Chapter Twenty

"What I want to know is, how did this tip come up, Tyrus?"

Hammer's question shot right through me. I hadn't told them before, but maybe it was time I came clean about everything. These were my brothers. They would accept this about me and, if not, at least I had my mate.

"I received intel from our bosses—whoever the fuck they are." My words came out without weight. I didn't even believe them myself. Gods, I had to stop lying to the people around me. And omitting this big fact, in my book, was lying.

Hammer nodded, blowing out a breath. "You know, when I graduated college with my nice, shiny criminology degree, I wanted to become a police officer. I wanted to do good. Then this man contacted me and said I was destined for more. That there were omegas who needed my help, desperately. And now I've gotten us all tangled in this web of lies and…tell me, Tyrus, what are you hiding from us, brother? I've known you for a long time, and this goes beyond the dreams. We can't solve this problem if we're not all on the same page. Tell me how you know about this place and where to send Aziz."

He was right. Hammer and I had been friends long before this team. I remembered when he approached me, telling me he'd been called by a person with a large financial backing who called himself a philanthropist of sorts—wanting to save omegas from all kinds of brutality.

I never pictured myself a killer.

It sort of happened to me instead of me making the decision.

"The boss, for lack of a better word, has been sending me on side missions. Assassinations."

Maverick sat up straighter in his seat. "You too, Tyrus? Why didn't you tell us?"

I cocked my head to the side. "The same way you did?"

Hammer stood up. "Here's what's going to happen right here and now." He pushed a little of his alpha power over all of us. Our team was made of alphas but, as our leader, we allowed him to have some say over us. After all, if there was no Hammer, there wouldn't be a team in the first place. "Raise your hand if you've been doing these so-called side missions for the bosses and didn't tell the team."

Maverick and I were the only ones to raise our hands.

Then Pop-Tart raised his slowly.

"Jeremy?" Hammer said in shock. He and his brother shared a look for a while before the youngest sibling lowered his gaze.

"I've been asked a few times to transfer money into bank accounts and move things around financially. Haven't been contacted in months though."

"Unknown number?" Maverick asked.

Jeremy huffed out a laugh. "Always."

Hammer let out a string of curses. So much for not saying Fuck anymore. "From now on, we need to stop taking side quests. Let's lay this all out on the table. Things aren't the way we were promised they would be. We have sent omegas to places that weren't safe for them. We've taken them from the devil and handed them to the demons. We've got team members keeping secrets. Safe houses aren't safe." Another string of curses. "I know we have this boss, and so far, they have secured us financially, but I think this is our turning point. We need to start working for ourselves. No one outside this room can be trusted unless they have been proven trustworthy. No more side contracts and moving money and assassinating people unless it's someone out to get us."

He was right, but this one job could not be ignored. "Hammer, not this time. This one has to be carried out. I know you heard what Aziz said. This man and his associates—they are evil incarnate. Let this be my last job."

"After this, Tyrus, you need to walk away. For your own good. Trust me." Maverick then looked over at Hutch.

Hammer crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. "Let's start acting like more of a team and take a vote. Everyone who thinks we need to take this asshole out, raise your hand."

Hammer requested a lot of hand raising lately.

Every hand in the room was raised except for his.

Even mine. Hammer turned to see none of the omegas moving. "Omegas too. Everyone mated to one of us is a team member. No votes for the babies yet. You too, Jack."

His remark was the one we needed to break the thick tension in the room. We all snorted. No way little Dom would vote for his uncle Ty to spill blood.

All four omegas voted yes.

"I fucking hate this, for the record. I wanted to be a video game designer."

Another round of laughter.

"Aziz, keep us updated and everyone be ready to move. Jeremy, you and I need to talk."

Everyone left the room except Sloan. He waited for the room to clear and then approached me, wrapping his arms around my torso and resting his head on my chest. "Are you okay?" he asked. "We voted for you to go out and kill someone. That can't be easy."

I rubbed his back. He was mated to a morally gray bear, and he was worried about my feelings? "Are you sure this is who you want to be mated to?"

He raised his head and nailed me with those green eyes. "A warrior? Yeah, I'm damned sure I want you forever." His sincerity pierced my heart. I didn't deserve him, but I would move mountains to one day be worthy.

"One more job and then it's you and me."

He chuckled. "You, me, the team, the over a hundred omegas and kids on the other side of that wall…"

"Well, yeah. Them too."