Chapter 22 - Jo
twenty-two
Jo
The next day, attention on me seems to have waned. At least enough that I feel like I can sneak off to that abandoned wing after lunch. I’ll have Hayden keep a lookout for me, and I’ll be in and out in no time.
I’m feeling pretty good about my plan, that is, until I walk into my psych session with West and see Sam standing guard against the wall, eyes hard.
These are supposed to be private sessions, so why would they put an orderly on guard? This whole thing stinks of Brooks, and I don’t like it one bit.
I’ll be damned if I let them see me squirm though.
“Sammy-boy,” I say politely, nodding to him before taking my spot in the chair across from West so my back is to the alpha.
Then I turn my head, scooting over a little in my seat and patting the empty bit of cushion.
“It’s a little early in our relationship for couples therapy, but I’m willin’ to give it a try if you are. ”
His cheeks darken slightly, and he huffs. “That’s not why I’m here—I mean, we’re not a couple, so—”
West jumps in, shooting Sammy-boy a weird look. “Due to your…consistent rate of violence, Jo, Doctor Brooks has insisted you have an orderly present in all your one-on-one sessions.”
My brows raise in feigned surprise. “They can’t possibly think I’d be a threat to you, Doctor Monroe.”
“West,” he corrects. “And you’re lucky. Brooks wanted Banesworth to be the one sitting in, but Sam…convinced him to step away.”
“I’m sure Sammy can be very convincing when he needs to be,” I purr, hoping he might correct my implication and give me some dirt on how exactly Sam “convinced” him, but nobody takes the bait.
“So, Jo,” West sits back in his seat, crossing his legs, “Please speak freely and pretend that Sam isn’t here. It’s what I plan on doing. Tell me, what’s new with you?”
I can’t suppress my snort, and give the alpha in question a cheeky smile over my shoulder before facing my sexy beta again.
“Well, actually, Doctor Brooks informed me that I would be participatin’ in CT this weekend.”
West stiffens before shaking his head. “No. You will not be. I’ll write a note or…or something, and you will not participate. I don’t know what Brooks is thinking, putting an omega in these fights.”
I find myself bristling at his tone. What, he doesn’t think that me, the omega that single-handedly killed thirteen alphas can take a couple of fights?
Before I have the chance to voice my offense, Sam speaks up. “I don’t know, she obviously needs an outlet for her aggression. Maybe if she takes a few beatings she’ll stop making trouble.”
My jaw drops as I twist in my seat to look at him. “Excuse me?”
Sam only smirks, and it seems he enjoys flustering me.
“Sam,” West snaps, and when I look back at him, his eyes are murderous.
The alpha raises his hands in mock surrender, but that damn smirk is still on his lips. “Sorry. Forgot. Seen and not heard.”
I shoot one last glare at Sam before I turn my attention back to West. The beta at least seems to understand that I don’t go looking for trouble, it just always seems to find me.
“Lisichka,” Kole’s deep voice rumbles, and I look up from my plate of lasagna. Monday is lasagna night, it seems.
I raise a brow, daring him to speak to me after he ran like a scared little boy yesterday. He stands on the other side of the table, completely ignoring Hayden and Adela as he bores his gaze into me.
“You can’t do those fights.” He braces his hands on the table across from me, making his face level with mine.
“Oh? And why’s that?” I ask, my voice thick as honey, as I do my best to not stare at his lips.
“I will not fight you,” he says, and his tone sparks something in me. Something angry.
I clatter to my feet, leaning forward over the table as my jaw clenches. “You will. Because if you refuse to fight the omega, that either means that you don’t think you can beat me, or you don’t think I’m worth your time. Which is it?”
He bares his teeth at me. “Neither. I will not be put in a position where I need to choose between your safety or my life. Because I will choose your safety, and I’d rather not die quite yet.”
“Why the fuck would you do that?” I growl, hating that yet another alpha thinks I can’t handle myself. If he were my enemy, it would work to my advantage. But I don’t want Kole to be my enemy. One minute he’s kissing me, the next he’s running away, and just as fast he’s demanding to keep me “safe”.
“Fuck, this is hot,” Hayden mutters next to me, his eyes darting between the two of us.
“Maybe we could move this to a bedroom and let that sexual tension work itself out in a healthy way, huh? Just don’t lose the whole growly, could-fuck-or-kill-each-other-at-any-moment vibe you guys got going on.
” That breaks some of the tension as I huff a laugh and the corner of Kole’s mouth tilts up.
Though I do feel kinda bad when Adela’s cheeks darken as she focuses very hard on her dinner.
Kole exhales out of his nose, then leans back, shaking his head. “You know what? I don’t think I’ll be fighting at all this weekend.”
I frown, tilting my head. “I thought fightin’ was a punishment for you. You’re sayin’ you can choose to not do it?”
“It’s…complicated. But I’ll figure it out, since you won’t listen to me.”
“I don’t listen to anyone, Sugar.” I grin. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it, I know how to handle myself.”
A feral grin takes over his face. “All I heard is that you think I’m pretty.”
Well, duh. Of course he is.
Instead of confirming that little tidbit though, I sit back down in my seat, leaning back slightly. “You know, Sugar, this the third time you’ve gotten involved when you didn’t have to, and I’m just tryin’ to figure out why.”
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” He bares his teeth. “What did Lars say to you?”
My eyes narrow. “Nothin’ worth repeatin’.” I don’t want him looking at me like I’m some broken doll. Poor little defective omega, afraid of the one thing omegas are supposed to want.
“If you won’t tell me, then I won’t tell you.” He glares at me before turning on his heel and walking away.
I scowl, looking after him, hating how the view reminds me of how he left after our kiss yesterday.
After dinner, I play cards a little bit with Adela and some of the other girls, but my mood is sour. My sweet little friend is understanding though, taking my attitude in stride. “Jo, it’s not nice to tell someone to shove three aces up their ass,” she says gently, patting my arm.
I scowl at Linda, who just glares at me. “Addie,” my voice is saccharine sweet, “The game is called bullshit, and where I come from, if you’re caught lyin’, you have to shove the cards you tried to play up your ass.”
“Jo,” she admonishes, rubbing her baby bump. “You have to play nice.”
I don’t want to play nice. I want to find my sister, take Hayden, and get the fuck out of here. Away from Russian alphas whose accents do weird things to my insides.
And panties.
Eyeing the beta across from me, I remember the first day I played cards with her, and how obsessed she is with her ex-boyfriend.
“Linda.” I smile at the girl, turning my attention back to the beta. “I’m sorry for tellin’ you to shove three aces up your saggy ass. Tell me, how’s Jeremy doin’? Does he like it up in Vermont?”
She frowns at me. “Jeremy? Who’s that?”
“The love of your life, silly!” I laugh, slapping the table. “That’s what he changed his name to.”
It’s like I flipped a switch. “Vermont?” Her jaw drops as she clatters to her feet and all the other girls give me a death glare.
“Is that where he is? Did he tell you? Oh my gods, why did he tell you and not me?” Her eyes are wild, and she rushes across the room.
“Vermont is so close!” She approaches an orderly who had been dutifully ignoring us.
“Please. Please, you need to take me to Vermont.” She clutches at his shirt.
“Please. He can tell you he loves me and that I’m not crazy. ”
I almost feel bad for the girl as the orderlies descend upon her, trying to contain the chaos without hurting her. She’s causing just enough of a fuss that the other tables are watching her instead of me, and I’m able to quietly slip out of the game room unnoticed.
A smirk tilts at my lips when I hear her start shrieking about Jeremy, and how they won’t get away with treating her like this.
Like I said, I almost feel bad for her.
Bitch shouldn’t have tried to bullshit me with those three aces.