Page 34 of Captive Omega

“I’m friendly. She might want a friend,” he says.

“She might not,” Sadie replies.

“But she might need one,” he insists.

Sadie smothers a yawn. “I’ll swing by with the prenatal vitamins and painkillers in the morning. Keep me updated, and let her know, if you ever get an opportunity to sneak it in, that she needs an OB-GYN and a therapist. She needs a proper checkup as soon as possible.”

We say our goodbyes and I carry her bag to the door before returning to the kitchen.

“You need to stay home,” I tell Vaughn. “You being at Ever Safe from dusk to dawn isn’t a good idea after that trouble in the alley. It would take one person to connect you to Ever Safe and we have a mess on our hands.”

Vaughn drags his cell phone from his pocket and taps out a quick text. “I guess I’m not going in tomorrow morning.”

“No arguments?” I ask, surprised.

“I know a good idea when I hear it, and I’d like to stay close to Resa in case she needs me.” Right now, he’s the only one in the house Resa wouldn’t immediately run from.

“Cynthia and Zach can manage things without you.” I lean against the kitchen island and cross my arms.

Finished with his message, he returns his phone to his pocket. “You think you could say that like I’m not replaceable?”

“You are not replaceable,” I tell him severely. “Quit fishing for compliments.”

He grins at me, unrepentant. “I told Cynthia that I’ll be working from home for the next few days, but they can call if they need me.”

“And the trouble in the alley?” Blaine asks, visibly relaxed since Sadie left. “Did you mention that?”

Vaughn shakes his head. “The less they know about that, the better. Plausible deniability and all that. So I’ll stay, help Resa feel safe. Maybe hit the gym. Up for sparring?” he asks Blaine casually.

“Sure,” Blaine says. “One day.”

Vaughn has been making the same offer with decreasing regularity over the years. Blaine’s response is always the same. One day.

One day never happens.

Vaughn’s smile fades as Blaine heads for the door. “It’s late and I’m tired. I’ll see you in the morning.”

We watch him walk out.

Vaughn waits for a couple of minutes before he says, “You know, that’s the most he’s spoken in years.”

I know.

I wish it was a sign of something good, but I’ve hoped for the same thing before and I’m always disappointed.

Chapter 10

Resa

“On your knees, bitch.”

I’m on my feet in under a second, searching for Rupert Lang to stick with my knife.

But I’m alone in a silvery-gray guest bedroom and Rupert is dead.

Also, the soles of my feet fucking burn.

I lean against the wall beside the door, taking some of the pressure off it as I reorient myself.

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