Chapter 27
River
Ipromised Roman I’d have the information today.
I’ve been working around the clock, checking everyone as if the members of this club were attacking a member of my own family.
My shoulders sagged with relief when everyone else checked out clean.
The only dirty one working there is Solomon.
He seems to have his grubby hands in all kinds of nefarious acts.
One in particular draws my attention. He made calls to Joey Ritz with The Omega Foundation.
Now that’s a vile man. He was a serial killer hiding behind the face of an entity that’s supposed to protect omegas.
May he burn in Hell. His demise was especially spectacular.
I have to give it to the Skarlanthan Pack, they really know how to kill someone.
I open my drawer and pull out my business phone. I guess that’s the best term for what it actually is.
Me: I have some good news. Seems only Hancock and Solomon are shady. The rest of the employees and the owner of the club check out.
Instantly a reply comes back.
Roman: That’s good news.
Roman: Thank you.
Me: You’re welcome. Make sure to win your fight. I hope this information helps.
Roman: It more than helps. Thanks again, Mr. Unknown.
Mister. He thinks I’m a man. Typical. Or is he using it as a ploy for me to divulge something about myself?
But I’ll let him keep thinking that. It ensures my anonymity.
I decide to leave it at that, bringing the conversation to an end.
But there’s always later today. They will be here to work on the deck.
My mind keeps drifting to Hancock and Solomon. While I don’t doubt that Roman can handle them, I don’t want him to have to. I could rid the world of both of them, all it would take is one word to the guys and they would be erased from the face of the Earth.
I sit at my desk, thrumming my fingertips nervously on the wood, as I gnaw on my bottom lip. Dare I ask them to do this for me? How do I even go about it without them knowing it’s for the VanAcker Pack?
Maybe if I just exaggerate the truth a bit.
I can always say it’s for someone I’m trying to help.
That’s not exactly a lie. Plus those two fuckers are shady.
Not to mention they’re aligned with The Omega Foundation.
I can’t wait for the day when we can close them down completely, airing all the secrets they’ve tried to keep and exposing all the dirty deeds they’ve committed.
Mind made up, I quickly jot down all of their information on a piece of paper and head out the door, to the main house.
“You just need to be cool,” I mumble, as I take a deep breath, steeling my nerves.
I used to knock before going inside their house, waiting for them to answer. Now, I just walk in. It’s how they want it. “This is your house now too, River. Never knock again,” Torin said after the tenth time I did it.
“Hello,” I call, not seeing anyone in sight. Crossing my fingers, I pray I haven’t caught them fucking. They tend to not care where they are when the mood hits. I’ve gotten more than a show a few times.
“In the office,” Josh shouts. I move down the hallway, smiling when I pass the pictures on the wall seeing myself included in them. I hate the way I met this group of men, but I am so thankful to have them in my life.
When I step into the office, I see them all there. Sitting around the desk as they look at some pictures.
“New case?”
“Yeah, we might actually need a little of your help at some point so that Torin can be with us instead of working on the computer.” Tav doesn’t even look up from the pictures as he speaks.
“Just tell me the time and place.” Torin is sitting on the black leather couch.
Scooting over, he pats the spot beside him for me to sit down.
Once I do, he wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in as he kisses me on the forehead.
“Your scent’s getting stronger. Your heat may hit sooner than we anticipated. Any other symptoms?”
“I’ve had some cramping off and on, hot spells, headaches and maybe a little moodier than normal.
I know my emotions have been all over the place.
” I lower my head, not wanting to look them in the face.
That’s all I want to share. Not the crazy thoughts I’ve been having about three men, or the way they make me feel.
Nor about the insane nesting I’ve been doing and the hatred I have that my nest has a lack of scents other than mine.
“We need to contact Heatwave, make sure that the packs we chose are on standby,” Josh says, directing the statement at all of us as he adds the pictures to the file on his desk and closes it.
“A delivery is being made to the safe house on Monday. Torin took it upon himself to order all the things an omega would want or need for their heat. Clear instructions have been left with the guard not to open the box or to enter the nest. We want to make sure to keep it clear of all unwanted scents.”
I pick at the hem of my shirt. I’ve been wanting to talk to them about something, and since we’re on the topic of my heat, now is as good a time as ever.
“About my heat. Can I make a request?” The words come out in a rush before I can chicken out and not say them.
“Of course you can. It’s about you. Anything you want or need, we’re there for you,” Callux adds, his words so far from his normal playful self.
“Can Torin and I go up early and set up? Then I want to enter the room and have the door locked until the pack gets there.” I clear my throat, coughing softly. “I umm… I just don’t want a repeat of last time when I was begging for your cocks.”
They all take a deep breath, their eyes soft and full of concern.
“We can do that,” Torin answers for them all. When I look over at them, each of them gives me a nod of agreement.
“All of us know how hard this is going to be for you. We’ve taken every precaution. There will be surveillance on the room, and we’ll be watching at all times.”
“You're going to watch me?” My panic starts to rise as my sweet cherry scent sours.
“Shhh, calm down, River,” Torin whispers. “It’s not something we’re going to enjoy, but we have to make sure this pack doesn’t do anything that will hurt you.”
“We’ll kill them if they do.” Tav repeatedly pounds the fist of his hand into the palm of the other.
“Kinda wish you would’ve left the watching me fuck out of the details I needed to know,” I mutter.
We’re all quiet for a few minutes, everything sinking in. My heat, the pack, and the fact the men I think of as brothers are once again going to see me naked in the midst of a heat haze. Fuck my life!
“So, next week?” I ask again, making sure.
“Yeah, we can go on Monday. Make sure everything is set and stocked up. That way you’re already there when your heat starts,” Torin tells me, squeezing me tightly.
I smile as big as I can and give them a thumbs up even though inside I’m screaming with fear. I’ve been avoiding thinking about what's going to happen when I actually go into heat, but now it seems I’m going to have to face it head on.
“It’s going to be okay, Lambchop. You have the big bads protecting you.” Callux, in true fashion, attempts to break the tension in the room.
“Thanks, Sugarlips.” I smile, a true one this time, not forced or for show. “I need to ask a favor from the four of you. I was hoping you could handle something for me before Saturday night.”
“Yeah, anything. What do you need?” Josh asks, as Tav raises an eyebrow at me in confusion. I’ve never asked for their help with any of my work.
“I have two men associated with a case I’m working on. They’re not good people. I was hoping you could alleviate the problem, but make it look like an accident. I don’t want anyone getting suspicious before I finish this job I’m working on.”
“We can do that. Just give us their information.” Tav tells me as he leans back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he stretches out his legs.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Pulling the paper from my pocket, I hand it over to Torin. “Just let me know when it’s done.”
“Is tomorrow too early?” Callux winks.
“Perfect.” I pull away from Torin and stand. “I”m going to go start packing. There are a few things I want to bring with me.”
“We have food being delivered. It’ll be here at six,” Josh tells me as I step out the door.
I pop my head back in long enough to give a deep reply in my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice. “I’ll be back.” It has all the guys bursting into laughter.
I can hear Callux's voice rumbling, “This place would be boring without her.” He’s right, but he’s wrong about it being me. They make it fun.