Page 213 of Captive Omega

It looks homemade. There’s not even a logo or a name. Just a cell phone number.

After checking to make sure Dexter Pieter definitely left and isn’t upstairs hiding under my bed—yes, I know I’m being paranoid—I put the card in my room and return to digging through boxes in Dad’s study.

When a key slides in the lock, I’m no closer to unpacking anything. After my conversation with Garrison at the park, I think I know why that is.

“Theresa?” Dad flicks the light on, startling me. “You’re sitting in the dark. What’s wrong?”

“It isn’t the puzzle that’s the problem. It’s the piece,” I say.

Mom and Dad look at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“I wanted to come back to this life, but it doesn’t feel like mine anymore,” I explain. “Does that make sense?”

Mom offers me her hand, and I rise from my cross-legged position on the floor. “It makes perfect sense, darling. You’re not the same person as you were, so what you want—and what you need—has changed.”

“If I were to tell you that I'm not happy here. What would you say?"

She kisses my forehead. "I would say to find the thing that makes you happiest. Your father and I will always support that."

It’s nearly dark outside and I should have drawn the curtains hours ago. Through the window, I spot the same gray Audi parked outside. “I keep expecting them to prove they’re just like typical alphas who make what they want more important than what I want.”

“You mean the security guys you’ve spent the last few days dragging yourself around the house trying not to think about?” Dad asks.

My eyes snap to him and I blush. “Dad?”

“You think I can’t tell these things?” He drops a kiss on the top of my head. “They found us, had us wait in a safe place in the courthouse until we could speak, and the moment the cops stopped watching the house, they took over. I’m not an intelligent man, but I’m not a blind one. You care about them and they care about you.”

“But I just came back. Don’t you want me to stay?”

“We will always want you to stay, sweetheart.” He draws me into a hug. “Choose the thing that makes you happy, Theresa. And visit. That will make us happy.”

Chapter 59

Garrison

Lucas Security is closed.

But not forever. We all love what we do too much to give it up.

But we’re closed until we re-order our priorities.

Standing in the gym doorway and watching Vaughn and Blaine sparring again made me realize our priorities shifted over the years. Resa’s absence has opened my eyes in a monumental way.

I made my business more important than my life. Which is ironic, given the person who saved my life is who I named my business after.

“We starting on the computer room tomorrow?” Vaughn asks, yawning. “Cause, I’d kind of prefer it if we left it the way it is.”

Every time I step foot into the computer room, I get hit by memories of Resa hunched over at the computer, determined to find Dexter Pieter.

“No,” I decide. “We’ll leave it the way it is.”

Just in case she comes back and wants to use it again.

Those few minutes on the park bench with Resa was a slice of heaven. I spent more time trying not to stare at Resa, accidentally hitting a swan in the head with a seed. Not my finest moment, but Resa was sitting next to me. Her scent was teasing my nose, and she was giving me all the hallmarks that she wanted me to stay.

Luckily, she didn’t notice my attack on the swan. I’d like to think it was because she was trying just as hard not to stare at me.

“We could stop by Resa’s house,” Vaughn casually suggests.

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