Page 4 of Redemption

Gates: Got info needed, several destination options for package, can discuss

Me: Understood

Just as I flicked my zippo to light my cigarette, blue lights flashed across my girl and me. No whoop of a siren, just the lights. I took a healthy drag off my smoke and watched the two officers walk up to me. “Edward Sharkey?” The shorter of the two spoke first.

I took another drag. “Yup, but I go by Mako most of the time. Can I help you boys?”

“Mr. Sharkey, where were you last night around nine in the evening?” The taller one puffed his chest out when he spoke. This one was a walking, talking asshole, but he was still a cop and could make my life miserable. Besides, not all assholes were corrupt cops. They were just assholes in uniform.

“Sir, we have a report of and assault and attempted rape of an Omega downtown last night around nine pm. If you would please come with us to the station, I’m sure we can get this cleared up and you on your way as soon as possible.” At least the small guy was polite.

“Am I under arrest, or can you follow me on my bike to the station? I don’t have anyone to pick her up, and since it shouldn’t take long to clear up my innocence, I’ll need a ride home from there. I can’t leave her sitting on the side of the road and you calling a tow would take way too long at…” I glanced at my phone. “Three in the morning. Faster for me to come in on my own. You know who I am and where I live. Where would I run to?”

The asshole thought it over and I thought to myself ‘damn, I think I see the smoke coming out of his ears’. I succeeded in not laughing. “OK Eddie, you get on your bike and head to the station. We’ll follow, but fair warning, nothing funny and no escape attempts.” With that, I huffed a laugh.

“You got it, Boss.” While I mounted my girl, I shot a text to Gates.

Me: Cops station not arrested accused assault pick up package on time

Without waiting for a reply, I shut down my phone and started my girl. I pulled onto the road and drove at a 40-mph pace towards the station so Frick and Frack could stay on my tail and see everything I was doing. I knew I should be out in time for the job, but if not, Bear and the guys could handle it. My night was ending on the same fuckin note it began. Goddess Dammit.

Chapter Five

Theo

It was difficult toconcentrate on the papers the doctor was showing me. Best I could understand was that I had been on suppressants too long and my body needed to adjust to some kind of normal before I was put on birth control. I’d been taking the little yellow pill every day for the last ten years and a shot once a month. From what I understood, that could affect my ability to get pregnant. Not that I was going to tell the doctor that there was no worry at all about that since my 25thbirthday was in seven days, and I wouldn’t be alive to bear children. Hell, I would probably never experience a full heat.

I only spoke of my impending doom to one person. That was my tutor when I was eighteen years old. He was such a gentle, kind person. I have to live every day with what I did that caused him to lose his life.

“Mr. Jacobs… can I ask you something?” He told me many times before to call him Myron, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“Of course, Theo. Is it something you’re not understanding in your lessons?” He always went so far beyond when it came to me getting my lessons.

“Well, no, sir. I got all that. I was wondering about something, umm, personal.” He might reject my request, so I hid my head low.

He got up from his chair by the window and walked over to the door of my room. Quietly opening the door and looking both left and right, he closed it again with a ‘click’. “OK Theo, we’re alone. You can speak freely. Whatever you say to me will stay with me. I won’t tell a soul. I want the best for you.” He sat on the foot of my bed to be closer to me and took my hand. I never realized how comforting a simple, friendly touch could be.

Swallowing a lump the size of Texas in my throat was harder than I expected. “Well, sir. First, I’m grateful to my parents because they took in an orphan to raise as their own child and have given me most of what I could ask for, including a family.” I pulled my hand back into my lap and wrung my fingers together. My go to nervous habit.

“Buuuuutttt?” His drawn-out word seemed to break a bit of tension in the air.

“I get my lessons on English, math, writing, history and social studies, but nothing on humanity itself. There are things I’ve been wondering, like why am I home schooled? Since my designation at 8 years old as an omega, I haven’t been to school and have gone out very little in public. I used to see my Poppy a couple times a week at his office or his home. Since he passed, I have been nowhere. I’m not allowed to talk about him. I have armed guards that even follow me out into the backyard. Is this the normal way for an omega to live? I know there are laws that control some things we can do, but are we not safe out in public? Even with suppressants?” By the time I got to the point, I had wrung my fingers so hard they were changingcolors from the peach tone of my skin to white and bright red. A few places were going to have obvious bruises. Not that anyone would care.

He reached out and untangled my fingers and held my hand as he rubbed some color back into my digits. “No, Theo, it’s not normal for you to be locked up all the time. It has nothing to do with being an omega. While it’s true that some alphas go a bit overboard with control of their omega partners, I’ve never encountered another person, alpha, beta, omega or woman who’s been locked away, as you have. It bothers me more than I like to admit. I don’t appreciate how high handed your father is with staff and visitors that come to the house. You are the only reason I stay at this job. I don’t want to see anything bad happen to you, ever. I’ve quietly inquired with the authorities about your circumstances and with you being the age you are, there’s nothing anyone can do for you right now. Once you turn 25, then your life will be your own. All I can do is try my best to stick around and protect you the best I can.” It tugged at my heart to see the mix of honesty and fear in his eyes.

“That’s OK Myron. I won’t make it to 25. Now that I know not everyone lives like I do, I think I can handle it. It would just break my heart to know that every omega everywhere had to live with the restrictions I do. I can be brave enough for just me, just not brave enough for an entire part of society.” I found it easier and easier to talk to him. He actually cared about what happened to me.

“What do you mean you won’t make it to 25, Theo? You’re not thinking about harming yourself, are you?” It wasn’t an unexpected question, given the circumstances.

“Oh, no, sir. I’ve just heard things around the house. Where money’s involved and all that. As I’m sure you’re aware. I’ll be fine. I’m down on myself today. It was just something I was wondering.” There was no way I could tell him that my parentswere going to kill me. I’d known for a few years, but there was no way I could burden him with that tidbit of information. Something could happen to him if he tried to do something about it, and where would I be then? I’d lose the only friend I’d ever had.

A knock sounded on my door and before either of us could do more than stand and face the doorway, it opened. An armed guard announced that lesson time was over, Myron had to leave. With a sad smile, he patted me on the shoulder. “Read those 2 chapters and write that paper. See you next week, Theo.”

I nod my head in his direction. “Yes sir. Thank you for everything, sir.” I knew he would understand the meaning behind my words.

“Of course, Theo, anytime.”

Those were the last words Myron Jacobs and I ever said to one another. He was fired that afternoon. I was unaware until a few years later that there were microphones in my rooms and my father heard everything. Once I discovered the listening devices, my heart stopped. I hoped and prayed to the goddess that Mr. Jacobs was at least still alive. Although there was some doubt about that, it broke my heart. I never trusted speaking to anyone else again.

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