Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Christian
Ifollow Luna and the alpha down the stairs with the other alpha at my back.
My alpha doesn’t like having an unknown alpha at our back, but they don’t trust me, and I can’t blame them.
After all, I came here to kill one of their omegas.
I don’t really understand their dynamic, and I don’t even know their damn names, but I know Luna isn’t wearing any visible bond marks. Without seeing her naked, I know there’s no way to confirm that she’s free of bonds, but I don’t think any of them are bonded.
Luna’s cacao and orchid scent wafts back to me, my cock throbbing in my pants.
She’s intoxicating.
I want to pin her to the wall and bury my cock in her pussy. To bite her neck and claim her as my mate.
We’re not scent matches, that much I know, but I’ve never been affected by someone’s scent like this before.
I’ve already forgotten her face, but I don’t mind.
She told me the basics of our past, and it felt like she was telling the truth. It rang true to me, even if I can’t remember any of it.
It’s like the baser part of me—the part that is all alpha—recognizes her.
On the one hand, I want her words to be true, but if they are, that means Fabian isn’t the friend I believe him to be.
How could he shoot me in cold blood, then take me under his wing and befriend me?
How could he fool me for thirteen years?
I guess my lack of memory would make that easier, wouldn’t it?
The memory loss he caused.
Fuck.
They lead me into the living room, Luna sitting on the couch with her alphas bookending her between them. The beta and omega settle on either side of the alphas as I settle into an armchair.
I know I won’t be welcome near Luna—at least not by her mates.
“So, what now?” I ask.
Luna glances between her mates before focusing her attention on me once more. “Do you believe what I told you?”
I hesitate only for a moment before nodding. “It feels like you’re telling the truth. It’s like something inside me recognizes the truth, even if I can’t recall it. Does that make sense?”
“No,” the omega snaps. His scent is unique and not unpleasant, but I don’t have the visceral reaction to his scent that I have to Luna’s.
I clear my throat. “I’m sorry. I know I’m not really in a place to make any demands or make requests, but I’d love to know who the hell I’m talking to—if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Shit. I didn’t think about making introductions.” Luna waves her hands in the air. “This is—”
“Actually,” I wince when I cut her off. “I’m sorry. The gunshot wound caused a TBI, and part of that is that I have prosopagnosia, which is face blindness. I have to use other senses to remember who people are.”
“Oh. Okay.” She pauses. “What does that mean exactly?”
If one of the men had asked, it would’ve put my back up, but since it’s Luna asking, I offer her a smile.
“I have what they call a moderate case. I can make out facial features, and I can tell faces apart, but I can’t recall them.
As soon as I’m no longer looking at them, I forget them.
I won’t ever recognize their faces, as they’re all unfamiliar to me as soon as I look away.
I have to use people’s voices, scents, and mannerisms to pick them out. ”
She nods. “Okay. So what do you need us to do for introductions?”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll tell you a scent and that person can raise their hand, then say their name. That will allow me to associate their voice and name with their scent.”
“Absolutely, Christian.”
More than one of them grumbles, but they don’t argue with her.
“The omega—burning embers, cotton candy, vanilla, and a hint of scorched sugar.”
The man with red hair raises his hand. “I go by Knight.”
An odd name, but it’ll make it easier to remember. Not that I usually have a problem remembering names as long as I associate them with their scent.
“The beta—citrus and oakmoss.”
The man with blond waves raises his hand. “My name is Prescott.”
“One of the alphas—black leather, warm suede, and cedarwood.”
The Asian man grunts, only raising his hand when Luna elbows him. “Vengeance.”
What is with these men and their names?
“You can call him Ven—we all do. Vengeance is such a mouthful,” Luna says, eyes narrowed on her alpha.
“So the last alpha—cypress, amber, and smoked vanilla? That’s obviously you.”
The Black man inclines his head. “You can call me Mack.”
“And you’re Luna’s pack?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
I bite back a laugh as the men answer together, while Luna contradicts them.
She sighs. “Prescott and I are together. Knight, Ven, and Mack are my scent matches. It’s very new.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that we’re yours—your pack,” Knight argues.
“I don’t really think this is the right time for this conversation, do you?”
Knight grimaces, glancing toward me before mumbling, “No, I guess not.”
“So now what?” It isn’t me who asks this time but Prescott.
“Fabian has to die,” I answer easily, meaning it from the bottom of my heart.
Five faces stare at me blankly, and I shrug.
I don’t know what they want from me.
Fabian claimed to be my friend—my family—when he’s the one who took everything away from me. Not only almost killing me but taking Luna from me. Then sending me to kidnap or kill the woman I once loved?
There is no other option.
He must be punished for his crimes.
He cannot be allowed to live.
“At least that’s one thing we can agree on,” Ven growls. “But I still don’t fucking trust you.”
I smirk. “I don’t really give a fuck what you think about me, Ven. The only person whose opinion I care about is the omega sitting next to you.”
He tenses, and my smirk grows into a grin at the idea of fighting him—because I have no doubt that’s where we’re heading.
Our alphas are riding us, wanting to prove which of us is the strongest alpha.
My eyes flicker to Mack, but my alpha doesn’t have any desire to fight him. We already know he’s stronger than us—he knows it and so do I. It’s Ven I need to prove myself to.
Before he can speak, my phone rings, startling all of us.
I pull it out, cursing when I see it’s Fabian. I toss it onto the coffee table separating me from them. “It’s your brother.”
“Probably wanting to know if you succeeded.” Luna’s voice is bitter. “You’re right, Chris. He needs to die, but we have no way to reach him.”
I melt at her nickname—something I usually hate when others call me. “Don’t we?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Ven’s jaw clenches as he stares at me.
“He has no idea that I want him dead. I know the inner workings of his business—of his compound. I can kill him.”
“Not if you come back without proof of my death.”
I frown, knowing she’s right. “There has to be some way we can use this.”
“Why the hell should we trust you?” Ven growls, and while I understand how he’s feeling, it’s starting to get on my nerves.
“Enough.” Luna sighs, running a hand through her hair as my phone stops ringing before starting up again almost immediately. “I have an idea, but none of you are going to like it.”
“Then why bother telling us?” Knight asks.
She shoots him a glare. “Because it might be the only way we can get to him, and because I trust Christian.”
I beam at her. “Thank you, Luna.”
“It’s weird hearing you call me that,” she admits.
“Would you rather I call you Mariana?”
She shakes her head. “No, I’m not that woman anymore.”
“What’s your idea, Luna?” Prescott presses, leaning around Ven so he can see her.
She spares him a glance before her eyes find their way back to me. “You said he wanted you to kidnap me, right? Killing me was meant to be a last resort?”
“Correct.”
“Then that’s what we'll let him believe. You can answer your phone and tell him you kidnapped me. How are you supposed to bring me back to Miami?”
I can already see where this is going, and I’m not sure I like it. “By car.”
“That’s at least a thirty-hour drive, and he wouldn’t expect you to make it all at once. That would give us time to come up with a plan—a way to kill him and rescue Stacia.”
My back stiffens at the mention of her name. “Stacia? How do you know about Stacia?”
“She’s my fucking twin sister,” Knight growls, doing a good impersonation of an alpha.
I tilt my head to the side, trying to see the resemblance, but since I can’t remember Stacia’s face, it’s harder. They do have the same shade of red hair, and she’d told me about her brother. “Her brother’s name isn’t Knight.”
“Knight is my road name. My birth name is Ward.”
“Oh, yeah, she’s definitely talked about you.”
Knight is on his feet, stalking toward me. I don’t raise a hand to stop him when he grips my shirt in his hands and yanks me into a standing position. “Why the hell have you been talking to my sister? Are you the reason she’s a prisoner in his compound?”
“No, Knight, I’m not. I’m the reason he hasn’t killed her,” I tell him softly.
“Fabian isn’t the most sane person I’ve ever met.
I knew it was going to be trouble when he became obsessed with your sister.
Especially when she announced it was time for her to move on.
He wanted to kill her then. I convinced him that there was a better way. ”
“You’re the one who came up with the idea to have her declared mentally unfit?” Luna questions, and I nod without looking away from Knight.
“I did, and I’m the only thing that stopped him from killing her after he was named her guardian. I convinced him it would feel so much better if he got her to surrender before killing her.”
“She’ll never surrender,” Knight growls, shaking me.
I nod. “I’m aware, which is why I suggested it.
I’ve been trying to figure out how to get her free from him.
Your sister is a good person and doesn’t deserve the way he treats her.
I’ve shielded her the best I could. Now that we’re planning to kill Fabian, we can free her. I can help you with that, Knight.”
His grasp loosens slightly. “You can?”
“I can. I want to.”
He finally relinquishes his hold, and I fold myself into my seat once more.
Luna walks Knight back to the couch, pushing him to sit in her spot between the alphas before climbing onto his lap.
“You said Knight is a road name?” At his nod, I grin. “I’m assuming that means you’re part of the Sinner’s Pride MC? That’s the MC your dad runs, right?”
He nods again. “Mack and Ven are part of it too.”
“Perfect. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to contact the MC, to get word to your dad.” I rub a hand along my jaw, an idea forming in my head. “This could work.”
“What can work?” Ven barks as my phone rings again.
I’d like to pick the damn thing up and throw it at the wall, but that would fuck my plan.
“I tell Fabian I have Luna like she suggested. I know where the weak points are in the compound. I know the guards’ schedule.
I know when and how to hit the compound for maximum damage. I take Luna in with me—”
“Over my dead fucking body.” Ven’s eyes flash with anger and distrust.
“Stop it, Ven.” Luna doesn’t even spare him a glance. “Continue, Chris.”
“There’s a gate on the back of the property.
The camera there hasn’t worked in years, and the alarm doesn’t work.
The area is regularly patrolled, but I can tell you the best time for the four of you to sneak through it.
I can give you the layout of the compound and tell you when and where to go.
You arrive a bit before I do, and by the time I make it to Fabian's office, you’re already there waiting.
“At the same time, we have the MC attack. They’ll need to force their way in at multiple points, but it’ll send security into a tailspin—leaving Fabian completely unguarded.
I’ll tell you exactly where to find your sister, Knight.
Your dad can send whoever he wants to rescue her while we take care of Fabian. ”
They all consider me for a moment as my phone quiets once more, only to ring again a second later.
It’s a damn good thing I wasn’t actually trying to kill Luna, or his phone calls would’ve given me away.
I can’t believe I didn’t silence my phone. What a rookie mistake.
“It’s not a bad idea,” Mack admits. “But you can understand why it’s hard for us to trust you?”
“Of course, but I’m willing to share my intel.
In fact, there are some things I can tell you that are happening in Orlando.
Knight, you can share them with your dad, and he can verify I’m telling the truth.
” My eyes find the omega in question. “But if I don’t answer my phone soon, there’s a good chance Fabian might do something stupid. ”
Ven and Mack share a glance before Ven nods at my phone with a snarl. “Answer it.”
I grab it, putting it on speakerphone without being asked. “Damn it, Fabian. Are you trying to blow my cover?”
“Is that the way you’re supposed to speak to me?”
I bite back a snarl. “No. I’m sorry. Look, I have your sister. It took me a while to get her out of town and into the car. I need to take a piss and get some gas, then I’ll start heading to Miami.”
“You have her?” The glee in his voice nauseates me.
“I do.”
“Can my dear sister hear me?”
I glance up at Luna, who nods. “She can. I have her tied up in the backseat.”
“Hello, Mariana. It seems you discovered a secret you shouldn’t have known.
If you’d stayed buried in that backwater town, it never would’ve come to this.
But isn’t that always the case with you?
You never know when enough is enough. What happens next is because you couldn’t keep your nose out of my business.
” I hate the way he talks to her. “Christian, I want you to bring her straight to me.”
“I will, boss, but I can’t make the drive straight through. I was up all night, so I’ll need to stop tonight. Then again, tomorrow night.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m human, and I need things like sleep.”
“Fine. I expect you to be here in three days’ time. There will be consequences if you’re not here.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Next time, answer my fucking call the first time.”
He disconnects the call, and I have to fight the urge to throw my phone. “I hate him.”
“We all do,” Luna says. “We’ve bought ourselves some time. We need a plan, and I’m going to need to loop in the other widows.”
“Widows?” I question.
Her smile is soft as she explains how she met the widows and the hell they went through to escape this Gideon. I’m more than a little pissed to find out he’s already dead.
“They’re my sisters,” she finishes. “They’ll want to help.”
I nod because what else am I going to do?
I may not remember our past, but I know this omega is my future.