Page 56 of Ready or Not

Things move quickly with alphas and omegas, but I’d like to think I’ve been patient in biding my time and putting in the effort to make sure she knows how much I care for her.

It’s now time I bond her, so she can never escape.

Garza leads us down the sidewalk next to the road. The parking lot for the restaurant, like most in our small town, is located behind the building. Some stores have back exits that lead right out to the parking lot. Others don’t. I’m guessing the restaurant doesn’t, since that’s where the kitchen is.

Vale snuggles close to my side with her arm under my suit coat. Her sweet scent smells a bit tart. I run my hand down her side to help comfort her.

I’m sure dealing with my disaster of a family was upsetting. I nearly lost my cool several times. They get under my skin like no one else, especially my mother. Although, all fear about the future melted away when I felt the need to protect Vale. Ideally, I hope to help as many omegas as possible, but if the choice comes down to faceless omegas I don’t know and my omega, then Vale wins every damn time.

Garza hits the line of vehicles closest to us while I try to find a romantic way to offer Vale the ring in my pocket.

I intended to give her the engagement ring on the way to dinner, but then I realized I didn’t want her memories of it to be tied to my family at all. I also wasn’t fond of the idea that she would think it was solely for show. And I was right that no one mentioned her lack of a ring.

If they did, I had plans to blame it on her swollen fingers.

Garza spins around, studying Vale as he walks backward. “I feel like it could have gone a lot worse than it did. Was that just me being too optimistic?”

“Coop, to your left,” Vale hisses.

He spins around and crouches just in time for a silenced gunshot to whiz past where his head was only seconds ago.

“Down, love,” I growl, shoving her behind the wheel well of the closest car. She grunts as her knees hit the pebble-lined pavement. She gives me an annoyed glare that I barely have time to enjoy as my head swivels.

Garza curses, and my eyes fly to him. “If I return fire, the cops will be all over this place within minutes.”

I nod and pull the gun from my ankle holster.

“The safety is on, but count your shots. We’ll need to pick up any casings.” I wait for him to process my words and toss the gun with the handle out.

His hand wraps around the handle as another shot lands in the tree a few feet away from him. “Cover me.”

“I will,” I growl, pulling out my Glock 17. It’s not silenced, so hopefully it doesn’t come to that. I lean over Vale’s huddled form, scanning the parking lot for movement. The engine of the car we ended up by gives me solid cover.

“What even is this?” Vale hisses. “That wasn’t Andrew.”

“Shh, love,” I murmur softly. I will absolutely provide her with the comfort and reassurance that she needs. We just have to eliminate the threats first.

Garza stays low, moving swiftly between the parked cars. The car mirror next to his face explodes, and he curses, popping up. He returns two shots to an assailant I still can’t spot from our location, but from the muffled thumping sounds, I feel confident they hit their target.

“One down,” Garza calls out.

“Mercy,” Vale whimpers.

I have to lean away from the car to be able to see her face, but the sound of someone swiftly approaching catches my attention. I pivot, holding up my weapon. It won’t be ideal to have to make a statement and engage with local police tonight, but I will if I have to.

I aim, but the man’s gun hand explodes before I can pull the trigger.

Thank you, Garza.

Once he’s no longer a threat, I shove my gun away and tackle his screaming form to the concrete. I slap my hand over his mouth to muffle the sound.

A black sedan pulls up, and I prepare for our night to get even worse.

“Hey, you’re okay. I’ve got you,” Garza says to Vale as I work to subdue the assailant under me.

“Coop, behind you,” Vale screams.

I finally get tired of the flailing asshole, knocking him out with one vicious punch.

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