Page 44 of Heat Hesitation

"I want a divorce!" The woman, Sheila, yells at the old guy, Earl. Melanie throws her hands in the air while Sully carefully sneaks up behind the woman and, when he's close enough, quickly tugs the gun from her grip.

She lets it go easily but yells, "Hey! That was mine!"

"And you are fucking lucky I'm not using it on you. My omega lives in this building, and if she were injured or hurt because of this ridiculous domestic dispute, I would end you!" He shouts, anger lacing and punctuating every word.

"Well, now, you hold on a minute! Don't you talk to my wife like that!" Earl finally joins in, but now that we know the three gunshots went into the wall, no one was hurt and we have the weapon, we follow the enraged Melanie out of the nasty-smelling apartment, slamming the door shut as we go.

"I cannot believe she did that!" Melanie pops her head into her apartment and yells, "Polly, Brian, everything's fine. Sheila's acting like an old bat again. I'm gonna talk to Auntie Phe real quick, you keep watchin' your cartoons!"

With that, she follows us into Ophelia's apartment, and I'm relieved to see Enzo's brown-so-dark-they’re-black eyes have returned to normal, but his hand is still clutching her waist with a white knuckle grip.

Ophelia doesn't notice, her rounded eyes going to her friend, who updates everyone on the status of events.

"Sheila shot at Earl again? What a bitch."

"Again?" I growl, but both women ignore me.

"He's fine; she shot more toward the TV than him. Sometimes I hate C-Block," Melanie gripes, collapsing in a huff on the couch. Ophelia grabs a seat beside her, Enzo following close behind.

Melanie takes in his state of undress and starts whispering, trying to gossip with Ophelia about what she's been up to. My jealousy returns now that I know everyone is safe, but while Theo and I stand off to the side, a little uneasy about what comes next, Sully roars, still furious.

"You are moving out!" He points a finger at Ophelia.

She scoffs, but when she realizes how serious he is, she climbs out of Enzo's death grip and comes to stand in front of Sully.

"I am doing no such thing! It's not a big deal, everything is fine. I live here, Sullivan. This is my home. Don't you get that?"

"This piece of shit?" He cocks his head, but both women gasp.

"Yes, Sullivan, this piece of shit. I work my ass off to afford this place, you don't get to come in here and judge me!"

I'm surprised she hasn't slapped him for that comment, but her cheeks are turning red, and I can see how mad she is, even if I couldn't smell the burnt edge of her lavender and sage.

I think this is the first time I've been around her without the hint of scent-blockers since that time on the bridge, and it washes over me. We're in the middle of a heated argument after a shitty day, and I just want to wrap her up in my arms and hold her close.

Sully doesn't apologize or look even remotely remorseful. It is a piece of shit apartment, but even I can tell after the last few weeks of getting to know her that unbonded omega struggles are bigger than I ever realized, certainly bigger than the OFA lets on, whose only solution is that they all join their ranks. I've seen how much Ophelia does to keep a roof over her head. She works two jobs with a side hustle and still manages to take care of everyone around her.

Theo groans, and I catch on to what he's already figured out, what's coming next. Sully clicks on the gun's safety, setting it on the table before slipping his hands into his pockets, casual like. A move he does when negotiating at work. He isn't the least bit concerned he won't get his way because he always does. I just never expected him to use the tactic on Ophelia. I'm almost worried about what's coming next.

Sully turns to Melanie, "How much is your rent?"

Melanie glances from Ophelia to Sully, unsure if she should answer, if this is a trap. It is, it's definitely a trap. Unfortunately, I'm too desperate to get Ophelia out of a building where her neighbors shoot guns like they’re toys to try and stop the trainwreck.

"Umm… We pay… It's like nine hundred a month. For all the apartments." Her eyebrows lift toward Ophelia in a silent apology for answering.

Sully hums. "And they're all in this condition, more or less?" He waves his hand around as we take in the state of Ophelia's apartment: peeling paint, water-stained ceilings, and the faint air of mold. Both women bristle, but Melanie gives a terse nod.

He turns to Ophelia, "If you move out of your apartment right now, I will buy this building, and I will update and repair every single apartment, and I won't raise the rent for anyone, except maybe the gun-toting assholes next door. I will give Melanie free rent for a year and start updating her apartment first."

Both women gasp but for different reasons.

"No, Phe, don't let him buy you," Melanie shakes her head vigorously. Everyone can hear the lack of sincerity in her plea, though. Melanie has two kids to think about. A nicer apartment and free rent?

Ophelia presses her lips together in anger. When she looks up at Sully, her eyes are watery with unshed tears. She doesn't even have to think about it, even though, at this moment, I'm not sure she doesn't hate him for forcing her hand.

"Starting immediately." She lifts her chin defiantly.

Sully feels her anger, her hurt, but he doesn't waver. We can all smell it in the air, brighter without the scent-blockers. "Done."

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