Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Two weeks later
Isolde
“Hey, it’s time,” Devon says as he wakes me up out of dead sleep.
My skin feels itchy as I sit up, and I’m hot. Can I get hot flashes without a heat?
“You sound like Rafiki in the Lion King,” I complain, struggling to wake up as I hold the phone to my ear. “It’s two in the morning, Devon.”
“It’s going to take you three to get here if you leave now,” he says. “Toad and the Reaping Marauders had a big party last night. They’re still at it according to my spy. They’ll all be passed out by the time you get here.”
“Am I to understand that we’re going to do this my way?” I ask. “Quick, messy, and a blood bath to get the message across not to fuck with the Knotted Anarchy MC?”
“Yes,” he says. “You were right, as usual. If you weren’t a woman, I think you could rule the world.”
“That’s some fancy backhanded flattery,” I mutter. “What am I looking at? Will there be any kids at the clubhouse? Or women who aren’t part of this?”
I’m not even close to a saint, but I do have lines that I draw in concrete. Sand allows your priorities to shift, so I won’t use that analogy. No innocents.
“There may be some sweet butts, but they should be passed out by the time you arrive. You can do what you want with them. They don’t partake in club business or our business. Toad’s whore may be an issue, Isolde. She’s the Prez’ daughter, and Brea is very loyal,” he explains.
“I’ll play it by ear,” I decide. I’m going to be wearing a mask so anyone who lives and may see me won’t know who I am. Brea may find herself in a new city, trussed up in a pretty bow outside of Omega’s Haven.
I’ll give her the chance at a new life. If she fucks it up, I’ll come back and end it for her. I think that’s fair.
“Is there a calling card you’d like me to leave, or is starting a fire and hoping the sweet butts are smart enough to get out enough?” I ask.
“Damn, you’re ruthless. I don’t want the cops to come down on us for this, so no calling card outside of a fire, please,” he says.
Fine, take the fun out of it, why don’t you?
“On it,” I grunt, pushing off my blankets. One of the presents that Grant bought me was a weighted blanket. I’ve never slept so well since I started to use it. Everything he bought me has been a dream.
The grumpy alpha is beginning to grow on me, I fear.
“I’m sure you’ll see evidence of my work soon,” I say, hanging up.
Knotted Anarchy’s clubhouse is about a half an hour away from their current rival. There’s a high possibility that they’ll be able to see the smoke from where they are.
Walking to the shower, I strip everything off and pull my hair up. I’ll braid it down so there won’t be any evidence of it, but first I need to wash my scent off. Stepping inside the shower, I grab my descenting bar and turn on the water.
Getting to work as I shiver in the cold spray, I’m grateful that it’s waking me up. I don’t have time for coffee, not when I have to swing by Lucas’ home to say goodbye before I light out of here. My alphas were warned that I would take jobs while I’m living in town.
It’s part of who I am. There’s a madness that needs the blood splatter in my life, and maybe that’s why I've been feeling off. Scrubbing myself down with the descenting bar feels gross, as if I’m stripping my skin of its essence.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what I’m doing.
It’s just for a short time, not forever, and that’s what I keep reminding myself of in my head.
The water is warm by the time I’m done washing my face with facial cleanser that Grant left on my front porch yesterday. It has no scent and feels incredible.
There’s nothing like feeling as if your pores are able to breathe and your skin tingles. I wonder if he’s researching this stuff or just randomly walks through the aisles of a store to find it.
Regardless, it’s a really great kick in the ass to get moving. Shutting off the water, I dry off and lather my skin in descenting lotion as well. Brushing my teeth at the counter while the lotion dries is the only choice I have, because getting into leather pants is miserable otherwise.
I’ve already spent too much time getting ready, so I quickly fight my way into my pants and long sleeve black shirt before taking my medication. Blowing out a breath, I take down my hair and rebraid it before winding it into a bun.
Packing a quick bag in case I need it for an overnight, I load up on my weapons and leave my little rental. I have to say that I love having the option of my own place. Even as I get closer with my alphas, I still return to my little house afterward.
Getting into my car, I shiver despite the leather jacket I threw on over my clothes. It hides my weapons, but isn’t enough to cut through the cold breeze.
The world is still sleeping, and that works well for what I need to do.
Turning my vehicle in the direction of Lucas’ house, I bite my lip as I try to figure out the best way to do this.
Oliver may still be awake. He mentioned once that his work was international, which means that he’ll stay up to talk to clients.
Blowing out a breath, I take the chance that he may be awake so I can say a quick goodbye. Hitting his number in my contacts, I wait for it to ring, except it doesn’t.
“You’re up late, Kitten,” he answers. “What are you doing?”
“I’m coming over,” I reply. “Is anyone else awake? I have to go out of town for a day or two.”
Oliver is quiet before I hear him stand, the blankets shifting on the other end of the line.
“I’ll wake whoever isn’t up,” he grunts. “I’ll make sure the gates are open. How long do you have?”
“I’m already supposed to be on my way out of town,” I confess, turning right at a street. “I’m almost there.”
“I’ll get the gates open. I gotta go so I can get these lazy bums up,” he grunts. “Love you.”
My jaw drops as he hangs up. My numb fingers release my phone into the cup holder as I try to process what he just said.
He’s never said that to me before. I can’t remember the last time anyone has, which I’m aware is sad. When I got out of the Jefferson City auction, I had no family that I wanted to go back to or communicate with.
So I never bothered.
Breathing is difficult as I drive through the gates of the Reid residence. My chest feels tight, and my fingers twitch as I think about those two little words.
They don’t scare me in a very odd way, I just don’t know if I can say them back yet. When I first left Jefferson City in a blanket of death, I was hopeful to find a pack.
It just never happened until now.
Torturing my bottom lip, I stop at the end of the driveway to see three sleepy alphas and one wide eyed one standing on the front step.
Shoving the SUV into park, I leave the vehicle running as I get out.
“I can’t stay long,” I explain, moving toward them.
“Oliver said you had a job,” Lucas says, sleep leaving his eyes as he stands in socked feet in the cold.
“I do,” I say. “I’ll be gone for a day or two.”
Lucas’ hand grabs mine and he pulls me up to stand in front of him. My combat boots feel out of place next to his feet, and I vaguely think about how odd a thought that is.
“You’re shaking. What’s going on?” he asks.
My eyes cut over to Oliver and he smiles gently at me.
“Let’s try this again. You don’t have to say anything back, and yes I meant it. I said it without thinking as I hung up, but it doesn’t change anything,” he says.
“What?” Alesso asks, confused.
“I think we’re missing an important piece of this,” Grant says.
“I need to borrow our lovely omega for this,” Oliver says, taking my hand and pulling me away from Lucas. “Here we go.”
His arm wraps around my back as he pulls me closer to him, and his fingers tip my head back so he’ll have uninterrupted eye contact. “I…love…you, Isolde. I don’t think I’ve ever said that to anyone outside my own mother before. Are you okay with that?”
There’s complete silence as I nod slowly. He answered everything that I was quietly freaking out about. The trembling quiets as he hugs my body to his chest, and I squeeze him in return. He’s solid, and feels really fucking good.
“I wanted to say goodbye before I left,” I finally breathe, pulling back. “I’m on a time crunch.”
“Then go and promise to come back to us, topolina,” Alesso says, sighing. “I don’t like it, but it is your job. I want this to be your first stop when you get back, please. Someone needs to feed you.”
A startled laugh escapes me, because I wasn’t expecting him to say that. I can be a little hopeless with this. I eat better when I have company. Somehow, it makes food taste better.
“I’ll come by,” I promise, my eyes bouncing between them. Suddenly, I don’t want to leave even though I have to.
Devon’s call put me under contractual obligation to kill his enemies. They’re being handed to me on a silver platter.
So instead, I try to memorize my alphas’ features.
“Don’t do that,” Grant growls. “We’ll be here. Don’t act like you’re not going to see us again.”
“I’ll postpone going to the city,” Lucas murmurs.
“You have a meeting today,” Grant corrects. “You don’t have to stay in the city afterward though.”
“There, I’ll be here when you’re done,” Lucas says, his voice deeper.
I feel another flush of heat despite how cold it is and nod, deciding that I have to leave before they notice how oddly I’m acting. Well, worse than usual. Do I need to increase my heat suppressants?
“Okay. I need to ask something,” I say, taking a step back. “Can heat suppressants, um, stop working because you’re around your alphas?”
“Isolde,” Lucas growls.
He doesn’t usually call me by my name and I trip on the step as I step back again.
“Hypothetically, Alpha,” I say. “Going into heat while slitting throats would be unfortunate.”
“Fuck,” he groans. “Yes, it’s possible. What are you feeling?”
“Hot flashes. There’s no real slick unless I’m already aroused, but I feel flushed,” I explain.
“How long have you felt like this?” Grant asks, his gaze tracking me like a predator.