CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
P ack Sheffield has been arrested on charges of breaking and entering, omega hate crimes, and omega harassment.
Good fucking riddance.
The second I got off the phone with the police, I ran to Titus, who was in his home office to tell him the news. He had just gotten off the phone with his guys telling him the same thing, as well as the little tidbit that since these crimes are omega related, they will not be eligible for bail. We may or may not have reenacted what Mattie and I did over his desk that night he had the conference call with China.
I’m getting slick just thinking about how he growled in my ear, “Any time I’m working and you want me to fuck you, you just come over and bend this pretty ass over my desk.”
Fucking alphas.
Telling the rest of the guys was like taking a dose of prozac or something, their joy and love and reassurance flooding the bond and making me feel like I’m walking on air.
Curling up on the couch in the living room, I take out my phone and send a text to the group chat I have with Hannah and Wren
A girls night out does sound fun…before answering, I send a screenshot of my text convo with the girls to Titus.
The words “love you” get typed out, but I quickly erase them. I typed them on impulse, but I don’t want the first time I tell Titus that I love him to be in an off-handed way during text.
I switch back over to my group text.
Shaking my head at their antics, I settle in on the couch to take a nap before our late night. Right as I get in position, Simon walks in the front door, looking tired after his shift. I can practically feel his exhaustion through the bond like it’s my own, even though he does his best to shield it from us.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he comes over and kisses me on the head. “You doing okay?”
“Yes,” I smile at him, lifting up on my elbows to give him a kiss. “Just about to take a nap.”
He hums, looking thoughtful. “If I carry you up the stairs, do you want to take that nap in your nest together?”
Cuddly Simon is one of my favorite versions of Simon and I nod, making grabby hands at him. Chuckling, he scoops me up bridal style and carries me up the stairs, peppering little kisses on my face as we go, making me giggle.
I can’t believe this is my life now. Naps, cuddles and kisses for days. Now that the threat is over we can finally settle into our bond, and start living life again.
***
Hannah, Wren, and I all sit around a table at Tito’s, sipping two dollar margaritas because apparently, it’s ladies night. “I should really run up your tab more!” Hannah shouts to Wren over the music, who then throws her head back and laughs.
We might all be a little buzzed.
Tito’s is a cute, Mexican themed bar/club with lots of colorful lights, a bar that looks like a cabana, and lots of tiki torches.
This is my first time going out out since bonding, and wearing a top with my bites on full display seemed imperative. Well, the two visible ones, courtesy of Mattie and Titus. My off the shoulder, shimmery black top makes me feel hot and confident, especially paired with my tight jeans that show off my ass.
It feels so good to be able to just be out and free and not have to worry about threats against my safety or taking heat suppressants or bond replicators. Because I have the real thing now. I have my alphas, my beta, and my besties, and life couldn’t be more perfect.
My grumpy alpha stands against the back wall with his shoulders back and his arms crossed, the position making black t-shirt stretch across his chest and his biceps look fucking huge as he keeps an eye on all of us. Brennan, on the opposite wall, has not kept his eyes off Wren this whole time.
Feeling cheeky, I push my appreciation of Titus’ hot body through the bond, and his eyes flash to mine, a smirk pulling at his lips. Maybe he’ll let me suck his marshmallow flavored dick in the bathroom later.
“Let’s dance!” I shout over the music, and the three of us link hands and move to the dance floor. The three of us dance together, some techno-pop song playing over the speakers. We’re all loose limbs and silliness, and I’m acutely aware of the way Titus’ eyes linger on my body while I move.
Hannah’s eyes keep darting over my shoulder, and I look to see the actual bar security, complete with earpiece and everything, surveying the room. His eyes linger on us…no, on Hannah, and I turn back in time to see her blush and look away.
Interesting.
We dance for a little longer, the three of us in a small circle, when the margaritas I had earlier catch up with me. “I have to pee!” They nod in acknowledgement and keep dancing, and I turn to Titus and mouth the word “bathroom”. I feel his eyes on me as I leave the dance floor, and head toward the small hallway in the back that leads to the restrooms.
The music mutes as soon as the bathroom door closes behind me, and I let out a deep breath. I hadn’t realized how good the quiet would sound until I was in it. The room is surprisingly empty, and I go into a stall and empty my bladder, the door to the bathroom opens, letting the full blast of the music for a moment before swings shut again.
The sink turns on, and I open the door to my stall fully prepared to see some drunk girl washing her face, but instead am met with the sight of…Laura. She’s leaning against the counter with her arms crossed, like she was fully expecting me, a purse hanging from her arm. She looks a little uncomfortable in a place like this, but her usual bun is nowhere to be seen, her brown hair hits her shoulders in soft waves and she has different glasses frames than usual, they match the soft green of her sweater.
For some reason, the fact that we’re in here, alone, has my hair standing on edge, and it quickly sobers me. “Hey Laura,” I say as nonchalantly as I can, walking up to the sink next to her and washing my hands. “You look really pretty. Here for ladie’s night?”
She looks slightly taken aback by my compliment but quickly recovers. “Something like that.”
I go around her, ready for this weird encounter to be over, and grab a paper towel to dry my hands.
“Okay, well enjoy the rest of your night,” I tell her a little awkwardly, before turning back towards the door. The second my fingers touch the door handle, my gut sinks and I feel like I’ve made a mistake turning my back on her.
Before I can turn back around, there’s a blinding pain in the back of my head, and then everything goes black.