Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
PABLO
Silas made sure there was a variety of dishes on the table, and Rosa’s eyes light up as she serves herself buttered noodles and toast on her plate. It’s just bland enough to keep her stomach from revolting, and she appears to be enjoying them.
“Will it be upsetting if we talk a little business?” Lyle asks carefully, his lips curving up as he watches Rosa eat.
Alphas naturally want to take care of omegas, even if they’re not theirs. It’s a sign of a good alpha. I can appreciate the way the three of them work together to fill plates, and they made sure an unopened glass bottle of water was on the table for Rosa.
I vaguely think about how she didn’t insist on these things while at our place. Nico or Dario would have mentioned something if she had, and they never have. On some level, she may have trusted our pack. It’s simply impossible to live in a place where you feel like a prisoner.
While I’ve gotten some texts from my stepbrothers, I haven’t had much time to respond. The bond between Nico and I ensures he knows that I’m alive and well, which eases some of the pressure to check in.
I don’t understand why he’s so different in his interactions with her.
“I don’t think so,” Rosa says easily. “What would you like to talk about?”
“First, how are you feeling?” Silas says, elbowing Lyle.
“That is the most important thing,” Lyle agrees, wincing.
“Much better, thank you,” she says. “I’ve been thinking now that I’m no longer in withdrawal and sick. I want to remove a drug used on omegas from the streets. It’s called the Alpha Bark?”
There’s a question mixed within her words, as if she’s asking if they’ve heard of it.
“No one at the police department is speaking about it,” Easton muses. “Lyle, have any of your clients come in about this?”
“No,” he grunts.
“It’s very new,” Rosa admits. “Apparently it’s only been on the streets for the past six months, and Papa’s been giving it to me with my morning smoothies.
If he’s responsible for creating it, then I could have been on the drug for longer.
My father has a difficult time passing up a lucrative business opportunity.
However, he’s very adamant he won’t be involved in auctions and child trafficking. ”
“Arranged marriages may be in the same realms as an auction,” Verona grumbles. “At least in the way Renzo went about it. How many men did he parade you around?”
“Too many,” Rosa sighs. “Dr. Walsh believes the drug is one of the reasons I was so ill.”
“Do we trust this man?” Easton asks.
“He wants to atone for his mistakes,” Verona mutters. “This involves working without pay and being on call for Rosa. I told him it was up to her, and that this still wouldn’t change what he’s done.”
“Is he responsible for the drugs?” Lyle snarls, but Verona shakes her head in denial. “Well, that’s something. I’d offer to get him stripped of his medical license, but not all mafia doctors bother to keep them updated.
“This leads me to the next order of business: the charity event. Cassidy and Silas are already dropping invites to this, and we found a beautiful home to have it in. It has a ballroom and an outdoor area that’ll hold a large amount of people.
The fence is high around it, and there are no neighbors.
We’re going to work on some type of entertainment that’ll catch the attention of everyone when it comes time to lure your family away, Rosa. ”
“I’m already receiving phone calls vying for an invite.
This city loves a good party, as well as a reason to be seen,” Silas says.
“Unfortunately, we are about a month away from being able to have the event. If we move too quickly, there will be questions. This doesn’t keep you from picking off those who have hurt you in a quiet manner though. ”
“Who is on your personal shit list?” Easton asks. “This will keep us from raising any questions as to why we’re inviting seemingly unimportant people from the Accetta family.”
“Eva is pretty high on my list,” Rosa admits, placing her fork down and pushing away her empty plate.
I can tell Silas wants to offer her more food, but Rosa has to listen to her body or she’ll lose the meal she just consumed.
“I’ve heard her say that she lives in an apartment alone, but I don’t know if that’s still true.
I assume Papa paid her a lot for her services on my wedding day. ”
“We can still have that annulled,” Lyle growls. Rosa’s lips twitch as she nods without saying anything for or against it.
Maybe she’s not ready to be done with my stepbrothers. An omega can only hope.
“If Lyle is bringing business to the lunch table, then so am I,” Easton murmurs, pulling out a tablet. “Is her last name also Accetta?”
“Yes,” Rosa confirms. “Her mother is Elio’s cousin by marriage. She’s no less twisted though in my very unfortunate experience.”
A few minutes later, Easton has Eva’s new address. She moved into a little cottage on a quiet street away from her parents. He also found out it’s a rent to own situation.
Damn. The cops are almost as scary as I am.
“If I had my computer, I could see how much your father paid her,” I say shyly. My eyes flick over to the police dispatcher, but he barely blinks, still busy checking things on his tablet.
“I’ll find out while I’m breaking her fingers,” Rosa says, shrugging. “But thank you.”
“Hacker?” Lyle asks, leaning back in his chair.
“Yes, sir. Only when it’s necessary.”
He nods in my direction, saying, “My computer is pretty secure, but we could get Nico to get your things over here if you’re staying at the guesthouse.”
Biting my bottom lip, I release it to say, “I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. I just wanted to see Verona and Rosa.”
“Sometimes, that’s reason enough,” Lyle says. “Can you disengage a security system if Eva has one?”
“I can. I don’t have many skills that aren’t nerdy.”
“My skill is that I can charm almost anyone,” Silas says with a sly smile.
“I can bless your heart with the best of them and stir up trouble when it suits my needs. Sometimes, our strengths are the quiet ones and that’s perfectly fine.
I also bet you could hold Eva down so Rosa can take her pound of flesh, huh? ”
“I definitely can,” I smirk. I would gladly pin the stupid bitch to the ground for Rosa. Spending the week with her has helped me realize my stomach isn’t as sensitive as I thought it was.
I just didn’t enjoy watching my scent match get her side stitched up, because it made me feel helpless.
Holding tightly to Silas’ advice, I listen as they discuss how tonight will go down. They’re not willing to wait to mete out this justice, and I think they’re right. Rosa is feeling much better.
Vengeance should be found to celebrate.
“I want to go with you all to call in our clean up crew—”
Rosa interrupts Easton with wide eyes. “Are you sure? All I need is a saw and some tarp. I know how to clean up after myself.”
“Yes, you’re very scary, Rosa. No one is going to suggest otherwise. However, you’re recovering, and I don’t think you should be worried about this,” Easton says easily. “Just because you’re doing things alone, doesn’t mean you need to.”
“Touché,” she agrees.
“I feel like I might be in the way,” Verona says.
“Are you saying you don’t want to hit Eva with a baseball bat?” Rosa asks. At Verona’s evil grin, Rosa laughs. “Then don’t be silly. Of course I need you. I’m not supposed to exert myself, remember?”
Pack Mayor hides their smiles, watching as Rosa easily proves her point.
“There’s still a job for you at my law firm if you want one,” Lyle says, amusement clear in his voice.
“Ugh, what could I possibly do?” she asks. “I feel as if I’ll be cleaning up my father’s bullshit for ages.”
“You could simply pick up his businesses and hire people to manage the one you want to continue to own,” Easton says easily.
“Dissolve the ones you want nothing to do with, or drop them into my lap so I can sweep up the mess with the department. I know detectives who will happily arrest those who worked that business and then seize the property. The only issue is you’d lose the real estate. ”
“I’ll do the proper research before going that route,” she promises. “I’m going to need some tools for tonight…”
“That’s fine,” Easton says, grabbing a pad of paper. “I’ll make sure to get it for you.”
“Please don’t judge me,” she begins. “I need a bat, a hammer, several knives, a silencer for the gun Cassidy gave me, and the largest butt plug you can find me with some nails so I can make it as spiky as possible.”
“No judgement. I take care of the spikes,” Easton says easily. “Anything else?”
“Acid. Eva is very vain about her appearance,” Verona says. My jaw drops as I look at her and she laughs.
It’s a beautiful tinkling sound and Rosa sighs happily, clasping her hands together. “I knew I’d get you to the dark side one day and it’s finally here.”
“I’m pissed about what she did to you,” she growls. “That fucking butt plug was stuck inside of you.”
“I’ll make sure the fucker is knotted,” Easton says. “I’m going to add a gag to this list too, in case she gets obnoxious or cries too much.”
Damn. It’s clear Pack Mayor is an all or nothing kind of group. As in, if you fuck with my people, you’re dead to them. My stepbrothers need to get their shit together soon.
As if I called them to me with my thoughts, the doorbell rings. I can feel their presence at the front door, and my gaze moves in that direction.
“I’ll go answer, even though we all know who that is,” Silas drawls, standing up.
He’s back two minutes later, his lips twisted in both amusement and annoyance.
“Your pack would like proof of life,” he says.
“Nico knows I’m alive,” I grunt, rolling my eyes as I stand. “The dramatic shit can tell it through our bond.”
“I’m going to be nosy,” he says, leaning against the dining room entryway. “Why didn’t he bring you with him the other day?”