Chapter 37

CHAPTER 37

KANE

“ H ey, did you know Adira is going to meet with Dad today?” I ask without preamble, stalking into the living room. I’m not giving them all the information right away, but I need their attention.

I have a flair for the dramatic, I know.

“Excuse me?” Jed asks, looking up from the map he’st currently studying. I don’t know what it’s for and I can’t be bothered to ask. I need my brother to stay focused on my next words.

“Duncan is picking her up from the shelter because Dad is giving ultimatums,” I growl.

Demon leans forward, eyes glittering with danger. “He’s what?” he asks.

“They’re not going to give her to him,” Morris grunts. He’s the voice of reason, but that’s not what I want.

I need action, people!

“I know they won’t, but I want to be in the woods around the house just in case. Dad will insist on going to the Kelly’s property, simply to see how she’s doing. Adira is twitchy in our apartment, and can’t get comfortable because she doesn’t have her own space. We need to drop a bunch of properties in her lap and tell her to choose her poison. It’s bugging me that the shelter feels more like home to her,” Jed says, standing. “Alright, can you pull a day time view of their property from satellites, Morris?”

“Would it help if I mentioned that I jumped their fence not too long ago?” Demon asks dryly. “There’s only one that isn’t live with electricity.”

“Do you remember which one?” I ask. “A little bit of electricity gets me hard, but I’m not trying to get blown out of commission. Makes the rescue mission a bit impossible then.”

“Crazy fucker,” Jed says with his lips twitching. Morris simply huffs out a laugh, rolling his eyes. Our lives will never be the same, because of the things my father has done, but at least I know why Jed’s been such a hard ass on us.

….and why he pushed us to sell Adira even as we pushed back in refusal.

“Thank you,” I reply. “Even if we never tell her we’re in the woods watching, at least we know she’s safe.”

“Rock is known to play dirty,” Demon growls. “We can’t lose her. It feels like we’re playing with fate if we don’t go. I don’t know if ROWS singled her out to be kidnapped, or if she’s working with Rock and he knows the Kelly brothers are covering for us. This doesn’t feel right.”

“We’ve been too lucky in not having Dad insist on a meeting with us,” I admit. “If we have to kill all his men in the woods, we’ll pretend we're Duncan and Callum’s new security service.”

“Please never run spy operations alone,” Jed grumbles. “Let’s get ready to go. Is the dead section of the fence on the back end of the property or the front, Damon?”

“Back,” Demon mutters. “I don’t think they know it’s not working. They were very surprised to see me hanging out on their front stairs.”

“We’re destined to be constantly bothering them if they’re going to be friends with our girl,” Jed says nonchalantly. At my glance, he nods. “I’m done playing it safe. Too much has happened, she knows the truth. Kid gloves come off, boys. Adira Firestone needs to be pushed.”

“Aye,” Morris agrees.

“Did changelings come and kidnap you two?” I ask.

When I was really little, I had a nanny. My mother was sent back to the auctions the second Demon was weaned from the tit at six-weeks-old, and Lorena took care of both of us. She used to tell me Irish fairy tales, and was brought to the United States from Ireland for the purpose of taking care of us.

I don’t think anyone in their right mind would work for my father otherwise. Rock killed her in front of me when I was nine and told me to consider myself a man now.

I remember we moved fairly often then too, and how frequently Dad would say that one day he’d be powerful enough to stay in one place.

It’s funny the things that creep up. I usually pretend I popped out fully formed, it’s easier and keeps the crazy down inside of me. The memories are too hard to deal with.

“No,” Jed says with a chuckle. “We’re the same assholes as always.”

“Speak for yourself,” Morris grunts. “You heard, Jed, let’s fucking go.”

Gazing at him for another moment, I think about how he's started taking more control instead of simply following orders. I like the power exchange. I kind of want to see if it extends to the bedroom as well.

Adira is changing us all in ways she doesn’t even know.

ADIRA

“I have a confession,” Duncan mutters. We’re driving to his house and are almost there. The sun is setting, the colors deep and beautiful.

“Out with it,” I groan. “I hate that you do this.”

“It’s only for show, and I’m going to make it up to you,” he promises. “Whenever you stay with us, we just make a big sofa bed to sleep in. The room you woke up in after we brought you back from the auction was just a guest room. You can use it, put whatever you want in it, make it yours. In case Rock wants to prove that we really are taking you as our omega, we made a sex room in our house.”

“A what?” I ask, snorting. “It’s not even a nest, but a sex room?”

“Rock wouldn’t believe it if we made you a nest,” Duncan says sheepishly. “He expects us to fuck and breed you, not cherish you.”

“I can see that,” I grumble. “So how are you going to make this up to me?”

“The back of my truck has all the materials you’ll need for Callum and I to build out an audio recording studio tomorrow,” Duncan says proudly. God, be still my heart. I couldn’t have made better friends, no matter the circumstances. “Does that make me forgiven?”

“You didn’t really do anything wrong.” I sigh. “This is very nice of you. The sex room is really ridiculous though. Do you think Rock will believe that?”

“He’s an animal, he’ll believe it. Rock rules with his cock,” Duncan mutters. “Do you need anything for your head or something to eat? I feel like shit about having to put you through this.”

“No, I’m fine,” I reassure him. “I’m exhausted and my body hurts, but that’s nothing I can’t handle.”

I’m going to have to put away my wrist splint and sling to make myself look more normal. My face, Duncan and Callum can play off as having hit me. The bump is almost not noticeable anymore, and my black eye is turning lovely shades of green and blue.

It’ll be easier for Rock to believe that I pissed off the Kelly brothers in some way. It doesn’t even have to be anything big, because I have a feeling Rock has a hair-trigger temper. Any little thing would set him off.

“I’ll make something for the aches once he’s gone,” Duncan says.

“I’ll pass if it's tea,” I tell him, wincing. “I don’t think I can drink any without being reminded of being shot.”

“It’s not tea,” he mutters. “My grandmother has a salve she taught me to make. It’s good for pain, and won’t alter your mind in any way.”

“Thank you,” I tell him with a small smile. “I know you wouldn’t do anything bad to me, but I’m still kind of paranoid.”

“Aye, I can understand that. Alright, we should have a few minutes till he gets here… ah, fuck,” Duncan curses as the gates open to show an SUV with dark, tinted windows in the driveway.

“Let me guess, you didn’t randomly get an SUV and neither did Callum,” I mutter. “Help me get this off!”

“Calm down, we’re okay. He can’t see through the front windshield,” Duncan says, reaching over to help me get the sling off. I’m able to take off the wrist splint, leaving it in the middle console for him to close.

My overnight bag is in the back on the floor, and Duncan pulls a blanket off to cover it. Nothing to see here, folks. Nothing at all.

“Breathe, Adira,” he reminds me. “No matter what, remember to keep the oxygen flowing, okay? Nothing good happens to passed out little omegas.”

“Very funny,” I sigh, knowing he’s right. I can’t lose my shit.

“If Rock asks, we went to dinner with colleagues,” he says. “I’m angling to get a bid for a construction job. The city is a bit corrupt in how they run things, but money talks. That’s why I was in Minneapolis today.”

That makes sense. He and Callum wear many hats, always busy, yet they always make time for me. I hope they find the girl they lost one day. It doesn’t feel fair that they’re such good men, yet lost the most important person in their lives.

“Be careful getting out of the truck, Adira,” he growls as he puts the car in park and turns off the engine.

Nodding, I open my door, grateful Duncan releases the seat belt. I wish the bastard who attacked me had sprained my left wrist instead, because it hurts to bend it at all. Carefully holding the side of the truck, I manage to get out without slipping. One of them usually helps me, but I can’t be given any special treatment today.

“Hello,” Rock says, getting out of his vehicle. “I didn’t think I’d beat you here. Callum just let me through the gate.”

The brother in question opens the front door, nimbly walking down the stairs toward us.

“How was the city bid meeting?” Callum asks, smiling as we close our car doors and walk closer.

“I think we got it,” Duncan says. “I think Adira is our lucky charm.”

I stay quiet, watching as Rock’s eyes land on my bruised eye. The stitches aren’t really visible due to how I’m wearing my hair, the waves covering my forehead.

“I’m glad you think so,” Rock says as we walk up the stairs into the house. “Has the sheen worn off the jewel already, though? That’s quite the shiner.”

“A disagreement Adira was punished for with my fists and cock,” Duncan says cooly. He sounds like another person, and my skin erupts in goosebumps. I keep a neutral look on my face, letting my hair hide me as I drop my chin.

I can play submissive if I need to.

“So you’re sure you’re not ready to sell her back?” Rock asks, grabbing my right arm and pulling me sharply toward him.

While I’ve started healing, constantly being jostled isn’t doing me any favors. I grit my teeth, my eyes widening as I gaze up at him. His cruel fingers pinch my chin as he moves my face to be able to see me better.

“Or are her cock sucking skills really that great?” Rock asks. “It’s been awhile since I’ve seen her do it. Once a whore always one, drop to your knees and take out my cock, girl.”

“I don’t enjoy sloppy seconds,” Callum says, his arms wrapping around my waist. I’m now sandwiched between them, and I almost hiccup in a breath in an effort to do what I promised Duncan that I would. “So I’m going to have to decline on her behalf. Duncan and I have plans for her.”

Rock scares the shit out of me. The only time I’ll enjoy being in his presence is while carving out his eyes and heart. I need to watch him die in order to get my brain to believe he can’t hurt me. Otherwise, my mind will drive me insane with what-ifs.

“What kinds of plans?” Rock asks, adjusting his cock as he releases me. “Can I watch?”

“Did you really come all this way to get your rocks off?” Duncan asks, smirking at his pun.

“Someone very important missed out on bidding on the little whore, and they’re willing to pay you to take her off your hands. I was hoping you’d be tired of her by now. They collect omegas,” Rock says.

Callum slowly pulls me back until we’re a safe distance away, and I have to force myself not to cradle my arm. Between Paula and Rock, I’m going to end up feeling as if I’ve gone through a meat tenderizer by the end of the night. Ow.

“Who?” Duncan asks, pushing his hands into his pockets nonchalantly. “She’s valuable to me, our father is finally off my back to settle down with an omega. The peace of mind more than makes up for the money as well. Dad wants grandchildren too.”

“Yet, she’s not knocked up yet, is she?” Rock asks slyly.

“The auction madam overmedicated her and it’s fucked with her appetite,” Duncan lies smoothly. “An omega needs to have everything perfectly in alignment in order to get pregnant. You can’t just constantly fuck her until you get lucky. That's not how it works.”

“That’s what I did,” Rock grumbles. I feel really sorry for Jed, Kane, and Damon’s mother. At this point, she may even be dead and that would be a kindness with the type of men that exist at the auctions. “The person’s name doesn’t matter, boys. What’s it going to take?”

“Nothing, because we have an arrangement,” Callum drawls. “You’ve seen her, she lives here, and waits on us hand and foot. Her life is a far sight better than it would be with any of the other fucks who could have bought her, is that what’s bothering you?”

“Yes!” Rock yells. “Her father took something that’s important and I can never get it back.”

“What did he take?” I ask, finding my voice. “He rarely left the house, he had tons of money. I don’t understand why you killed him.”

“Your father had everything I wanted but can never have,” he growls. “Status, respect, the ability to walk with his head held high. I had to buy my omega from an auction, while he went to Ireland and met your mother.”

“He didn’t steal any of that,” I insist.

“Fate did,” he says. Rock is insane. “Your father didn’t deserve what he had. I had to claw my way up to where I am. Yet I’m still reviled and despised. So I took everything from him. You’re the last piece of him, little whore. I want to see you humiliated and spit roasted.”

Ew. Jealousy took my father from me, not a bad business decision or greed on his part. Rock somehow latched onto my father, and possibly used Dad’s sister too. I still don’t understand why he had me on hormone suppressants, maybe it’s because it was easier to deal with my heats if they never developed. A lazy way to keep me under his control. I’ll probably never really know.

The secrets are all encompassing. It’s easy to drown in all the things I don’t know, but I have this uncomfortable feeling that my aunt’s definitely part of all of this.

“Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen—” Callum closes his mouth as Rock pulls his gun on us.

It’s easy to see the desperation in his eyes, and eagerness to please whoever these buyers are.

“I can’t just say no to the Melendez family,” Rock growls. “They’re offering a lot of money, to make me more than simply the Boogeyman in Missouri. I’m tired of living as a nomad, constantly moving from safe house to safe house.”

Callum calmly checks his phone as if he doesn’t have a care in the world, smirking. “My security team just took out every man you have outside,” he says. “It looks like your bid for stability through a tiny little omega isn’t going to happen today. It’s time to leave. Never contact us again. We’re done.”

“Wait, but we had a deal,” Rock complains as the brothers shrug. They never draw a gun, simply stoically watching him.

“Dissolved due to irreconcilable differences,” Callum grunts. “Bye now. My security team doesn’t want to have to shoot you through the window due to the mess, but they will.”

A red pen light resembling a sniper rifle’s scope appears on Rock’s shirt and he wipes it off as if that’ll help.

“One,” Callum says, and the other alpha begins to walk backwards.

“Wait, we can fix this,” Rock rasps. “Fuck, I need her.”

“Not for sale means exactly that,” Duncan says. “Two.”

Rock turns and walks away, the door closing behind him as Duncan lifts his hand. There’s an actual pen light in it, and I let loose a sigh.

“What other tricks do you have up your sleeve?” I ask.

“Your boys are outside,” Callum says, showing me his phone.

Jed: Tell Rock the ten men he has in the woods are dead. Sorry to leave them on your property. We usually take out the trash when we leave. Also, you need to make sure you fix the short in your electric fence.

“Oh shit,” I rasp. “They never fail to make an impression.”

“Who did you tell you were coming out here?” Duncan asks.

“Kane,” I reply. “He didn’t sound exactly pleased. He’s the only one I told though, I just mentioned to Damon that I was coming to spend the weekend with you two.”

“Which is true,” Callum says. “You’re ours, which means comfortable clothes and building out a room for you to make your first podcast. Rock is a fucking psychopath. Who holds a grudge for this long?”

“Who knows, but it sounds as if my Aunt Cassia is somehow pulling his strings too,” I murmur. “Do I need to worry about this other family?”

“The Melendez family is mostly in Michigan,” Callum mutters. “There’s a small branch in Missouri. We can look into it and wipe them out if they’re a problem. Now, how bad is your pain level?”

“My wrist is throbbing,” I admit, holding it protectively at my waist. I haven’t even taken off my coat yet. “I have more questions than answers, and I’m beginning to think that’s just how it’s going to be.”

“Rock sounds very desperate. Let’s have your guys put something in play, wait for him to complain to them and then offer to get you back,” Callum suggests. “May as well steal all of Cassia’s money too. Fuck it. Kill them both.”

“You’re so bloodthirsty,” I murmur as Duncan leaves to make sure Rock is gone and to grab my bag. “How true is it that the guys paid you back the money for buying me at the auction and you refused it?”

“Refusal and reallocation are different,” Callum says mildly. “You now have a lot of money. I don’t want you walking home late at night ever again after work. It’s not safe. Use it for whatever you want, but your drink slinging days are over.”

“What?” I ask, blinking rapidly.

“Did you tell her the other surprise?” Duncan complains, jogging back in. “Rock is gone and I called people to clear the dead men from our woods.”

“I did, but I’m worried she may pass out,” Callum says with a chuckle.

“You need a house,” Duncan says. “Something you buy yourself, that’s completely yours. It’ll be good for your sanity. Then you won’t need to live at the shelter.”

“Fucking ROWS,” Callum mutters. “Aisling probably knows a decent realtor.”

“This entire conversation is insane,” I sigh, my head spinning from everything.

Duncan helps me take off my coat, tossing it aside onto a chair.

“Let’s get you fixed up, and then I’ll put away the damn coat, Short Stuff,” he says. The wrist splint and sling help so much, I find myself breathing better through the pain. I definitely overdid it today. “Find a spot to rest. My adrenaline is pumping after Rock’s visit, and I need to do something.”

“It’s fuck or build shit,” Callum snickers, leading me to the couch. Duncan shrugs as he puts down my bag and heads to the kitchen. “We’ll be up late tonight, so I’m going to start dinner too before you fall asleep on us.”

“I feel like I fell through the looking glass.” I sigh. “It feels as if you’re having a completely different conversation than I am.”

“Maybe we are,” he says mysteriously, opening an ottoman to pull out blankets. “Choose a few, Adira. They’ve all recently been washed.”

“God, you’re like the perfect alphas,” I grunt. “The red and white one please. It’s too bad I may be falling for those assholes. Ugh, I didn’t mean to say that.”

“Yes you did,” he teases me. “Pack Dresmond doesn’t do anything without a reason. They simply wanted to make sure you were safe. I’m glad they were here, or this would have gotten a little hairy and messy. Pack Rock has to die all at the same time. They’re fiercely protective, even though Rock has been running off alone all this time. It’s probably why none of them have realized that they’re all marked for death.”

“Death sounds good,” I mumble sleepily.

“I bet it does,” Callum says with a laugh. “Nap, we’ll be here, Adira. You’ve had a very busy day.”

Spreading the blanket over me, he helps me fix my pillow and I’m out like a light.