Page 18 of Forget

“She’s not a brat, and you will be more respectful from now on,” Dad says. “Is that clear? If you’d like to be useful, please call Dr. Fields and ask him to come up to the house. I have a need of his services.”

It’s the middle of December, and the snow is falling gently around the covered deck while I’m warm and toasty under my blankets and surrounding heaters. Christmas will be here before I know it as well. Dad doesn’t want me sleeping out here at night, but a little nap here and there won’t hurt anything.

Even though his home is fully protected, he still worries about me.

“What’s wrong with her?” Hayes growls, making me roll my eyes. It feels dramatic to tell him that his little stunt almost killed me, so I hold back my words. I didn’t know my heat could hit me so hard, and now I know why my ex-roommates chose to find alphas to take care of their needs.

“It’s none of your business,” Dad says. “Now go!”

I shiver as I feel the alpha bark pass over me, and hear the door slam shut a moment later.

“What is with you two?” he asks, and I finally sigh.

“It’s embarrassing,” I admit, to which he rolls his eyes.

“I think we’re past that stage, Aisling?” Dad mutters. “What happened? Do I need to kill him for touching you?”

“No, just my sex toys,” I blurt out before I can help myself. “He stole them when he brought my things upstairs, and then the next morning…”

My father leaves so quickly, I swear I’m left seeing smoke trails. “Fuck,” I mutter.

Pulling my book I brought out here initially to read, I keep myself busy until he slowly walks back out.

“Is he dead?” I ask, telling myself I don’t care one way or another. I’m unsure what Hayes’s problem with me is, but I draw the line at making me beg for death due to his misguided actions.

I have a family, grandparents who are wonderful, and I want to get to know them. I unfortunately also have a cousin named Reagan who is a huge pain in the ass. Dad has had me meeting everyone slowly, yet it still means new people, experiences, and I constantly feel on unsure footing.

Do they like me?

Am I supposed to care?

Dad hides his hands as he sits across from me, but I can see the bruised knuckles.

“He’ll survive,” he grumbles. “Do you want me to fire him?”

“You said you needed him,” I remind my father. “I don’t want to be around him if I can help it. I have enough shitty memories to give me nightmares as it is.”

“Okay,” Dad sighs. “There’s a party next month I’m going to want you to have a guard for. I can make it a beta so he won't be eligible for the position. I’ll say that you’re more comfortable with them as an unmatched omega. It’s not uncommon for omegas to feel this way.”

“I can’t scent them either way,” I say before I can hold back the words as his gaze intensifies on me. “It’s just a trick I learned while working at the bar, Dad. It’s safe, it blocks the pheromones of alphas. Otherwise, it was overwhelming being surrounded by them all night.”

“I don’t like it,” he grunts finally. “What if you were to meet your scent match and never know?”

“We’re discussing knocking me the fuck out during my heats,” I remind him. “I don’t think I’m capable of even thinking about a scent match right now.”

“Your mom was mine,” Dad rasps. “I was going to ask her to marry me. I wanted to bond with her the second I met her, but she wanted to take it slower, and I understood completely. Even though I got married and tried to move on, it didn’t really work.”

“She never wanted to tell me anything about you,” I whisper, wincing at how that sounds.

“Bea ran from me because she thought it was the right choice,” he says. “I don’t blame her, though I‘m glad I never have to see the lying cunt I call my wife ever again.”

An inappropriate giggle bubbles up that I can’t control, and my dad’s lips twitch. Well, that’s as good as confirmation that the beta is dead. I’ll never admit it to anyone else though. I’m finding that I’m protective of a man who can clearly take care of himself.

“There’s a big family meeting for the mafia bosses next month to decide on a few things,” Dad says. “You can network, talk to people, and maybe even get to threaten Reagan if she gets out of hand.”

He waits for my laughter to subside before continuing, because my cousin has a rude streak a mile wide.

“This meeting is also going to be dangerous, “ Dad admits. “There is some unrest, and there will be some decisions that need to be made on how to squash it. They won’t check the omegas for weapons. I want you armed as much as possible. Go on a shopping spree for all I care, but I want you safe. Do not hesitate to kill if it comes down to it.”

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