32. Red #3
His mouth is a hard line. I hesitate to tell him, but I decide I’d like him to know I tried—
“I took an anti-descenter on the plane. I was hoping it would have gone into effect before we separated. I’m sorry for everything. I hope you get paid.”
His face is blank, but his glasses slide down his nose. He adjusts them quickly.
“Thank you for everything, Tony.”
He nods. I return the gesture.
His mouth opens to say something, but he doesn’t.
I turn and face the exit. All seven people stare at me. Their energy burns, and I can feel the heat from here. Two years. I’ve been gone for two years. I’ve survived two years. Dr. Soto said I should be dead.
I feel like I should be dead.
I take a step towards my salvation and my doom. One more, and I want to die just like I did that first day. Why does choosing to live feel the same as choosing my last fucking breath?
I walk past the security guard making sure people don’t walk back into the terminal and pass through the automatic doors. Just before I make it through, I hear Tony gasp behind me.
“Prickly pear,” he says in his classic, reverent tone, which makes me smile. I don’t turn around because I’m worried if I see his face I will run back into his arms.
My scent is prickly pear. The relief that Tony got to smell it will give me the strength to do this.
Roman is the first to greet me with his black face mask, covering his mouth and nose.
It makes his emerald-green eyes stand out more.
I stop and give him all my attention, raising an eyebrow.
He really does look taller than the last time I stood next to him.
His bald head is freshly shaved and shiny, and his hands are covered in gold and black rings. More than usual.
“Did my little bite really mar you that badly you have to wear a mask?” I ask.
His eyes narrow.
“Welcome home, Omega. Fate has brought you back to me. Say hello to your alphas before we talk about what damage you left in your wake.” Though muffled by the mask, his words are well rehearsed and clear.
I turn to Hollis and give him a curt nod, then to Noble and give him a slightly more sarcastic nod. Both of them look like they got haircuts this morning. Their clothes, despite the long drive, are neat and pressed. Actually, I bet they stayed here overnight then.
Hollis is the oldest and has a full head of salt and pepper hair. His long face is absolutely blank, as usual. Noble, with his big brown sad eyes looks just as tragic as he did back then.
Then my mother pushes her way into our circle.
Call me crazy, but my chest aches. I’ve missed her. Even though I shouldn’t have. I’m a grown woman, and she and I have such a bad history.
“Kelya!” She wraps her arms around me, and I’m careful not to lean into her or rest my head on her shoulder. “You’re home. We’ve been so worried.”
I can’t speak.
I want to say something sarcastic, but nothing comes out.
My mother is here. She pulls back and has hot tears running down her face.
The tears are real. I try desperately to not let them affect me.
My biological dad, Ben, stands idly nearby, flanked by his alphas, Trip and Michael.
They aren’t dressed as nicely and definitely look like they drove in this morning
“What’re you doing here, Mom?” I ask, just as I hear a commotion behind me. I turn slightly, but Roman steps into my line of sight.
“Roman called us, and we headed out right away. I can’t believe you were found!”
I was found…she makes it sound like I’d been kidnapped. Or maybe she’s trying to tell me what kind of story she’d prefer this to be.
I already feel the ache of being away from Tony, so I turn to see if I can catch one more glimpse, but Roman moves again, this time completely behind me.
Hollis drops his hand on my shoulder. “Kelya, it’s so good to see you.”
Looking at his face, I almost believe him. His sharp features and pointy chin make him look like a comic book villain. He takes a deep inhale. My lips twitch wanting to snark at him. My scent was for Tony. Not him.
Noble comes up to my other side and also takes a deep inhale that bothers me.
“She’s wearing his shirt, but there’s no cum or slick scent…” I rear back, ready to slap him, but my mother grabs my arm. She shakes her head at me like I’m a child. I pull my arm back, and she lets go.
Roman smells me again.
I didn’t anticipate them smelling me to determine if the private eye fucked me, but I probably should have. We used the dissenting gel so we wouldn’t get kicked off the flight, but it served two purposes. I don’t want to jeopardize Tony getting his money.
“She’s had a long flight from Texas. Omegas are fragile. Let’s get her bags and go get breakfast.” It’s not a suggestion. His influence is greater than any alphas here. My mother agrees and turns to her alphas for support, and they huddle with her, walking out of the airport.
“I don’t have any luggage.”
Hollis and Noble stand on either slide of me like sentinels, and we leave. I get a quick glance into the terminal and see nothing. He’s gone.
This can’t be it.
Is this really it?