Chapter 15
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
SILAS
“That could have gone better,” I sigh.
Cassidy shrugs. “You can’t baby her, guys. The girl has a lot of life to catch up on.”
“That’s not how you played this with Bell and Winter,” I say frostily. “She was kidnapped from her home at fourteen, Cass. Do the fucking math.”
Her face falls as she inclines her head in remorse, but I’m already pissed off. Cassidy’s connection to Hollis and to Alisa’s brothers is clouding her judgement and I won’t fucking stand for it.
“If the world is going to judge her for her past, then what’s the fucking point of moving forward?” I ask. “That’s what is going on in her head, so keep that bullshit away from her, okay? All you know about her is what your omegas or her brothers have told you.”
“Is this really a line you want to draw in the sand?” Lyle asks calmly. I know that’s not at all what he’s feeling because I want to snap Cass’ fucking neck.
I’m hyped up after these murders and my blood lust is high.
“Hold on,” Troy says slowly. “From what I’m gathering, you’ve never actually spoken to Alisa. Is that correct?”
“Abbott spoke to her once,” she says. “She was huddled on the street downtown, and he stopped to warn her not to sleep there. It isn’t safe. Alisa jumped up and ran away. She refused any form of assistance.”
“Likely because she didn’t think she deserved it,” Troy grunts.
“The guys painting the walls with their guts picked her up instead. They raped her until they got her pregnant and tried to force their bites on her. But sure, we’re going to blame her for behavior she already feels terrible about. Let’s fucking do that.”
“I fucked up. I’m sorry. I am very protective over my pack, and Bell and Winter have told me they don’t hold anything against her,” she sighs. “I came on too strong. I know better. Caleb and Lars have been looking for her for years, guys. Hollis refuses to back down until they find her too.”
“We never suggested keeping her a secret,” Easton grunts. “She’s still having a miscarriage, and she can’t stand for long without her legs going out on her. When exactly are we supposed to present her to two desperate alphas who want to see their sister?”
Cassidy sags as she nods. “I see your point. Alisa needed to know what we all know about her but it doesn’t mean I couldn’t have eased her in. I drowned her in information.”
“Between making her first kill and the overload of adrenaline and dopamine, yeah. It’s not a surprise she passed out,” Dr. Walsh says, adding his two cents. “She almost died right here in this warehouse a couple of days ago. A bit of grace isn’t undeserving.”
“You’re right. However, none of this is going to stop her brothers from taking the first flight to Savannah as soon as they find out she’s been found,” Cassidy says.
“And no, we haven’t told them or Hollis.
I need to reframe my mind when it comes to Alisa.
It’s difficult when all I’ve heard are the bad things. ”
“Are you done? Oh shit,” Asher snorts. He’s part of Pack Nisim, and he just caught a glimpse of our mess.
“We’ll pay really well to clean up our mess,” I promise, wincing as I look back. “Alisa needed this. She killed Dennis and we blew up the other two.”
“No worries, Silas. Good riddance to these guys. They were dicks,” Asher says. “I’ll get some of our people on this. I’m glad she got her closure. I can see one of the bites on her neck and where they tore at her from here.”
Lyle eases Alisa’s head back onto his shoulder and nods at where the skin is exposed on her upper body.
“She wouldn’t have lasted much longer with them,” he says softly.
Cassidy gives herself a moment to really see Alisa before she growls in frustration. “God, I’m better than this.”
“She didn’t hear your prejudice,” Troy says. “Thank fuck for that. I need to get back, guys.”
“We’ll be watching tonight,” I tell him. “I doubt Alisa will forget that she said she wants to see you play. Hit it hard for her and don’t get hurt.”
“First, please go change,” Cassidy says, taking in his ruined clothes. “You really got in there with them.”
“They’re mine, of course I did,” Troy says.
“Easton will go with you to help,” I say, just as Doc Walsh comes back with our go bag. “You’re going to make security all squirrelly if you don’t get all the blood on your face.”
“I’ll take things I never thought you’d say to me for five hundred,” he chuckles, walking with Easton to change.
“He came around,” Cassidy says softly, watching him.
“He did,” Lyle grins. “It’s a really careful dance, Cass.”
“I won’t say a word,” she promises. “I’m happy for you. It’s just very complicated.”
“We have the patience and resources to unravel it,” I reply. “We have to keep her away from Avery as well.”
Cass shudders at her name as she rubs her arms. “God, I fucking hate that bitch,” she whispers.
“We’ll help as much as possible in that respect.
Fuck it, we’re all here for whatever you need, okay?
Pack Mayor is always the first to jump in with both feet into whatever fire is raging in this city. We all plan to show up for you too.”
“Thanks, Cass. I’m sorry I lost my temper.”
“Don’t be. You were right to remind me of my place. I want to get to know her better, form my own opinion,” she says. “What does she need?”
“Rehab,” Doc grunts. “Her muscles are atrophied from being tied to a bed for months, and she’s been starved till there’s almost nothing left. Her mental health also isn’t the best. She needs support. You were willing to give it to Rosalia and the things she’s done for her father are horrific.”
“She had to,” Cassidy says, her brows furrowed.
“Mmhmm. Think about that from Alisa’s side,” he says. “You’re a smart girl.”
I watch as the wheels turn until she finally nods as Troy and Easton return. They both look less like they participated in a murder roll, and Troy says his goodbyes.
“Take care of her,” he says, his eyes on Alisa.
“You know we will. If you have a break in your night, feel free to call to talk to her,” Lyle says. At Troy’s surprise, Lyle shakes his head. “No one is keeping her from you. Call as much as you want. I think it might help both of you.”
Troy gives us a gorgeous smile and nods, heading out with Cassidy.
“Fuck, that was rough,” I mutter, watching as Lyle eases Alisa into Easton’s arms.
“I doubt this will be the only time this happens,” Lyle says, taking the bag full of clothing from Easton. “I just didn’t expect it from Cassidy.”
“She apologized,” Easton grunts. “There’s no use letting it fester. Go change. Alisa isn’t too messy, she can shower at home.”
Taking a deep breath, I pull Lyle along, knowing Easton is right. We can’t freak out at every slight. I’ll gladly defend her honor, but we have to be prepared to understand the other person’s side. Cass had one hell of a year since her omegas blew into her world.
Grace goes both ways.
ALISA
“Mmph,” I groan, my head hurting as I open my eyes.
“How are you feeling?” Easton asks, sitting beside me. I’m on the couch and my head is leaning against a warm chest. “We got home twenty minutes ago and figured we didn’t want you to feel disoriented by waking up in bed. Plus, you have some blood on your clothing.”
“My head hates me,” I whisper. Maybe if I talk softly, so will everyone else.
“I can fix that,” Dr. Walsh says from somewhere beyond the living room.
“Did he move in?” I ask, my eyes closing to shut out the light. Ugh, is this what a migraine feels like? It sucks.
“Practically,” Lyle says from behind me. Ah. That’s who I’m laying on.
“I always end up in one of your laps,” I murmur.
“We’re feeling a little protective,” Silas drawls, coming into the room with a tray full of food and a pitcher of water. “You’re squinting, Alisa. Should I close the blinds?”
“I don’t want you to eat in the dark,” I say, my eyes barely open to watch him.
“We’ll survive,” Easton grunts, moving to close the blinds with Silas. Soon, the room is bathed in darkness and I sigh softly.
“It feels like I’m being stabbed in the eye,” I admit, watching as Dr. Walsh walks into the room.
“That’s a different kind of med,” he says, frowning. “You’re light sensitive and have pain. Any nausea?”
“A little. I won’t be able to eat right now,” I say sadly.
“I have medicine in my bag that’ll help. We’ll try a cold skull cap and talk softly while it does its job. In a half hour, we’ll go for the big guns,” he says.
“And what’s that?” Lyle asks. His fingers are cold as he rubs my forehead and around my eyes. My whimper is a mixture of pain and relief as I sink against him and his chest rumbles as he purrs for me.
“Fast food french fries and a coke,” Dr. Walsh says. “There’s science behind how it works, but it doesn’t matter unless you want to hear it. I’ll be right back, Alisa.”
“Troy is gone?” I ask, my voice cracking from pain.
“He is,” Silas says, holding a glass of water under my lips with a straw. I take a sip, enjoying the way it slides down my throat. I need to stay better hydrated. “He won’t play for a few hours yet. We need to have a chat.”
“I know,” I sigh, remembering our conversation before I passed out. “I hate that I can’t have a conversation without losing my shit.”
“You just found out things that flipped your world on its axis,” he says. “We want to ease you into things, but I don’t think that’s going to be possible.”
“I’ve had a day or two,” I shrug. My jaw begins to unclench as Lyle digs his fingers into it and I whimper pathetically at how good it feels. God, this hurts so much.
Why is my brain trying to kill me?
“I want you to take your medicine when Dr. Walsh comes in and then shower,” Lyle murmurs. “The muscles in your face are really tight.”
“For some, this can be a sign of a migraine,” the doctor says, returning. “Have you ever had one before?”
“No,” I reply, accepting the medicine and swallowing it down with some water.
“Use the shower stool, okay?” Lyle says, picking me up as he stands.
“I could probably walk…”
“But why do it when I can carry you?” he teases me.