any of the half assed attempts we made for either of them. A cage is still a cage.”
“Fuck.” Nico drinks more of his water, making a face as he becomes pale. “I feel sick.”
“Then don’t drink anymore,” I sigh, taking the glass from him. He hasn’t been hungry since we left without Rosalia, and he’s getting worse every day. “We need to make an effort as a pack, or we need to let them both go.”
“I want to go see them first,” Pablo says softly. “Alone.”
“Are you sure?” Ciro asks. “It could drag you into pack politics…”
“Fuck it,” he growls. “I can’t live my entire life being the weakest link. I’m sure. I’ve been doing some reading, and if the omegas in a household can’t get along, then a pack is screwed, Ciro. I need to fix some of this.”
“We also need to stop babying Rosalia. There has to be a way to be protective without cutting off her wings. I don’t want to remind her of the way her father treated her.”
“Ugh. That’s a very low bar,” I groan. “Let’s try raising it. Did she like when you took her out on dates, Nico?”
“She enjoyed my company, she loves this city, but there was too much happening in her mind for her to really enjoy it. I’m also starting to wonder if moving back to Michigan is a good idea.
We have a lot of shit to take care of there, however our cousin Emilia is still a problem.
I can’t find her if I’m across the country. ”
“We can have a second home here,” I suggest immediately.
“I fucking hate the snow. Let’s spend the winters here and have a few people run our businesses in Michigan.
Roland, Marco, and Lonnie would be good off the top of my head.
They’re loyal, and looking for more responsibility in our organization.
As for Emilia, we don’t even know if she’s still in Michigan.
She’s currently lost in the wind and we have to either admit defeat or ask for help to find her.
We can’t take on all of Dad’s sins, or we’ll never be able to live our lives. ”
“This doesn’t help the current situation,” Pablo says impatiently.
“You don’t need permission to see Rosalia and Verona,” Nico says. “Just say the word, and one of us will drive you. We aren’t your keepers, Pablo.”
For a moment, I’m concerned my brother hurt his feelings because his lips part in an ‘oh’ before he gets up abruptly and leaves the room.
“Is he—”
“No, Dario. He’s fine. I can feel it through the bond. I think it just hit him that none of us expect him to fall in line. He’s our omega, not our employee or a pet.”
“Damn. We may just get out of this with our skin intact after all,” I snort. “What a novel idea. Our omega is actually a completely sentient being.”
“Fuck off,” Nico groans. “I’m going to see if a shower will help this headache. It’s a pounding that won’t stop, and I’m fucking nauseous too.”
“Is it yours or hers?” I ask.
It’s no secret how tightly Nico is bound to Rosalia, despite there not being an actual bond. I think the separation is going to make it worse, and I wonder what kind of fresh hell will hit us next. Thank god I’m a beta. I can’t handle being connected like that to another person.
“Both,” he wheezes, getting up and stumbling from the room.
I busy myself with work in an attempt to keep myself from spiraling, because this isn’t something I can fix. If I show up at the house, they’d all throw me out, right?
Fuck. Pulling out a pad of paper, I begin to put together a care package for the two of them. I’ll deliver it in person, and hope it’ll gain me entrance to see them. I’m no one’s scent match, I may be the least offensive of my blood brothers.
Maybe. Goddamn it. I’m usually better with people than this.
The sound of a door opening and closing snaps my head up, and Ciro and I rush to the front of the house together. Nico is nowhere to be seen, but I can still hear the shower from the open bedroom door. I doubt much time has passed, so who the fuck just left.
Yanking open the unlocked door, I watch as Pablo disappears into a taxi without a backward glance. Fuck, we need to get him a key to the fucking house.
“That’s an omega on a mission,” Ciro muses. “Is the location active on his phone?”
My mobile is still in my hand, and I almost drop it in my rush to check it.
“Yes,” I say, seeing the dot moving. “I guess he didn’t want a ride.”
“No cages,” he reminds me. “If Pablo wants to jump in a taxi and go, he can. We should get him a ring that’ll track him just in case. If something happens, we’ll be able to find him. We have too many enemies in this damned city.”
“What’s going on?” Nico asks.
Turning to glance over my shoulder, I see he’s dripping all over the floor and also naked.
“Pablo left. Did you feel him go?”
“Yes,” he grumbles. “Independence is apparently catching today. I suppose I’ll have to get used to it.”
Hiding a smile, I shrug helplessly. I suppose we all will.
* * *
PABLO
My hands are shaking as I thank the driver and step out of the taxi in front of a large house. My stepbrothers are my safe place, even though Dario and Ciro have always held me at arm’s length. At least, that’s how it’s felt to me until recently.