Chapter 12 #2
“Nope,” he grunts, standing. “I trust Silva. Whatever she has to do to survive is enough for me.”
“Conflict of interest much?” Kyren scoffs.
“You wouldn’t get it,” Syrus says. “You don’t know her. Silva weighs every option before making a decision.”
Wow. Filling my lungs until I can’t anymore, I release my breath. I don’t know why I worried so much. Syrus fucking gets me.
“We were being groomed,” I finally say, ignoring everyone but Sy. “Everyone was really nice, we ate regularly, but there was always this air of feeling like everything could be taken away if we acted out. I can’t handle not being able to make sure Lexi is safe, and they used that against me.
“The mansion was huge, and there were different groups of omegas being kept there. I was with five other omegas, and we became close. Just after we all turned twenty-one, there was this air of excitement with our handlers. We were told there would be a party in our honor, where we would all be sold to an alpha. We couldn’t freak out, but we did make a plan.
“Getting sold meant we’d be split apart, and that was unacceptable. Lexi is my best friend and my sister, however these girls mean a lot to me too.”
I drop my eyes down to the ground, gathering my thoughts.
“A few days before we were sold, I was able to run out and hide the items that we’d need. The security is insane there, and we had to time everything really well,” I explain.
“If the security is so good, how did six young omegas get out?” Kyren asks.
“I swear they’re house trained,” Isidro mutters.
Staring at them, I say, “One of us is incredible with computers. Security cameras, hacking into networks to make us disappear, all of it. We wouldn’t have made it out without her.
No, I won’t tell you who because you can’t be trusted.
After the ball, we all changed out of the ridiculous gowns, tried to forget the way the alphas there stared at us as if we were lambs to the slaughter, and escaped to our meeting spot.
“There was someone that was supposed to come collect us after the money cleared. Under no circumstances could any of us still be there, that doesn’t mean there weren’t hiccups once we escaped.
We ran as far as we could go, until we got to Widows Peak.
Someone from our group found that this area had been abandoned after the initial building craze.
The satellites, building permits, and blueprints showed that this was the perfect place to start over.
“The problem is, he found us.”
“So why are you standing here and not on your back playing fuck toy?” Harlan asks. “What? My wording may be crass, but she’s fucking holding back information that could help those she left behind. That’s it, right? You got your group out, but there were still people in that mansion?”
“Yes,” I whisper. “We couldn’t get everyone out, and when he found us, we blackmailed him for our freedom.
As long as we never let the information on his organization hit the light of day, he’ll leave us and this town alone.
Do you have any idea how many omegas live here that are sitting ducks if we go against him? ”
“Fucking coward,” Harlan sneers, practically spitting in my face from across the room. “Look at all the good you could do, and yet you sit in comfort and your silence.”
“Harlan, that’s enough,” Isidro says, turning toward him.
I can feel shame and sadness pressing down on me, yet I let myself sit in his disdain. He’s not wrong. We could have done things differently, but the truth is that the six of us were exhausted and scared out of our minds. We were practically kids at the time.
“Are you done?” I ask, forcing strength into my words.
“Not yet, darlin’,” Kyren says, his lips pursed as he stares at me. When he glances at Syrus, his gaze becomes more calculating.
“What?” I ask, not liking that.
“Hacking isn’t an exact science, but it does uncover a lot of information when you deep dive into a person’s previous life,” Kyren says. “After Harlan was punched in the face by the sheriff over here, I decided to take a look.”
“I’m not a dirty cop,” Syrus scoffs. “Go fuck yourself.”
“Syrus isn’t really the right person to attempt to smear,” I admit. “He’s one of the best people I know.”
“Well, that’s not saying much,” Harlan shrugs.
I know Kyren and Harlan don’t know they're my scent matches, but it still hurts that they think so little of me. My meter for cruelty isn’t as high as it used to be. I only have a few more minutes before I’ll need to tap out of this conversation.
“That’s adorable,” I mutter. “Out with it before I kick you out of my bar.”
“You should have all the information about who you’re in bed with, and who you’re hurting,” Kyren insists. “Did you know Syrus has a sister?”
“I do, actually,” I reply, rolling my eyes in annoyance. “And?”
Syrus sighs, glaring at Kyren as if he’s wondering if he can punch him too.
“She’s been missing for close to eleven years,” he says viciously. “What if she’s just like you? How many omegas have to suffer for your freedom?”
“You don’t know that,” Syrus growls. “Silva! Don’t fixate on what this asshole is saying.”
“I didn’t know,” I whisper, feeling myself begin to break.
The funny thing about descenting products is that they’ll break down in the presence of heavy emotions or intense attraction. I have to get the fuck out of here.
“You’re sadistic enough to think you’ve won something here,” I say, pulling off the club’s building keys.
“The thing is that Syrus doesn’t owe me anything.
I’m sure he would have told me about his sister at some point.
The reality is that it’s none of my business, but I hope you feel like you did something here, Kyren. ”
My feet are already in motion as I toss the keys at Syrus.
“Club’s closed today. Go fuck yourselves,” I say.
Harlan moves quickly to attempt to cut me off. I’ve learned to be fast, and I pull my wrist free, smoothly pulling my knife from my pocket.
“Don’t…fucking…touch me,” I hiss.
Harlan’s pupils begin to dilate, signaling that I’m out of time. Goddamnit.
“Wait,” he says.
My boots pound across the wood flooring as I ignore him, needing to run.
“Silva!” he roars.
“If you alpha bark her, I’ll kill you,” Syrus says, making my head turn as my hands hit the door.
He has my keys in one hand and his gun pointing at Harlan’s temple, his face a mask of serenity. The difference is that his eyes are full of rage, and only soften slightly when his gaze cuts toward me to check on me.
That’s Syrus for you though. He’s always making sure I’m alright.
“I love you,” I mouth, realizing it’s true before I walk out for my own sanity.
Moving quickly, I cross the parking lot, intent on getting to my truck. I’ll text Lexi once I’m on the road that the club is closed tonight. I can’t tell you the last time I did this.
I know it’ll worry her. I need some time.
The guilt is crushing me. Harlan and Kyren are right. Sy’s sister could have been taken by Gideon and his trainers. I didn’t stop it…
The sob that escapes me is so loud it sounds like a gunshot.
“Silva!” Isidro yells behind me.
I keep going, intent not to stop. I know these men are dangerous now. I simply can’t bring myself to care.
Unlocking my truck I pull open the door, tossing my hair over my shoulder. It’s up in a ponytail rather than the usual messy bun. I left the house overstimulated, and knew that the bun would pull at my scalp too much.
“What?” I ask, my boot already on the step to haul myself inside.
“Running isn’t going to solve anything if you belong to Harlan,” he says.
“Haven’t you heard? I belong to myself,” I spit out. “It’s also not just Harlan.”
Climbing into the truck, I ignore his silence. He can chew on that.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that I wasn’t the only one hiding. There’s something off about Isidro.
The only thing that truly mutes an omega’s scent is scent blocking pills. Isidro smells almost like nothing, and that’s simply impossible, even for a beta. Most wouldn’t look that closely.
I’m not most people. Neither is Sy. I bet he’s noticed it too.
Slamming the door shut, I turn over the engine and pull out my phone to boot it up again. It takes me seconds to situate myself before I’m pulling out of the spot aggressively.
The four of them are behind me as I whip around and take off.
I can’t handle people today. I’m so fucking done.