2. Elena

Knuckles rasp against my door.I know my eyes are blotchy from crying all night—it's not a cute look—but I open the door anyway to find Logan.

His face searches mine, and he goes to reach for me but pulls back at the last minute.

"I have to go with your brother. Can we talk tonight? Everything will make more sense, I promise."

My eyebrows furrow, but I nod my head. Obviously, Logan knows about me being married off, maybe Anthony tasked him with being the one to tell me about my arranged marriage. But it doesn"t matter anyway because, by the time they get back, I'll be gone already.

Logan reaches out, his hand pressing against the side of my face. My body responds immediately to him as I press my face against his warm hand. I'm going to miss him above all else.

"Everything is going to be okay, princess, I promise," he reassures.

It's a lie, because nothing is okay. A part of me wilts inside knowing that Logan is okay with me being married off, that this is unrequited. Can Alphas really just easily offer someone this much comfort without having any feelings involved?

"Okay, Logan," I say, not wanting to say much else and risk him picking up on the fact that I have something planned.

"If I didn't need to be there, you know I'd stay here with you, right?"

I nod my head, feeling a fresh batch of tears working their way up, but I push them down. Why couldn't Logan just want me back? I have this fantasy where he stands up to my brother and runs away with me.

I don't dare tell him my plan or even ask him to be my accomplice because I know he wouldn't agree.

It's selfish, but I lean forward and wrap my arms around his waist, inhaling his scent one more time. I memorize its richness and how comforting it is. I'll never scent Logan again, and the thought is disheartening.

He holds me back, rubbing his large hand down my spine.

"It's going to be hard at first, but I promise everything is going to be fine," he says.

If only he knew that I already know about my brother"s nefarious plans and that I fully intend to dodge that fate. There's no way I'm going to go and live with a bunch of men I don't know and learn to live and adjust to being an Omega.

I squeeze him one more time, I swear there"s a gentle press of his lips against my hair before he pulls back and looks at me.

"Just trust me, okay?" he asks, holding my shoulders.

I nod, and he searches my face, concern obviously laced on his, but he eventually lets me go and walks away. I mourn once more for the life I'll never have.

The house is nearly empty, with my brother and his guys going to his lunch at the Wynn. The plan is simple yet overly complicated. I wish I had the cover of night to help me with my little escape plan, but there's no time to waste.

It's better to get the hell out of here now instead of ending up with whoever my brother wants me to bond with. At least I know this house like the back of my hand; it's not the first time I've snuck out.

I have two duffle bags packed and ready to go. My brother is going to be pissed when he sees how much money is missing from our father's safe, but I'll consider it my share of the inheritance. I don't plan on seeing him ever again, anyway.

The money is enough to live off of for now. It's enough to get by until I can make a Plan B if the High Roller doesn't accept me as an employee.

I'm not romanticizing the club. I know that there will be expectations of me, and I'm ready to explore those, but there might be a small part of me that hopes this turns into a total Pretty Woman situation. Is it wrong to hope that some rich pack sweeps me off my feet and solves all my problems? Probably.

At least for right now, I've got to solve it on my own.

And step one is sneaking out of here and catching the Beta Ride I scheduled for a pickup a few streets down.

The security cameras are easy enough to avoid. I've known where they are all placed since I was fifteen. The hard part is that Giovanni is working; he's one of Anthony's guards who actually takes his job seriously. Luckily, Rocco is older and lazy as fuck; I know he'll be sitting in the kitchen eating whatever Lisa made for lunch today. Giovanni, however, is so far up my brother's ass he'll do anything to prove his loyalty and move up the ranks.

I open my window and toss my shit outside. My plan is to walk around and grab everything on my way out. I just need an hour or two head start before my brother gets home.

I run into the bathroom and fill the tub up, tossing my phone in the bubbling water, before leaving the bathroom and locking the door behind me.

My steps are quiet as I walk down the ceramic stairs and head for the side door. Giovonni is headed in my direction, and I tuck myself behind an alcove as he walks up the stairs, likely to check in on me.

I'm quick, opening the side door and leaving it just slightly ajar behind me. I keep close to the house, as most of the cameras are angled to view the yard. There's one in the back I can't avoid, but my hope is that Giovanni and Rocco are too preoccupied.

I grab the backpack and the duffle bags I threw out of my window. I toss the pack over my shoulders and grab the other bags as I haul ass to the back of our property. There's a small patch of dirt that has an old dog kennel, which I use to boost myself up. I toss the duffle over the fence before climbing over.

I wish I could tell you I look graceful, but I absolutely fall to my ass on the other side of the fence. The sun beats down on me, and I'm sweating from exertion and fear, but I keep moving, I don't have a minute to waste.

I jog the two blocks to where my ride should be waiting for me. My heart thunders in my ears and my mouth feels dry as I panic over my ride still being there and everything going to plan.

A black sedan is trailing behind me, and my stomach sinks into my ass. I look back, and they slowly pass me by. It's not my brother or any of his men, so I pick up my pace until I see the beautiful sight of a blue Kia Soul with the correct license plate number. The man rolls down his window.

"Elena?" he asks, and I nod my head. The back door unlocks, and I slide in.

Adrenaline is coursing through my veins as Isaac, the driver, takes us out of the neighborhood, playing low music in the background. I booked two nights at the Luxor, the only hotel that would take cash the night of. I might be risking my health staying there, but it will have to do. My interview is in two days with the manager at the High Roller.

Once I know whether that is going to work out or not, then I can come up with a plan. I know staying in Vegas forever isn't an option. But I've also never left Nevada. Aside from the few vacations we went on, I wouldn't know where to start when picking out a new town. There's no doubt my brother will come looking for me. I'm valuable, just not in the way I wished I was.

I don't have contacts outside of the family. I'm not familiar or even have a clue of where else I could go, let alone if I could find work or safety in a new state. I have this stupid fucking degree, and I can't even do anything with it. Omegas are too big of a liability to work in surgery.

This opportunity has to be enough, at least for now. There will be other Omegas there, and I gain some hope with that fact. Maybe I'll finally find the guidance I've always been craving. At the very least, I'll make enough money to figure out what I want to do next. Or find a rich pack that I hit it off with and never have to work a day in my life. No, we are not going there. This is a job. This is how I figure out my next step.

The ten thousand dollars I took from the safe is only going to take me so far.

My driver drops me off at the Luxor, and I pay for my room, pointedly ignoring all the enticing slot machines. I don't have Daddy's money to just gamble endlessly anymore, and I have to make this money last, especially if working at the High Roller doesn't work out.

I feel uncomfortable as I walk through the casino, and I'm not sure if it's because I'm paranoid or because I'm an unbonded, unattended Omega. I've grown accustomed to having a bodyguard with me nearly everywhere I go.

I hold myself with as much authority as I can, giving off a vibe that I'm not to be fucked with as I make my way through the first floor. I also spend my first forty dollars on pepper spray, Diet Coke, a bag of Skittles, and a can of Pringles at the small shop just outside of the casino before heading to my room.

Fortunately, I'm the only one in the elevator, and I sigh with relief. I've at least made it this far; I'm not as weak as Anthony likes to think I am. Even if I get my ass dragged back home tomorrow, I accomplished this. I smile to myself as I exit the elevator and head to my room.

It's definitely not the Wynn, but it's just for a few days, a place to lay my head during the night. I open the shades and am greeted with a lovely view of a roof and multiple AC units.

The room is quiet, and I feel alone. But I can be me here, and it's my choice.

Regardless of how impressed I am with myself, I still crawl under the blankets and cry.

It shouldn't have taken me running away from home and leaving everything behind to have my own autonomy. I miss Pàpa, my room, and God, do I miss Logan. I wonder what he's feeling now that I'm gone. Does he miss me? Does he feel like he failed because he was my bodyguard? He wasn't even there when I ran away, so I hope he doesn't blame himself.

But I couldn't stay, not when he doesn't feel the same. I refuse to be another depressed mafia wife popping out kids while wishing I had more.

It's time to grow a spine, time to figure out who I really am. I can do this… but I can still cry about it all the same.

The High Roller was a longer walk than I anticipated, but I'm on a budget. Plus, I don't have a phone to get another ride. Taxis are slowly dying on the strip, and I don't feel comfortable not having a service that can guarantee my safety.

At least my scent will be thick as fuck by the time I get to the interview. What are the qualifications for even working at a place like this? I spoke to Travis, but only briefly, telling him that Carmen suggested I contact him. That was all he needed to hear to set up the interview.

The building is located right on the strip, with gold lights and large statues in front. It's giving an exclusive vibe, that I'm sure the rich clientele absolutely love. I tap my knuckles lightly against the door, and a massive Alpha opens it. He's an older, bald gentleman who definitely has some weight around his belly, but he greets me with a warm smile nonetheless.

"How can I help you," he asks softly, and my nerves ease slightly.

"I have an interview with Travis," I reply.

"Can I see your ID?"

I pull my license out of my purse and hand it to the gentlemen. He inspects it before handing it back to me.

"Trav's office is upstairs and to the left." He points to a dark, hidden staircase on the left, and I nod my head.

I don't even really get a glimpse of the club as I walk up the stairs, my nerves absolutely going haywire. Maybe this plan is stupid. Maybe I'm better off taking what little money I have and risking it on a plane ride to start up in a new city. Maybe the pack my brother wanted me to bond with isn't so bad. No, I know for a fact that they would be. They'd want to unite our families, but I'd always be less than. I'd be the Amante Omega they were forced to bond with to make their father happy. It would never work out. This is the hand I've dealt myself, and it's time to deal with it.

Travis' door is open, and I stand in the door frame as he looks up from his paperwork. He's a Beta, mid forties with dark-rimmed glasses and professionally trimmed hair and beard. Something about him makes me feel at ease as he waves me in and holds out his hand.

I shake it, and he gives me a soft smile.

"Nice to meet you, Elena. I'm Travis, the general manager. I know we didn't have time to really talk over the phone. But if Carmen recommended you, that's all I really need."

I blink a few times.

"What do you mean?"

"You're pretty, your scent is lovely, you're hired."

"That's it. That's the hiring process?" I ask, dumbfounded.

"The truth is, I just had two Omegas find their pack and bail. We could really use a new girl who's willing to do the work. Of course, only things you're comfortable with. There's no obligation to engage in any activity you don't want to. You're paid hourly, and then, based on what you choose to do in the club, that is what will make up your total income."

He shuffles through papers like he didn't just completely drop a bomb on me just now.

"Um… what do you need from me?"

He puts a folder in front of me and smiles. "You'll need to complete the employment information and be seen by the doctor who oversees all the club's medical needs. There will be a screening for STIs, and you'll be provided with your preferred method of birth control. Do you know the likely time frame of your next heat?" he asks.

I blink again, counting the months. "Probably in about two months?" I reply, not knowing the answer.

"Alphas and packs are willing to pay a hefty price to be in your heat if you'd consider it. However, it's completely up to you. Anything you do here is up to you, and if you ever feel pressured or uncomfortable, you can come to me or anyone else who works at the club. We're very strict with our membership, and we don't foresee you having any issues."

The way he speaks is matter-of-fact and concise, and I'm not sure whether to find comfort in that or not.

"If you can see the physician and have all this paperwork back to me quickly, I don't see why you can't start as early as Saturday."

"Okay," I whisper, looking down at the paperwork, stunned at the turn of events.

"Do you have somewhere safe to stay?" he asks.

"I'm staying at the Luxor." He grimaces, but catches himself, going back to a jovial smile.

"We have apartments on the basement level, they aren't amazing, but if you're looking?—"

"I'll take one," I blurt out. The idea of never having to leave these walls until I have a solid plan makes me feel even safer.

"Go see the physician today, and you can move in tomorrow and work Saturday. Leisha will train you and show you around," he informs.

Thank goodness I've already cried my soul out over the past few days or else I'd be crying tears of relief.

"Thank you for this opportunity," I tell him, and he smiles.

"Carmen is never wrong," he says as we both stand up. I don't know what he means by that, but I just nod my head in agreement. Carmen very well may have saved my life from a loveless-arranged marriage.

I see the physician in the afternoon, who puts a birth control implant in my arm that day. He tells me that he'll send the results straight to the High Roller and to call them back for the information once I have my new phone.

I stop by the Verizon store on my way back to the Luxor and buy a device with pre-paid data and minutes. My next stop is a convenience store where I stock up on Visa gift cards and grab a gigantic piece of pizza.

Things could be worse. I could be locked in some gangster's house being forced to do only God knows what. There's a part of me that is excited about this freedom, even if it is harder than I imagined.

I have a phone, I have a job, and I'm not getting pregnant anytime soon. These are all positives, even though the thought of actually working at the High Roller lingers in the back of my mind.

Am I sexy enough—flirty enough to handle this type of work? I just have to hope that my days of sneaking out of the house and hooking up with my flavor of the month has prepared me for this.

I doubt it.

At least I know I can handle sex with no feelings, it's all I've known. I'm not sure if it's a me thing or an Omega thing, but I can absolutely enjoy myself with no feelings attached. But then again, I wasn't usually hooking up with Alphas, just neighborhood boys who had no clue who my family really was. God, what if I catch feelings for one of these Alphas, and they don't feel the same way?

The spiral is real, and my feet ache as I finally make it back to the hotel. I do my best to stop running what-if scenarios in my mind. It's not as if they expect me to get absolutely railed by a pack on my first day—or do they?

Fuck.

I toss and turn all night, worrying about Saturday.