Page 30 of Desperate Decisions

Amara tipped her head to nuzzle her nose against the underside of my chin. “I’m okay. Just a nightmare.”

“About what?”

“Enzo and Bianca.” She sniffled. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to survive here.”

“The same way we all do. We’ll get you out of the compound as much as we can. What do you want to do for work?”

“Fuck, I haven’t contacted my job. I was supposed to start back yesterday.”

“You had two hospital visits. I’m sure they’ll be accommodating.”

“My boss is an asshole. He’s been looking for an excuse to get rid of me. I bet if I check my email, termination papers will already be sitting there.”

“Want me to shoot him?”

She burst into a delighted cackle, covering her face with her hands to muffle it. “Oh my god, you can’t say things like that.”

“Why not? It’s a legitimate offer.”

“As much as he would deserve it, it’s not a place I’m sad to leave.”

“If you’re not going back there, I think we should get you set up to work at Gianna’s restaurant.”

“Do they need an accountant?”

“They do since Bianca wants to turn it into a money-laundering front. It’ll get you out of the compound regularly, and having Gianna as an ally can only be a benefit.”

Amara curled her fingers around the back of my head and drew me in for a kiss. “If you think it’s a good idea, I’ll do it. Not thrilled about the potential for jail time, but I do know how to cook the books.”

“Good. I want you to keep making money, put it all away in case you ever need to escape.”

"In case we ever need to escape.”

The only way I was getting out of here was in a coffin or if Bianca was dead. I trailed my hand down to brush the backs of my knuckles over her still-flat stomach. “If you need to, you get out. Don’t you dare wait for me. If it comes down to it, I’ll give you what time I can to make it out, but I have never expected to leave Gallo service alive.”

Amara growled and sank her teeth into my shoulder. “Fuck you if you think I’m going to leave you here to die if I have to flee. The mark you put on my throat means you’re stuck with me forever.”

“I need to know that our kids are always going to be a priority above me. The second you became mine, I knew my life would be forfeit for yours if it came down to it. The same applies to the little one inside you and any that come after. Let me protect all of you.”

She bit me again. “Shut up. This is all very sweet, but I fucking refuse to think about a future that doesn’t contain you, so I need you to shut your beautiful face right this second.”

I chuckled and gathered her even closer, my purr finally flowing smoothly from me.

A noise from the closet had both of us turning, my purr stuttering and dying. Enzo emerged, looking barely rested. “The omega needs to shower your scent off before we go to breakfast.”

Amara glared at him as she retreated off the bed and into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

“I gather I’m not her favorite person?” Enzo asked with an amused smirk on his lips.

“You’re not. You’re pretty close to the top of my list, though, if this gets Bianca’s attention away from her. Why are you so willing to help us?”

“Because I have my own omega arriving soon and I need to know she’s going to have allies here.”

“You’re worried about an omega Bianca’s assigning to you?”

“She just thinks it’s assigned. I’ve been watching this one for months while I kept track of the Cafaro uprising. It was pretty easy to convince Bianca we should bring her to the compound once everything is said and done. We just have to deal with her upstart of a brother, and the Cafaro clan will come to heel with her as the new heir under us.”

“Diabolical.”

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