Chapter 12 – Vanessa
Chapter Twelve
Vanessa
Ilike Hawk a lot. There might be an unfair power balance at play because he legitimately has to follow me around per Moretti’s orders, but he treats me better than any guard I’ve had.
And I’ve had a lot of them over the course of my lifetime.
He keeps me company while I take the tags off everything and prep it to be washed.
The pile of all the shit Francesca bought in the first round—the stuff that didn’t have a hope of fitting me—is in another huge mound.
Hawk squats next to it. “Should I have her come back to pick this up?”
I shake my head. “The tags have been taken off, and it was washed. No store would take it back now. If it was appropriate for winter in Boston, I’d suggest driving around and offering it to the homeless.
Most of it will need to be stored for spring or summer.
Let’s pack it up, and I’ll call around and see if any of the women’s shelters in the area are accepting out-of-season donations.
If not, I’m sure we can stuff it somewhere for a few months. ”
Hawk’s head tilts. “I didn’t know holding donations until the right season was even a thing.”
“My mom used to sponsor a domestic abuse shelter. Not all of them have the space to store clothes that can’t be worn right away.”
He nods, standing to his full height. “Makes sense. I’ll run down to the garage and grab some bins.” He takes off, walking past me.
My nostrils flare, greedy for more of his spicy, smoky campfire scent.
It’s such a bad time for my lady bits to tingle, and I clench my thighs together. I had a much better hold on my system with the suppressants in play. Now that they’re not there to buffer…
Shit.
I’m probably going to start acting more like an omega, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Dinner is awkward.
Not as bad as back home, but no one makes a point of talking, so I don’t either.
I almost asked where Angel was when we first sat down. I may have only met her once, but a friendly face never hurts. She carried our conversation earlier, and the silence is starting to get to me. I could listen to her chatter about her baby… If someone would just talk.
Hawk pushes away his plate, and an uncomfortable pang hits my stomach. He’s not going to leave, right?
I don’t know why I even care.
I’m not afraid to be alone with Moretti.
His scent is another story.
I’ve been getting hints of it all night.
I’m not entirely sure I won’t pounce on him once my heat gets closer. Having someone else around should help. Except, I’m realizing I have a tiny, little, baby crush on Hawk.
He’s quiet when Moretti is around, but he was downright chatty with me today while we were out and about.
Is the stoic, grunty attitude just a persona? The brooding bodyguard might just be his professional face that he has to put on for work.
“While I have you here, we should discuss a few things,” Moretti says, drawing my attention. He’s at the end of the long formal dining table with me and Hawk on either side of him. It puts Hawk directly in front of me, but I purposely twist toward my husband.
“My father wants my keys back. He also asked about my phone,” I tell him before I forget. “I’m sorry you paid for the car repairs, only for him to reap the benefits.”
“That cost was negligible,” my husband says, offering what I think is meant to be a reassuring smile. “Calderon’s unplanned day off was eight times the cost of the repairs for your car.”
My head tilts, and my heartbeat picks up.
I forgot all about the doctor going MIA. I wondered if he might have had something to do with it, but bigger things came up, and it slipped my mind.
“Thank you for that too.” I hope the sincerity comes through in my tone.
I would have worried a lot less if he could have warned me that it was coming, but I’m sure my reaction with my father was more authentic because I had no forewarning.
“One of Grigoryan’s stash houses burned down yesterday evening.” Moretti keeps my gaze as he speaks, and his eyes sparkle, like he’s really enjoying whatever he’s going to say next. “Well, technically it was a building, but either way, it’s gone.”
I gasp, leaning toward him. “That’s why he didn’t show up last night?”
“Indeed,” he says. “He needed to speak to the police, and I’m sure he’ll be tied up for at least a day or two with the fire investigators.
However, once things settle down, he will be on the warpath.
You’re safe here, but it’s important that you listen to Hawk and never leave the house without a team. ”
My pride prickles, and I almost snap that I’m not stupid.
Only, I was kidnapped by the Jacksonville Demons because I purposely went out without my security team.
I roll my shoulders back, pasting on a plastic smile. “I get it.”
“Patrick O’Connor stopped by with Charlotte earlier,” Moretti says out of nowhere. “Perhaps they wanted to verify that we haven’t snapped and killed one another. I have no idea. It was an unexpected visit.”
My forehead wrinkles.
That’s kinda random.
I didn’t think they’d give me another thought now that they know I’m not stuck with Grigoryan. It was probably Charlotte who spearheaded that campaign, because I know Patrick and his brothers were happy to wash their hands of me.
Except, Charlotte had some prior relationship with Magnum… At the very least, they knew each other a long time ago.
The regret I feel about disappearing on him is extreme, considering we only spent a few hours together while I was kidnapped. That doesn’t change the fact that I feel shitty about how everything went down.
Could he have reached out to Charlotte to make sure I’m okay? That’s probably a stretch, but I hate that I wasn’t here when she stopped by. If nothing else, maybe I could have asked her for his information or to get a message to him.
Magnum is hot. He came all the way back to Boston to check on me, and I can’t let myself think about that too much because it makes my heart ache. He must think I blew him off, or maybe he’s worried that I ended up with the horrible fiancé I told him about.
Moretti quirks an eyebrow, and it feels like he’s asking if I have any idea why they might have come over.
“That is random, but I’m good, which I’m sure you told them.” I smile, bobbing my head awkwardly.
Shit.
I’m smoother than this.
It’s not like he can read my mind to tell I’m thinking about another man.
Not that he would care. He told me to have discretion with any romantic relationships.
Those words alone prove that he wants this marriage to be in name only.
I just can’t figure out what benefit there is to Moretti to keep up this charade.
“I assured them you were fine,” he says. “Now, should we move on to more sensitive matters?”
“Okay?”
“You’re an omega,” Moretti says, somehow managing to make his words sound sexual. “Omegas have heats every three months. When we spoke earlier today, you indicated you had no interest in taking suppressants. You’re clearly going to need relief—”
“This sounds like a conversation for the married people.” Hawk shoves his chair back and stands. “I’ll give the two of you some privacy.”
“Sit down, Hawk,” Moretti growls.
At the same time, I say, “You don’t have to go.”
“This is best hashed out among yourselves.” Hawk glances between us, shaking his head. “I’m going to take a shower.” With that, he takes the time to push his chair in and bolts.
Damn.
He’s clearly done with our shit, and it’s only been a day.
“We might as well take this somewhere more comfortable.” Moretti stands and comes around to my chair, offering me a hand up. “Join me in my office, won’t you, wife?”