Chapter 3 #2
The bikers are loud as I pull up Lucas Reid. It appears that he may have a home in Michigan, so I begin to look for the address. You’d think that Nico would think to give me all the information that I need so that I could do this faster, but he’s always been a dick.
Before his father died, I would always marvel at how different they are from each other. Nico is very protective of his brothers, and they live in a separate home from the ex-patriarch about ninety percent of the year.
I got word that Nico’s father was recently relieved from this earthly coil.
After a little digging, I found out that the old goat was killed with the pointy end of a knife because he was trying to stick his dick inside the wrong person.
Since I don’t condone rape, I don’t have any kind of remorse or sympathy for him.
Rape is never acceptable. Especially when he paid for the pleasure.
Making a face, I find out that Lucas is a pharmaceutical company CEO in Indiana, not Michigan. Huh. That doesn’t seem too nefarious. I have an odd feeling about this as I continue to work, my fingers flying over the keyboard.
“Miss?” my eyes rise to see a large alpha in front of me in a leather cut and jeans.
“Yes?” I ask, confused as to why he’s here.
“You look like you’re working hard. We wanted to let you know that we’re paying for your tab. No, there’s no strings attached, we just wanted to do something nice for someone,” he says, knowing that I’m confused.
“Why?” I ask. “People don’t do things like this for shits and giggles.”
“We just lost someone, and we’re headed out to give him his final ride,” he says somberly. “Trace loved surprising the fuck out of the meanest looking person in a diner, just because he could. So yes, he did it for shits and giggles.”
Biting my lip, I nod.
“I’m sorry for your loss, and I appreciate that you think I’m the meanest person in the diner…I think,” I say.
The alpha smirks. “You look like you could easily kill my club without blinking an eye.”
“I’d probably smile a bit,” I smirk, playing along.
“Perfect,” he says, nodding. “Mission accomplished. She accepts, boys, now let’s ride out!”
This is one of the most confusing conversations I’ve ever had in my life. The club members all nod at me as my omelette is dropped off at my table, and the waitress simply watches them.
“Trace was special,” she says softly. “He’ll be missed.”
“It seems so,” I say, overwhelmed by the ghost of someone I’ve never met but touched so many people.
I have emotions, I simply don’t express them to the world. I feel things deeply, chaotically, and in a rampageous way. Equilibrium is hard for me to find because of it, which is why I spend so much of my time working.
I would find a hobby, but I wouldn’t know where to start.
My identity revolves around killing people, and while it happens infrequently, if I find out that person is innocent, there is hell to pay.
My mark disappears, I kill someone who deserves it to offer as my proof, and then the person who paid me to kill them goes on my shit list.
One of my bosses in the last two years has already learned the error of his ways. He’s dead now and his former empire has already been absorbed by other people.
Do…not…fuck…with me.
Returning to my food, I pick up my fork and cut a piece off from my omelet. Blowing on it before I wrap my lips around my fork, I moan as I pull off the bite and chew. The flavors of egg, cheese, and vegetables are perfectly balanced.
Now that I can choose what I want to eat, I find that being a vegetarian works for me. I have a kindred spirit for things that are forced to live in cages for slaughter, and I simply can’t bring myself to eat meat.
It doesn’t keep me from fully enjoying my food now though.
“Does everything taste good?” the waitress asks, pleased when I nod. “Perfect.”
I’m left alone to my own devices as I make my plan to drive to Bargersville, Indiana. The place sounds pretentious as hell, but it doesn’t appear that Lucas is hurting for money.
My plans exist in my head so I just look like someone who’s getting a jump on work during her lunch break. Granted, who would hire me other than those who already do, I don’t know. I definitely don’t fit the typical corporate model.
My legs are encased in leather pants, my long sleeved black shirt helps me to hold in body heat since I’ve had trouble gaining weight after so many years of being starved.
I have few curves but my breasts managed to survive.
My hair is healthier than it’s ever been, pulled back into a sleek ponytail once I sat down.
However, none of this is corporate material.
My coat is folded neatly beside me as I finish my food, and I drop the full amount for my meal as a tip for my waitress in cash. It’s getting busy, and I can see that the woman is being run off her feet. Packing up my things, I pull on my coat and prepare for the five hour drive.
“Do you need anything else? Can I get you a to-go cup of water?” the waitress asks, not yet seeing the tip I left her.
“I would love that, but only if you have the time for it,” I say, pulling my bag strap over my shoulder.
“I got it,” the owner says, quickly grabbing the cup and filling it with ice and water. “You be safe out there, Miss. It looks like it’s gonna snow.”
The sky is a pink color as I gaze out the window with a nod.
“It looks like it will,” I murmur. “Thank you, I’ll be careful.”
Taking the cup, I walk out the door to my car, my boots crunching on the ground. I swear, all it does in December is fucking snow in the Midwest. Do people take solo vacations?
Is that acceptable?
Muttering to myself, I begin the drive to give Lucas Reid the surprise of his life.
Turning the radio on to find a Kesha song post healing, I give myself a private concert as I sing along. My voice has come a long way, healing in its own way.
Screaming regularly can destroy vocal cords, and instead of a wrecked and broken voice, it’s a low contralto that I’m proud of. I’ve lost a lot during my captivity, but I’m learning to live with the changes.
As a free omega, my body is slowly finding a way to gain some curves, and my hair is brighter now that I’m in the sunlight more. I’m still scarred from my time with Ophelia on both the inside and out.
Maybe, one day, I’ll even grow to love them because it means I survived.
Maybe.