Page 56 of Candy & Her Saints

He’d been into playing spies for a while as a boy and had invented a code that Lincoln and I learned. We spent several long summers writing notes in nothing but code and talking to each other in it over walkie talkies. We made up elaborate stories about the rest of the pack, feeling like we were saving the world.

Somehow, it’s more scary, when you really are trying to save the world.

“That works.” Lincoln’s lips twitch like he’s trying not to laugh. “I’m in charge because I’m the one who’s trained. To start with, I’m going in to assess the situation. After that, we’ll work out a plan. I won’t risk either of you, before we truly know what’s going on with Tom’s Omega.”

Vito puffs out a breath. “I never thought that Thomas would be the villain. A knothead yeah, but not an actual villain. A couple of nights ago, I felt like the bad guy, making deals with Dad over the guy’s life, you know? Thomas was like the damsel but now he’s—”

“We don’t know what he is,” I say, firmly. “We don’t even know if he’s bonded to the male Omega. All I remember is…” A bruise on pale cheek. Buttons being undone, one, two three… “His sister and him weren’t happy. They were always alone. We haven’t seen him in public for years. It’s like he’s being controlled or kept closely guarded, only being allowed to move in certain elite circles with his pack around him. Remember the rumors that his dad sent him to the Alpha Center for reconditioning…? Just hold off judging him. We always wished people wouldn’t judge us.”

Vito ducks his head. “Okay, but if he’s hurt a male Omega, then I’m busting his balls.”

“If he has, then he won’t have any balls left attached to his body,” Lincoln says in such a matter-of-fact way that I believe him.

Vito grins. “Awesome, the badass bodyguard and his sidekick bakers team up as vigilantes to take on the bad Alphas and change society on the mean streets of Haven. I can see the Netflix series now.”

“Why am I the sidekick?” I grumble.

When my phone vibrates in the pocket of my apron, I pull it out and glance at the message.

SEVEN: Morning, sweet venom.

“Shit,” I mutter.

Hell, in the middle of everything, I’d forgotten about Seven.

“Problem?” Lincoln takes another bite of his bagel, finishing it and then throwing the shiny paper in the bin.

SEVEN: SV?

“It’s…” I lick over my dry lips.

How do I explain Seven?

There’s so much to explain behind the app.

My condition.

The chance that I may die.

SEVEN: I’m sorry that I haven’t checked in for a day or so. Work has been crazy. And family shit, you know? Serious family shit. It’s no excuse. I can’t wait to see you on Friday.

Lincoln’s brow is furrowed now. “Is someone bothering you?”

I deliberately turn off the phone and slip it back into my pocket.

“I don’t know how to explain this.” I throw my half eaten bagel into the bin, suddenly queasy. “It’s complicated.”

Lincoln is looking even more uneasy.

Vito slams his coffee onto the counter with a clang, before laying a hand on each of our arms. “Actually, it’s simple. Candy’s OHS has become worse since she refused to bond to an Alpha. She refused because she was holding out for your return, before she matched with a pack. If she doesn’t at least let an Alpha rut her through her heat, then she could die. So, she’s using the ABOinder app to find a heat helper in an Alpha called Seven.”

Lincoln blinks. “That is simple.”

Admittedly, put like that, it is.

I reach to stroke Lincoln’s cheek.

My heart is hammering.

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