Chapter 9 Lark #2
“I can call Gio?” I ask slowly, surprised by that.
“Of course.” He considers me for a moment.
“Actually, I kind of insist on it. He needs to know you’re safe.
And he’s about to be really disappointed when he realizes the jet Uriah’s tracking isn’t ours.
” His expression turns a bit boyish in nature.
“I may have played with the air traffic control logs.”
I gape at him. “What?”
He shrugs. “Uriah was stalking the inbound flights. I had to give him something to chase to ensure a smooth landing and transport. So I sent them to New Jersey.” The boyish glint returns. “They’re tracking a jet full of rescue animals. Maybe they’ll adopt one?”
My lashes flutter. “You… you tricked Uriah?” That feels unlikely. Uriah is the one who introduced me to my first computer. He’s my father’s main technology guru. The alpha who taught me how to hack. “That’s impossible.”
“I assure you that it’s very possible. If you don’t believe me, then call your brother and ask him if he’s enjoying that New Jersey air.” His crystal eyes glitter with mirth. “You can talk to him while we disembark. Pretty sure Tania is getting impatient outside.”
He starts toward the door while I gape at his back.
The phone he handed me is no doubt rigged. But if he’s going to let me talk to Gio…
I pull up the contact and select Call while trailing after Johan.
A petite female with spiky black hair waits for us at the bottom of the steps. A petite female who is sizing Johan up like he’s a delicious snack she’s about to enjoy. A petite female who has me narrowing my gaze and suppressing a growl.
“Hey, Tania,” Johan greets her, his sensual baritone grating on my nerves.
“Hey, J,” she coos at him, her use of a nickname making my stomach twist. “Nice flight?”
I’m about to cough or snort or something when the call connects and starts to ring. The delay is probably related to whatever spyware Johan installed on my phone. Or maybe there’s a cell phone jammer on the jet. Who knows? I’m just thankful it works.
“Aurora?” My brother’s voice travels down the line, nearly making me stumble on the stairs as relief and a myriad of other emotions echo through me all at once.
“Gio,” I breathe. “Are you okay?”
“Am I okay?” he asks, sounding incredulous. “Are you fucking kidding me right now? Where are you? Are you okay? Did that asshole touch you?”
“Who? Noah?” I blink.
“No, Lazarus,” he growls. “But Noah is there, too? God, I assume that means Johan is with you all.”
“Uh, yes and no,” I say slowly, then shake my head. “Wait, where are you? Are you really in New Jersey?”
Johan glances back at me with a humored look, ignoring whatever the spiky-haired omega is saying to him. She has her hand on his arm, though. His exposed forearm. And she’s… she’s dragging her nails along his skin like she has a right to touch him.
Which is really not okay.
“Hold on,” I tell Gio, interrupting his reply, which I now realize I wasn’t listening to. “Can you stop doing that?” I ask, looking straight at Tania.
She frowns back at me. “Doing what, babe?”
“First of all, I’m not your babe. And second of all, that.” I gesture to where she’s stroking Johan. “He’s not your scent match; he’s mine. So fuck off.”
Okay. I might be… losing my mind.
That’s fine.
Everything’s fine.
“Scent match?” my brother roars down the line.
Okay. Not fine, I decide, clearing my throat. “Uh, yeah. Unfortunately.”
Johan arches a brow. I’m not sure if he’s reacting to my comment to my brother… or to Tania.
“You’re scent-matched?” Tania asks, yanking her hand away. “To her?”
Johan’s attention returns to the now-simmering omega. “Yes. I am. Is that a problem?”
Tania looks wounded, like she’s about to cry.
And now I feel like an asshole for even commenting.
“Aurora,” my brother snaps, making me realize that I’ve missed something else that he’s said.
I really need to focus, I think, shaking my head and making my way down the rest of the stairs. “Are you with Dad?” I ask my brother, wanting to assure them both that I’m okay. “And are you really in New Jersey? Sorry if you already answered that, but I missed the response.”
Gio is silent for a long moment. “Can you put Lazarus on the phone, please?”
I frown. “No. He’s not here.”
“What do you mean, he’s not there?”
“I mean he’s somewhere else,” I return, rolling my eyes as I start toward the black car that’s waiting for us on the tarmac. “Why do you need to talk to him? Don’t tell me you’re friends.”
Gio heaves a long sigh. “Aurora… a lot has happened while you’ve been gone.”
“Yes, I can imagine,” I deadpan. “Never a dull moment in the Bianchi household, that’s for sure.”
He’s quiet again before saying, “That’s not what I mean, honey pot. There’s… there’s been a lot of changes lately.”
My steps slow a mere foot from the door that Johan has just opened for me. “Okay,” I reply. “That’s cryptic, Gio. Tell me what you mean.”
“I’m the don now, Aurora,” he tells me softly.
I stop breathing. “The don?” It comes out in a whisper, what’s left of my oxygen leaving my chest.
Because that… that can only mean one thing…
“Dad’s…?” I don’t have enough air to finish the question.
Not that I need to.
Because I already know.
And when I meet Johan’s gaze, I realize he knows, too.
Which… which means they all knew…
My father… my father is dead.