Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
ROSALIA
I’m trying to enjoy a quick morning snack when a text comes through. My phone has been dead up until now because I haven’t thought of charging it.
Now, it merrily vibrates on the countertop while I glance at it distractedly. Who could possibly need me?
Lyle
Do you have any plans today?
It’s been two days since Pablo and my first heat ended, and my pack and I have been lounging around as we recover from it. There’s no one to rush to see, we’re ordering furniture for the house, and we’re enjoying our time together.
My brow furrows in confusion because that’s not how Lyle usually sounds. He’d just ask me to swing by. What’s going on?
Me
No. I don’t. Is everything alright?
“Who’s texting you, Rosa?” Dario asks, leaning over me to see as I sit in the kitchen. We had bar stools delivered last night, and they’re both comfortable and beautiful.
Things are slowly coming together, and I’m enjoying the experience of making a home with my pack.
“Lyle wants to see me,” I say slowly. “He just sounds odd.”
“Could it have something to do with loose ends after the charity event?” Nico asks.
My pack drifts into the kitchen where I’ve been eating a snack. We have some living room furniture that’s supposed to be arriving soon, along with mattresses, curtains and fans for the house. We’re making this our home, which means changing out and adding some things.
It’s not a sprint, but a marathon. It’s a big house and I know it’ll take time.
My eyes drift to the pantry, my lips curving up as I think about how Nico has thought of everything.
I don’t believe a safe room would have been on my list of necessities, but he proved he’s got it all under control when he showed it to me yesterday.
“Maybe,” I admit, taking the last bite of my avocado toast. “I’ll walk over and see what he needs. It's not far.”
We’re all dressed for the day since we’re expecting delivery people today. There’s no reason for me not to pop over.
“Take your gun,” Nico grunts. “Verona, why don’t you walk with her?”
“I’m an adult, and everyone who wants to hurt me is dead,” I laugh, shaking my head. “I can handle walking down the street.”
“With a gun,” Vero grunts in agreement with Nico. “I’ll go get the holster too.”
I sigh as she leaves the kitchen, even though they’re both right. I shouldn’t leave the house without my weapon.
Me
I’ll be there soon. Negotiating terms to escape. We haven’t left the house in days.
Nico gazes hesitantly at me before twisting his lips to the side as if he’s making a decision. He pushes his hand into his pocket, removing a small box.
“I never gave you an engagement ring,” he says slowly. “It didn’t feel real before, but it does now. I want to give you a ring from all of us.”
Opening the box, he presents me with a black diamond princess cut ring with gold floral filigree up the sides. It’s an absolute work of art, and he holds out his hand with a small smile.
“We’re yours, wife. This is our symbol of our love,” he says. “I’m sure we’ll have our ups and downs, but we’ll fight it ten toes down, won’t we?”
“And dirty as hell,” I agree, remembering a conversation during my heat. I place my hand in his, and he slides the ring over my finger. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”
“It doesn’t feel right to let you leave without my bite,” Dario mumbles, drawing my gaze. “I was waiting because I kind of wanted to make sure you could choose it. I know I’m just a beta and it doesn’t really count.”
“Bah!” I say, hopping down from my chair as I toss up my hands. “Who said you could talk badly about yourself? Do you need me to put you on your ass?”
“Ahh. No?” he asks, eyes wide. “It’s the truth though.”
“It sounds as if we have some unfinished bonds to make before our little queen leaves the house,” Ciro murmurs, pushing Pablo gently until his back touches the island.
Vero returns, stumbling as she watches as Ciro cages Pablo in his arms, and Dario turns me around so I’m sitting between his legs. Coming closer, she lifts my hand, grinning happily as she sees the ring.
“About damn time, Nicolai. You’ve been sitting on that ring for ages.”
“Did everyone know?” I laugh.
“Ugh,” Nico mutters. “I bought it a couple of days before the charity event. It hasn’t been that long. I wanted to wait for the right time to give it to you.”
“What am I missing? Why are you staring at our omegas as if they’re lunch?” Vero asks.
“If we bite our omegas, is that considered eating them?” Ciro asks.
“Only if they come,” Vero shoots back. “Well, people are waiting for her. Hurry up. You don’t have time to make them come.”
Dario rolls his eyes, pulling my shirt to the side before kissing my shoulder. Ciro follows his lead and pulls up Pablo’s shirt, finding a place on his chest to bite with a grin.
“Yes, Princess,” Dario grunts.
“However we can best serve you, Verona,” Ciro chuckles, knowing she can’t hit him without hurting Pablo as he bites down.
Dario’s lips twitch before he sinks his teeth into my shoulder, enjoying how Ciro can rile Vero up.
I’m learning to enjoy the moments where Dario stops walking on eggshells in his effort to keep everyone happy.
I gasp as the pain hits me, while Pablo groans loudly.
Fuck. I can feel my panties get wet from slick as I react to his noises, knowing I don’t have time to change them.
My nails dig into Dario’s skin until he releases me in favor of pressing his lips against mine.
“I feel better now,” he murmurs, blood smeared across his lips as he smiles at me.
“You made me blow a load in my pants,” Pablo groans. His words make me chuckle, and I gasp as the doorbell rings.
Shit. Time’s up.
“You can bite me back when you’re done with whatever Lyle wants,” Dario says. “I’m happy now.”
“We have time,” I agree, the thrum of the weak beginnings of the bond tingling through my body. I never want Dario to feel less than because he’s surrounded by alphas.
He did a lot of heavy lifting taking care of us all while we were lost in the heat. I drank water and not just cum at his insistence.
“Okay, okay. Someone answer the door!” I laugh as the doorbell rings again.
Lifting my dress, I put on my holster and check my gun. My family may be dead, but the world is still full of danger.
Sliding my weapon into the holster, I quickly check the draw and then smooth down my dress.
“Change your underwear, Pablo,” I say, kissing his reddened cheek. “It’ll be a blood bath if they smell what’s ours.”
Growls fill the kitchen as Pablo scurries out, and Ciro smirks as he follows after him to open the gate for the delivery men. We’ve kept everyone waiting quite enough. It’s time to get going.
Nico follows me out, grabbing my hand with my rings to stare down at it.
“I can’t leave my hand with you,” I tease him, squinting up as the sun hits my eyes.
“Don’t ever take this off, okay?” he says seriously, kissing my ring finger and then my lips. Feeling the seriousness of this moment, I cling to his shirt as he pulls my soul from my body as I whimper.
“I won’t,” I rasp. “I love you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“You’d better,” he murmurs, letting me go as I walk out of the side gate. I love that you can’t see inside of our property at all. The eight foot tall privacy fence encircles the entire property.
I probably look like I popped out of thin air when I stepped out of the tall gate. I can’t help but grin at the thought. The kids in the neighborhood may get a kick out of that.
My heart is full and my head is in the clouds as I begin to walk toward Pack Mayor’s home. The movers barely look in my direction as they maneuver the huge sofa in pieces past me, and the sounds of them speaking to each other is loud.
An engine’s rumble is drowned out until it’s almost on top of me, and my lips part in surprise as a white panel van’s door opens. A large man’s grin is wide and cruel as he hops out with a hood in his hand, and I shake myself out of my stupor with a gasp as I recognize him.
“What the fuck, Bruno?” I ask, twisting my body away from him and the other goons in the truck as they follow him onto the sidewalk.
“Your father sends his regards from Hell,” he chuckles, lunging for me.
My feet race back to remain out of arm’s reach as my brain struggles to catch up to what’s happening.
The happiness I’ve been experiencing is lagging my reaction time.
“It’s time for you to pay for your crimes, you unnatural bitch! ”
I manage to escape his meaty hands, and I yank at my dress to get to my gun. It’s as if the nerves in my fingers don’t want to work, and my limbs are ignoring what I want them to do.
“We’re not allowed to touch you. Flirting with us really isn’t going to help,” Bruno snorts. “Oh fuck! Gun!”
My hands raise the weapon and I begin shooting, the shots so loud it affects my hearing as the blood rushes in my ears.
I’m supposed to be safe…
I’m screaming through the bonds first before I begin to use my voice.
“Help!” I scream, shooting Bruno in the head as soon as I can get my body to respond properly. I had a few shots go wild, and that’s very unlike me. The other men rush around him, and one manages to knock my arms away as I shoot again and he fists my hair with a sneer.
I spit in his face just before he punches me in mine, and he throws me to the ground as I continue to fight to control my weapon.
“Someone, please!” I yell. There’s not a silencer on my gun, and the shots are loud. I know someone heard me.
“Oi, you there! Stop!”
“Time to go!”
The two men kick my gun away from me, and one of them makes sure to step on my hand to crush my fingers before I’m lifted kicking and screaming. Twisting, I catch sight of Pack Mayor running toward me.
“We trusted you!” I yell. “Why would you do this? Traitors!”
Something sharp slides into my throat as I’m hauled, still fighting, into the van. Footsteps stomp along the pavement, and Bruno’s dead body is left on the sidewalk as the door slides shut.