Page 128 of Captive Omega

We fall into silence, and it’s not the uncomfortable kind that I want to escape.

“I’ve been battling with myself today. Justice for me and the omegas in this city, or keep my head down and protect my baby,” I say.

“Those two do not have to be mutually exclusive.”

“Prosecutors are appealing for witnesses. Sloane Eddiswood’s trial is ending soon and I think they want an omega to give a victim impact statement or something. I don’t know if anyone would even believe me, but I want to tell the world exactly what alphas like Sloane have been doing. Nothing can change if no one knows what needs to change.”

Garrison nods. “Then you will say what the world needs to hear, and we will protect you—and your baby—when you do.”

Quiet words. A promise. No. A guarantee.

This man has a way of saying things that makes me want to believe every word.

I return my small pile of puzzles to the table and slowly get to my feet. I’m not ready to go to sleep, but I’m ready for this day to be over. It has been one of the most painful in my life, and strangely enough, also one of the sweetest.

“Goodnight, Garrison.”

“Goodnight,” is his somber response. “And Resa?”

I twist to face him. “Yeah?”

He nods at the window. “We have sensors and cameras on the back hedges. If you ever want to sleep in your nest, you’ll be safe.”

I almost tell him that most of the time, sleep isn’t guaranteed or even an option.

My nest was perfect. But it didn’t take away all my pain.

Knowing Henry has moved on and built a new life with another woman when by now we could have been married, maybe even had kids, still hurts.

It’s going to be a long time before it stops hurting.

So I just tell Garrison, “Okay. I’ll remember that.”

I’m walking out when a thought hits me.

Jerome Walker. Maybe seeing all the reports on TV and recalling how suddenly my life changed makes something click.

When I turn around, Garrison is still watching me instead of his puzzle. “I think Jerome Walker’s roommate was lying.”

His brows knit together. “Lying about what?”

“In his interview, Tobias said Jerome’s heat was starting, and he had to rush off. But they both had the same free period and Jerome didn’t even take his car. If Jerome was in a hurry, why wouldn’t he take the thing that would get him to a clinic the fastest? And why would Tobias let Jerome go alone and stay on the couch watching TV?”

Garrison sits up taller in his seat. “Keep going.”

“If I was with someone when my heat started, they would always ask if they could take me to the heat clinic so I wouldn’t have to drive distracted. Even my boss, who hated me, offered once. I’m sure he knew I would never accept, but if I’d said yes, I think he would have. Tobias and Jerome were best friends and roommates. If Tobias had a class to get to, I’d understand, but he was just watching TV.”

Garrison stares at me.

He’s been doing this job for years—decades, probably. My amateur sleuthing is making me look like an idiot. I shake my head. “Anyway, it’s just a thought I had. Goodnight.”

I leave him staring after me, his brow deeply furrowed, like he’s thinking hard.

Chapter 37

Garrison

Resa’s footsteps move up the stairs as the same question circles around my mind.

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