11. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Arrow

I pretend not to be paying attention when Enzo comes out of the kitchen, but I hear every word of their strained, nothing of a conversation. The acoustics of one big empty room are kind of impossible to ignore. The partition wall that separates the reception and takeaway pick up area from the dining room is functional but thin.

I've studied the menu from back to front what feels like a million times already, but I read it over again while I stand behind the desk, eyes glazing over.

The only thing I hate more than hearing my Alphas argue is when they barely speak to each other like this. It tells me they don't have the strength to argue, and that means things are really bad.

I know Enzo's worried about Gio's obsession with that app.

Something's definitely going on with him.

He's not ready to talk about it.

Whatever it is.

Giovanni Esposito is a lone wolf kind of guy. He grew up with a mom who had issues, and he managed not to end up with those same issues, but I think dealing with her problems cut him off from the outside world and made him a little bit too self-reliant.

He gets stuck inside his own head sometimes, and he won't talk about what's going on until he's worked out for himself to how fix the problem, whatever it turns out to be.

Enzo would rather talk things out, so of course things can get a little strained sometimes.

When Gio walks past me, only stopping to throw me the barest hint of a smile before he steps out into the city, I know things are more than just strained.

With no kiss goodbye, no sweet words murmured in thickly accented Italian, and no promise of good things coming to me later, I can safely assume there's a real problem, and it's nowhere close to being resolved.

Standing here behind the front desk, gazing out of the dark glass of the windows, watching people pass us by in their droves, I can understand where the tension is coming from.

It almost feels as if the restaurant doesn't exist.

Like we're stuck behind an invisible shield.

My heart hurts for Enzo. This was his big dream.

He's an amazing chef and he's put so much into this place.

None of the rest of us have something we're chasing like that.

We all decided this was what we wanted, and we put the work in to help make it happen.

Seeing our efforts come to nothing is depressing enough, without feeling like everyone's already starting to give up. The excitement and enthusiasm we had on opening night was thrilling, but it faded quickly when we realized the trickle of customers wasn't turning into a stream.

Jack has tried to stay upbeat, and he's helped to keep me stable while our Alphas' moods have been sinking lower.

It's strange to think there was a time when I thought Gio and Enzo were it for me.

I can't imagine not having Jack in my life now that he's here.

Yet, even with him, my perfume's been low lately.

It feels like it's fading.

I've been having bad dreams about losing what makes me an Omega.

Nightmarishly vivid, all-senses-engaged dreams.

Haunting visions where I can't feel my mates' emotions.

Where everything feels deadened inside me.

My perfume is gone, and my slick doesn't come in.

The worst part is my mates tell me I'm not theirs.

They don't recognize me.

Because I'm not me.

Not anymore.

I'm a Beta.

By the time I realize that's what's wrong, I always wake up, and every single time, I'm breathing fast, my heart is racing, and sweat is dripping off my body.

The scent of my perfume when I wake, faded though it's been, helps to calm my shaken nerves, but the fear I feel in that moment before I wake up is so real I can still taste it when I awaken.

I get shivery just thinking about that horror show of a dream.

Even though I know my Alphas would love me no matter what, the thought of losing what makes me, well, me , is enough to freak me out.

I like that I can tell what my mates are feeling.

I love that my touch can calm them when they need it.

And, of course, there's also all of the incredible physical intimacy that goes hand in hand with being an Omega.

My slick makes me ready for my Alphas' knots, and my body is uniquely capable of taking one or two of those thick, expansive shafts until my mates have satisfied me deeply enough that I'm ready to pass out with contentment.

My perfume tempts them even when they shouldn't be thinking about how tightly I could be clenching their perfectly swollen cocks.

I wouldn't want to lose any of that.

It's too depressing to think about.

Unfortunately, there's not much else to keep me occupied right now.

My brain might melt if I read back through the menu again.

I could probably recite it all backwards in my sleep already.

I really hope that doesn't get added to my nightmares.

They're already bad enough.

Shuddering, I straighten up.

I can hear Enzo coming my way.

I was sure I heard him going back into the kitchen when Gio left.

Didn't notice the door creaking again, but here he is now.

"How's the view?" Enzo asks, stopping at my side.

"It kind of sucks," I admit, before I let my gaze move from the window to him. "But I have to admit, it's getting better now."

He shakes his head in response. He doesn't know how to take a compliment. That hasn't changed in all the time I've known him.

That's why I keep my words of flattery light-hearted.

He can brush them off more easily that way.

Lorenzo Rossi has a permanently moody expression on his handsome face. His heavy brow and those slightly downturned yet full lips make it look like he's pouting even when he's not. His thick, black hair is tied back since he's at work. It brushes his shoulders when it's loose and softens the hard lines of his face. Right now, he looks pissed, but he's feeling more disappointed than anything else.

I can't help but absorb that emotion.

I don't want him to feel worse, but it's hard to pretend I'm not hurting for him.

Omegas in academies get taught coping techniques for their empathic abilities. The rest of us have to work that shit out for ourselves. It was much easier to distance myself from other people's emotions before I met my Alphas.

The second I laid eyes on them I knew nothing was going to be the same for me ever again.

I push his emotions down before they can overwhelm my senses.

Imagining they're my own feelings that need to be masked makes it easier.

"I'm guessing Gio went to help Jack?" I ask, once I've managed to pull out a halfway believable smile.

He nods slowly. "If we start to get busy, call Jack."

"Because you've got Gio's phone?"

He gives me a wry smile, which is the only kind of smile he ever cracks.

"You wouldn't know how to keep him from downloading that app again, would you?"

"Not really, but I can try to convince him to give it a rest?"

He sighs. "I don't know why he can't quit it."

I bite my lips to keep from blurting the obvious, that Gio's just worried because this place isn't making money. I know G already told Enzo that, and I know Enzo thinks there's something more to it. There might be, but if there is, Gio isn't ready to talk about it.

"I can be pretty persuasive," I assure Enzo, with just enough of a flirty tone to make him laugh.

"I have no doubt about that," he tells me.

The look he gives me is just hot enough to trigger a tiny burst of my perfume and remind me I'm currently defective. The faint hint of cinnamon-spiked sweetness that hits the air is barely even noticeable. I can feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment that something's wrong with me.

Enzo moves in close, and his stubble brushes my cheek as he whispers in my ear, "Don't make me bend you over this desk, Arrow. You know what your perfume does to me."

He cups my other cheek with his hand as he brushes his lips over my mark.

It's hidden right behind my ear, covered up by my hair.

Even the softest touch where he bit me is charged enough to make me hard, and his whispered threat with that hint of needy desperation laced through it …

My slick is starting to come in, anticipating the follow through on his threat.

Enzo's no tease. When he promises something, he always delivers.

He moves back, and I can feel his desire as easily as I can see it.

Faded perfume or not, my Alpha still wants me as much as he ever did.

"Be good, and I'll be back to make sure you know exactly what you do to me."

He moves back and looks me over with a searing stare before he walks away.

"Um, what …" I murmur, moving to watch him walk back to the kitchen.

Did he seriously just do that?

I guess I can't say it's a tease, exactly, because I have no doubt he'll be back later.

Still, it's got to be the first time he's walked away after getting me all hot and bothered.

Well … I guess at least now I'm not bored or depressed.

The sound of the door opening makes me jump.

And now we have customers.

Of course we do.

I step back behind the desk quickly, hiding the fact that my pants are obviously tented.

"Welcome to Esposito Brothers'," I greet the customers, smiling pleasantly and pretending like I don't have slick-coated underwear and a dick so hard it almost hurts. I hope to hell Jack's close enough to get here quick, because I seriously don't want to have to play waiter while I'm this damn horny.