Page 73 of The Omega Verse

Cass rolls her eyes at him, but Dusty’s just caught sight of the fresh bite mark on her throat and his eyes bug from his head. “Oh, my heart! Please tell me that’s from Kobi Grace and you’ve finally living your teenage fantasy.” Cass blushes a pretty pink, but Dusty is almost dancing with excitement. “A punk and country duo! This is like the best mating mashup in history!”

Kobi chuckles, but I lean a hip against the counter and pout. “What about me? Don’t I rate a mention?”

“Don’t tease me!” Dusty whispers, gripping his chest. “You do realise I suffered through three years of piano lessons because of you, right?”

I give him a bow worthy of the concert hall, but Cass is rubbing her head. “Okay, Dusty. Too late to ask you not to make this weird, so how about you make everyone a coffee while I get started here?”

“It would be my honour,” he replies solemnly, dropping into a deep curtsey before he heads over to a large commercial coffee machine.

I can feel his eyes drinking us in as Cass bites back a laugh and opens the fridge. “Sorry about that. Dusty is great, but proximity to rockstars seems to melt his brain cells.”

Kobi glances at me and we both shrug. “We’re used to it. You’re the one who’s surprising, darlin’. You just seem to take the fame thing in your stride.”

“I don’t know about that,” she snorts as she starts assembling ingredients on the bench. But then her eyes narrow and she pops a hand on her hip. “Oh, hold up. Are you guys telling me you didn’t get enough hero worship in the shower this morning?”

There’s a squeak from the direction of the coffee machine, and I laugh. “How about Kobi and I go upstairs? We could see what needs to be done and start working on an inventory of your things.”

Cass loses her smile as she glances at her apartment door. “You don’t have to do that. It’s a real mess up there.”

“We want to help,” Kobi tells her, brushing a curl from her forehead. But I know what he’s really trying to do is wipe the strain from her face. Given the newness of their mating bond, he’s probably buzzing with her anxiety. “But if you’d like us to leave and give you some room, we can do that, too.”

“No, don’t leave!” She grabs his arm, her own bond clearly fully engaged. “Yeah, it would be great if you could start a list. But don’t spend too much time on it. Most of the stuff’s going to end up in the tip.”

We nod and head upstairs. The apartment is tiny, with a depressing colour scheme and boxy layout. But that’s not what has us stopping on the threshold and staring at each other. Because instead of looking trashed, the place is pristine. There isn’t much left – just a coffee table, a couple of foldout chairs, a faded rug, and a small bookcase – but there isn’t a speck of dirt or shard of glass in sight.

Kobi strides over to the coffee table and plucks a black matte business card off the top. He shows me the name and number printed on the front and grabs his phone, plugging it in. He shoots me a dark look as he clicks on the speaker. “Why were you in my mate’s apartment, Mr Visser?”

I shuffle my feet, unnerved by the memory of Tom’s late-night visitor. I avoid strange alphas at the best of times, but there’s something about Finn Visser that made my hair stand on end.

“Not me,” his authority-thick voice comes through the speaker. “It was my guys, when they came to do a security appraisal on the place.” There’s a pause and then he says, “I take it congratulations are in order, Mr Grace?”

Kobi looks like he doesn’t want to answer, but then sighs, “Yeah, Cass and I are together. So you understand why I want to know what’s going on when it comes to her safety.”

There’s a beat of silence and then Visser says, “Okay. Then stay at the bakery until I get there. Tom will kick my arse if I approach your mate without one of you present.”

Kobi’s dark eyes flick my way, his unease spiking. “Hold up. Why are you coming here?”

Visser’s voice turns grim. “Because I know who broke into your house, and I have the video evidence to prove it.”

Cass

I wipe my sweaty hands on my apron, then carry the tray of pastries over to the booth and set them down on the table. It’s still an hour before opening time, but Finn Visser looks completely at home as he nods at me. I’m getting nothing but professional vibes from him, but Kobi growls deep in his chest as he stares at the other alpha. I’ve sent Dusty home, but River is on my heels with the coffees and he stops dead at the sound.

“Kobi,” I murmur, putting a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. Finn’s just here to help.”

I’m not an idiot. I can tell Tom’s army friend is extremely dominant, and given his background, is probably very dangerous, but I don’t feel threatened by him. My mate, on the other hand, is clearly rattled. And as much as I don’t want Kobi to worry, I have to admit I like him going a little feral for me.

“Yeah, well…” Kobi shuffles his feet under the table, but his gaze never leaves Finn’s. “I get that in theory, but my instincts are saying something else.”

River chooses that moment to step forward and set their coffee down. Finn nods his thanks, but is careful not to stare as River backs away to the safety of the counter. “I promise you, Kobi, none of you have anything to fear from me,” he says in a voice ringing with sincerity. “In fact, Tom’s one of mine, just like he’s one of yours. By extension, I’d be physically incapable of hurting any of you.”

I don’t quite understand his logic, but Kobi seems to relax a bit and I slide into the booth next to him. River stays over near the counter, but he gives me a reassuring smile, so I focus on Finn. “The guys said you had evidence of the break in?”

“Both break-ins,” he says, taking a tablet from his bag and placing it on the table. “We believe Celine Quint was responsible for the one here, and when she didn’t find what she wanted, she went to your new residence.”

I freeze, my stomach churning. “But I just moved in a few days ago. How did she know where to find me?”

“She had help. A private investigator who she’s been working with for years, based on their correspondence. He tracked you from here to Willow Beach and used a telescopic lens to catch you entering your house code.” He touches the tablet screen and his lip curls slightly as a woman in some kind of black catsuit appears on the screen. “As you can see, she dressed for the part.”

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