Page 25 of Heat Hesitation

"Ah. Thought maybe you just couldn't wait to see me. I could smell you a mile away, you know. Is that block getting stronger?" He fake coughs, waving his hand in front of his nose.

"Very funny," I gripe, taking a seat and swinging my bag onto the desk, blocking his stack of paperwork. "What are you doing, anyway? Taxes?"

"I wish. No, I'm going through the dancers' schedule requests for the season. It's like Tetris but way less fun."

"Good luck with that."

His eyes narrow, giving me a pointed, amused glare. "Thank you so much for your offer of support."

I smirk, unzipping my backpack. "Janey had an extra stash this week."

Cass whistles as I unload the boxes stuffed with silver packets, shrinking my backpack down to size once more.

"Roxy's gonna freak. This is awesome, Ophelia. Hang on, let me get you some cash." He wheels around in his office chair, ducking low and unlocking the safe. Counting out the money that will replace what I paid Janey, he folds it up and sticks it in an envelope.

Most of the girls who get pills from me leave cash with whoever's in the office, and we make the exchange whenever I get my hands on merchandise.

"You okay to carry this around or…"

He has the decency to wince, but I'm not offended. Omega or not, it's a lot of cash to carry around at night. And even though these streets are sketchy, I feel confident I can get home in one piece without getting robbed. Besides, if anyone fucked with me, I have a feeling I have more than the Dante Pack at my back now, even if I haven't made peace with that particular set of brothers.

"I'm good. Thanks, Cass." I stuff the envelope into my backpack and stand while he follows me to the door.

"So… Red told me about Constantine."

I glance up, relieved there's no trace of jealousy in his eyes, only curiosity. "Yeah… it was a surprise."

He nods slowly, scratching his thick beard. Caspian's blond, built like a Viking, and looks like the descendant of a Nordic god, though he's got some red curls in his beard, which I think make him look distinguished, if slightly adorable.

"Weird to think of you all packed up."

"I'm not packed up," I bristle.

"Aren't you?"

I grumble dissent, and he chuckles as I leave the office and head down the hall. He calls out, "Stay safe, Phe. Call if you need anything!"

I wave my hand in the air before pushing through the door and back out into the night. It's nearly midnight, and though the bars are still open, the night is winding down. I have one more drop tonight, and I'll make the rest tomorrow.

Taking the long loop back toward my apartment, I find Stella on the street corner where she always is this time of night, unless she's with a John.

She sees me coming, and her stiff shoulders soften.

"Hey Stella," I greet, and we embrace. She leans down from her impressive high-heeled height to kiss my cheek. Stella's one of the omegas I know that was taken against her consent at a heat clinic. She's tried to live a normal life as an unbonded omega, but life's a current she's constantly riding against.

Now, she sells her body to alphas, and I know she makes bank doing it. Whether she enjoys it or not, I don't know, but the heat suppressants I supply her with keep her from ever having to be at the mercy of an alpha in that way. It's her choice to be with them, not theirs.

We hide in the shadow of J's Convenience Store while she opens her flashy, purple-studded purse, which matches her purple high heels. We're not being discreet, but I'm not worried about cops in this neighborhood. The other girls who work this corner, though betas, already know the score.

Just as she tucks cash into my bag after taking her boxes, a firm hand grips my arm, and I scream. Stella screams, too, but the moment the cedar scent hits me, I relax, even though I know I'm in trouble.

"Oh my god! You leave her alone!" Stella smacks her purse upside Sully's head, but the moment Enzo comes into view, she loses confidence and shrieks. "Omigod, Omigod!" She keeps screaming.

"It's okay, Stella, I know them," I try to reassure her, but her omega nature is reacting to these two alphas who are taking control. Sully drags me toward their SUV, idling on the street corner. Some of the girls are peeking in the car, checking out the luxury, but as soon as we approach, they all jump back.

"I'm calling Red!" Stella shouts as I'm shoved into the backseat of the car. I guess Enzo's driving. It's just the two of them, but they don't trust me not to hop out with how tightly Sully clutches my arm. I try to tell Stella I'm okay and not to call Red because I know he'll freak, but the door slams shut, the girls are screaming, and no one is thinking rationally.

Sully is shaking in anger, the scent overpowering as soon as we're closed in. My omega is shrinking in fear, the acrid burn of Sully's cedar scent tinging the air, and the only person keeping their cool is Enzo.

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