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Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

ADIRA

T here are men speaking as I walk into a gentleman’s club with Cian. He looks slightly abashed to be bringing me here, but I doubt they expected a woman at their meeting.

The families are very male centered from what he explained to me on the ride here, their conversations are held away from their omegas, all while they protect them.

While I understand this is how they’ve always done things, and that they respect their omegas and partners, the information they keep circulating to each other seems wrong.

Auctions are actively selling omegas that are being stolen off Minneapolis’ streets, which makes this their problem. They can’t just hide from this.

They may think Pack Rock isn’t their issue, but what happens when he chooses one of them to fuck over? My father and I just happened to be the ‘lucky’ family Rock chose to make our lives hell, and I still don’t have all the pieces as to why.

Everyone who has been digging into my aunt’s life has told me they need more time, but I feel as if I’m in short supply of it.

“Hello, gentleman,” Cian drawls as he walks into a large living room area. Alphas and betas are sitting and drinking as they chat, and look at me with interest and curiosity. The light is darker in the room, my hair hiding the side of my face that’s bruised. I simply look like a shy omega hiding in my coat.

For now.

“I’m a bit confused about what’s going on,” Corbin says, leaning forward.

I may be hiding partially, but I recognize some of the faces and voices of the people in this room from the fight.

“Being that this is a meeting to throw this girl to the wolves, I figured she should be here for the conversation,” Cian says with a smirk. “I’d like to introduce you to Adira Firestone.”

Taking a breath, I raise my face, letting my hair slide away from me. I also let my coat open a bit, so that my sling is in full view.

“Fucking hell,” Corbin curses. “What happened to you, girl?”

“That’s an interesting story. A group of men I didn’t know and have no reason to, decided I would make an easy mark for the omega auctions,” I announce, my gaze moving over men in front of me.

“Please take a really long look at me, because I could be any one of your daughters, sisters, or partners. I was minding my own business, walking home from work. This wasn’t some pack from out of town, this was a group of betas contracted to go from city to city to pick up ‘inventory’ for the auctions.”

“We don’t deal in the skin trade,” an alpha yells out, wincing as Cian growls under his breath at him.

“You don’t have to for it to still affect you,” I remind him. “I’ve been sold once before at auction, and I promise you it will never happen to me again. I killed two of the men who did this to me, while the other ran away. I was a little busy trying to not pass out from a concussion, so I let him go.”

“You’re so tiny, were these men leprechauns?” Corbin asks.

I can’t help it, I giggle, leaning forward as the slightly hysterical sound comes out.

“No, Sir. I’ve been training with the Kelly boys and Damon Dresmond,” I explain. “The only reason I was able to kill my attackers is because they taught me how to fight with my non-dominant hand.”

“You’re the girl my sons bought,” someone says with a scowl. “I’m Rory Kelly, Callum and Duncan’s father. I don’t understand why my sons are involved with you.”

“Sometimes, you can be soulmates with people who you have no sexual connection to,” I tell him slowly. “Your sons immediately claimed me after buying me and seeing what happened to me. Reliving my trauma isn’t on my bingo board tonight, Sir. However, I will say that I think you should be very proud of them. Callum and Duncan are the glue that holds me together some days.”

“Yet there’s no bond or scent match?” Rory asks, confused.

“Not even a twinge,” I deny. “There is no rush for them to find an omega. They’re grown alphas, they’ll figure it out. Stop meddling and ignoring them. I would give anything to be able to speak to my father again. Life is too short to hold grudges this asinine.”

Done dressing down a man much older than I am, I look around the room. “Here’s the deal, gentlemen,” I say. “I understand things have been quiet in Minnesota, but throwing the Dresmond boys to Rock isn’t going to solve anything. The power struggle will spill over here in some way. Doing this isn’t going to protect your families. If you need reassurances that Jed isn’t on the hunt to take away your businesses or livelihood, I can give it to you.”

“How?” Corbin asks. He’s doing it more in a leading way, than to argue. I appreciate the effort, and I take a breath.

“I hold Jed’s leash, and he wants to take over his father’s empire by restructuring it. Please remember that Rock has ruled over his sons with an iron fist. They followed his wishes in an effort to keep each other safe. Family is everything to Jed, Damon, and Kane,” I say. Realizing the next part is so true it physically hurts, I swallow hard.

“They sold me on their father’s orders to protect each other, because his punishments are so cruel. I’m standing here because of a plan they devised with your sons, Rory, to get me free.”

I don’t have to forgive it, but I can understand it. Their bond as brothers is everything, and Morris fits into that as part of their pack.

The men before me huff, and Cecil slams his cane on the ground. “I do believe it’s impolite to interrupt, gentlemen. Let’s not forget our manners,” he growls.

“I’ve been called a mafia princess, and while I don’t completely understand it, I can see as I look around me that women are kept out of your discussions,” I say. “No, you know it’s true, so hush.”

“You hush!” Rory roars, standing, his alpha bark rolls right off me.

“With all due respect, absolutely not,” I state. “You can’t control me, no one can.”

Blinking at me, Rory drops back into his seat, stunned.

“Peace is something I haven’t felt in months,” I tell them, motioning to my face. “I’m penniless because Rock has stolen or blown up everything I own. Damon Dresmond is my scent match and bond, and there’s no reality in this world where I’m going to allow you all to get him killed. We are tied closely enough that it will be signing my death warrant. I’m twenty-two years old, I haven’t done nearly enough living for that.”

“What exactly are you proposing, Adira?” a man sitting near Corbin says. At my raised brow, he sighs. “I’m Patrick Ryan, girl.”

“Thank you,” I murmur. “I don’t know everyone, but I’m willing to learn. I live in Minneapolis, go to school here, and work at a bar called Finnegan’s?—”

“You know my son, Caleb,” a large, burly man grunts. “I’m his father, Theo. My younger son, Lars, isn't as connected to our world, preferring a quieter life. I can respect it.”

“Lars and Caleb are amazing men,” I say with praise. “They’re a little grumpy, but I’m used to it.”

Theo’s lips twitch, and he inclines his head toward me. “It seems you’re making a life for yourself in our city, girl. Is that what you’re trying to say?” he asks.

“Correct, I’m not going anywhere,” I agree. “I’m even planning to pick a fight with the wonderful ladies at ROWS.”

“Adira has bigger balls than many of us,” Cian says with a smirk. “If she holds the leash of Pack Dresmond, then she deserves a place here. It also means we’ll need to find a way to accept them, too.”

“They’re psychotic,” Patrick reminds everyone, making me look around the room.

“Who here has never tortured or killed someone?” I ask, enjoying the way no one raises their hand. “Anyone ever stalked or threatened someone?”

“That’s how I met my omega,” Theo grumbles.

“We aren’t normal,” I state. “Stop acting high and mighty and man the fuck up. ROWS is part of the auction process too. If you didn’t know that, wake up. This is happening in your backyard, gentlemen.”

“No offense, but any of us could break you in two, Adira?—”

Sighing, Cian pulls photos out of his pocket and tosses them in front of Patrick, the alpha complaining of my size.

“The pocket pixie killed both those men, Patrick,” Cian growls. “Says she used her knife to scale up one of them and stabbed him in the throat. The other, she stabbed, electrocuted his nuts, and killed after he did that shit to her face and arm. Any other questions?”

“Nice trick,” I mutter, not knowing how he got those photos.

“Duncan had his guys take photos before they disposed of the bodies, Adira,” Cian says, barely moving his lips. The words are just for us, and I nod.

“Does anyone mind if I sit?” I ask, realizing that staying upright is becoming a problem.

Cian motions for someone to stand, and drags the chair until it’s underneath me.

“Sit, please. All our manners have left it seems. My mother will never let me live this down,” he says.

“I’ll be sure to tell her,” Cecil says with glee. “The bottom line is that we are scared shitless of the omegas in our life. Remember the night of the fight and kidnappings at the Kelly home that every one of them were in the thick of things. Yet, we keep them out of our business.”

“It is a double standard, but the way we’ve always done things,” Patrick grumbles.

“I don’t have a head of my family because he’s dead,” I say truthfully. “So am I just going to hang on the fringes of society? Surely, my family name counts for something.”

“Your mother was from Ireland,” Cecil says. “They all still live there, and there is not a current head of your family here in the United States. I believe your ideas could be innovative as young as you are with the experiences that you’ve had. I wish you didn’t need to go through them, that we all could have spared you from it.”

“Being used as a whore for entertainment is something I wish I had been spared as well,” I rasp. I said I wasn’t going to talk about it, but these men are fucking hard headed.

“Rock and Madam Ophelia work together to feed omegas into her auctions. It doesn’t matter who they are, as long as they won’t be missed. I’m not the only one this has happened to, nor will I be the last. Something has to change.”

The men pick up the thread of conversation, asking me questions to ensure I’m telling the truth. They aren’t super invasive, and I’m able to keep my shit together. A bottle of water is pressed into my hand, pulling my attention to see who is giving it to me.

Relaxing when I see it’s Cian, I watch as he opens it in front of me.

“Hydrate,” he reminds me. “They’ll go at this all night like the long winded bastards they are.”

“Thank you,” I say softly, taking a small sip. I’m paranoid of drinks being handed to me, but he opened it in front of me. I’m still careful until I’m sure it’s not going to adversely affect me.

“Are you going to prove me right and keep the poor girl up all night?” Cian asks. “Get your shit together.”

“We need reassurances that you want to be part of our community, Adira,” Patrick says. “If you hold the leash to Jed Dresmond, that means you will attend any meetings with or in his stead for the Minnesota families.”

Tell Jed these meetings suck and I’m doing him a favor , I whisper through the bond to Damon.

He says he trusts you, Damon whispers back.

Well, then that answers that.

“Done,” I tell him. “Anything else?”

“You will go with them when they deal with their father as well,” Rory growls. Someone really doesn’t like me. I hope he gets a knot-eating disease. “You want to play with the adults, then that’s what I want.”

“You may as well make her bait,” Corbin says, and I sigh. He may not have meant to, but he just fucked up.

“Even better,” Rory crows. “If the omega is able to clean up this mess with Pack Dresmond, then I say we support the changeover in leadership.”

“I think that’s shitty, Rory, so I will add this as well,” Theo says. “When she comes back from this, we make her a permanent member of our meetings. She is mafia royalty because of her mother and her family, and also due to the long lineage of made men on her father’s side. We will offer her and Pack Dresmond our protection as well.”

“What happens if she decides to become their omega?” Patrick asks. “Allegiances shift.”

“Knots won’t change my allegiance to myself,” I reply. It’s been two hours since I walked in, and I’m exhausted. My polite, sweet button is broken.

“My relationship with Pack Dresmond is exactly that, mine. I would never ask crass questions about your pack or relationship, Patrick. I will hold the leashes for these men. However, I can assure you that if you ever hurt me, they will burn down this city and the next five in its vicinity. You don’t want to double cross me.”

Patrick pales as I gaze dispassionately at him. My feelings are already disconnected in many ways. I felt nothing outside of adrenaline and worry for myself when I killed the men in the alley last night. It would be very easy to lose myself without the people who joke with me, hold me tightly to myself and my humanity.

I care about others and their safety, like the people at the shelter. The men fraying the edges of my patience? Not so much.

“Taking votes now in favor of all the shit we just talked about,” Patrick says in a strangled voice. “Go.”

The vote is unanimous in support of both accepting me into the fold and throwing me to Rock as bait. I suppose this is the best I can expect.

“Am I needed for anything else?” I ask.

“You mentioned ROWS and finding a way to piss them off,” Corbin says, leaning forward. “Are you going to loop us into your plans, girl?”

The term ‘girl’ for the Irish isn’t meant in a bad way, and I know that. I can’t help it and yawn widely.

“Sorry,” I sigh. “Concussions are a bitch, and I’m tired. As soon as my plans become more than a simple idea, I will bring it to you. I would prefer to simply launch it and show it to you, since it’s a digital attack. The only weapons will be my words to counterattack the lies ROWS is telling omegas. I was very sheltered, Corbin. My only interaction with the outside world was the internet. If I had listened to the podcast they’re airing, it would be very easy to believe their lies. I won’t stand for it.”

“The world is constantly changing with the internet,” Corbin grunts. “If you’re planning to be a thorn in their side, be careful. They’re dangerous in a way that’s different from you or I.”

“I would prefer not to be kidnapped again, and the attempts are painful,” I remind him. “They remind me of circling predators, to be honest. Any countermeasures I post online will be anonymous. There will be no one to retaliate against.”

“You’re smart, I have to give you that,” Rory grumbles. “I still don’t trust you, though.”

“You don’t have to trust me,” I say. “Your sons are who you’ll need to worry about if you choose to do something with that distrust. Make good choices.”

Knowing I just scolded a man much older than me yet again, I decide I’m done for tonight. Glancing at Cian, he stands, grabbing my good arm through my coat to pull me up. I’ve been sitting for so long, everything is achy.

“We’ve taken a large chunk of Adira’s night, gentlemen. Say goodnight,” he says sternly.

The room bids me goodnight, and Cecil winks at me as I walk out with Cian.

“That went better than I thought it would,” I tell him once we’re back in the SUV.

Lips pursed, he makes a strangled sound. “A few times there, I thought you were going to throw your knife to get their attention, Adira,” he says, the strangled sound becoming a bowl of laughter.

Tiredly smiling, I groan. “Damon kept whispering to me every time my fingers twitched,” I tell him. “It’s really bad when he’s the voice of reason in my head.”

“You can hear him and he’s nowhere near you?” Cian asks.

“Yeah,” I murmur. “Our bond is very different from anything else that I’ve read. When I got shot, I really think I would have pulled him with me if I’d died. It’s difficult to be so angry with someone when you can feel all of their emotions.”

“Difficult as in to hold onto your anger?” he asks, pulling my seat belt into place carefully. I appreciate his care, because my arm and head are killing me.

“No, I can hold onto it fine,” I admit. “It’s difficult because his emotions piss me off. I don’t want to feel empathy while wishing I could set them on fire.”

“You’re a scary young woman,” Cian murmurs. “I’m very glad to be allied with you. I think the men we just left behind have no idea what to do with you.”

“They don’t have to know,” I say, holding back a yawn as Evan begins to drive. “If I’m going to live here, I should have a say in the things happening in my city. It’s obvious I can’t be a normal girl, may as well embrace the mafia princess in me.”

Cian chuckles under his breath and nods. I’m wearing so many different hats, one more won’t matter.

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