Page 132 of Fallen Omega

“Thing is, I still feel like a prisoner.”

It’s true, in a way. But I’m channeling the lessons my father taught me. Thinking and cooling the emotion, pushing an agenda in a way that reaps the most for me.

Right now, that’s keeping a job, finding a way to be invaluable, or at least needed as staff.

“I think…” I swallow. “I think Dante’s not going to let me wait tables anymore.”

Knight doesn’t say a word, just strokes a calming hand down along my spine.

Dante did say that, and I continue with my mild manipulations. “A job means something to me, it helps me feel less useless, like I’m giving back.” I look up, smile. “And money is good.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Not with us. Right now, you’re in the Unholy Trinity pack’s fold. You won’t be wanting for anything. No rent, no groceries, no Council trying to set you up with an old fucker.”

He makes it all seem so good, a dream I never knew I wanted.

“Yes, but I don’t mean that,” I say. “I mean…” I let my words trail, making space.

“You mean it gives you the feeling of autonomy?” Knight asks.

I nod against him. “It’s just if I’m not out there, then I really am a prisoner. I want…I want to be seen. Even in that controlled part of the world.”

It hits me. I’m not just saying these things in hopes I getback the job that has the potential to make me money, I mean it.

The little note of anguish in my voice blindsides.

I didn’t know I had it in me.

“And I get that I can keep doing the bussing,” I say, “or…that I could start…cleaning for you all—not that I want to clean—but I’m not above it. All my life I’ve been hidden away. Even when I had a job, it was all cleaning or in the kitchen. It’s away from people. With Dad, it was because I didn’t have papers.”

“Ah, shit, Liz, I’m betting he told you to stay out of the light, because that’d call attention on you. And it’s not fair.” Knight brushes the strands of hair that’ve come out of my ponytail back from my face as he tips it up to him. “I’d be proud to walk in public with you. Call you mine. But right now…there’s the whole fucking Council bullshit and we don’t know why they’re so interested in you, and who else might be. I think your dad was someone.”

“Of course he was?—”

“I meansomeone. Of interest, importance. But I was born to betas, and I didn’t grow up in a pack, just a house, with parents who were, and are, complete fuck ups.” He brushes my lips with his. “Reaper and Dante seem to know who he is. I can’t find anything about Connor Roth. And only a name, date of birth and not much else for Elias Enver. The stuff’ll be there, but so hidden I’m going to have to carefully track it down.”

“He was just…Dad.”

“Yeah, I know. C’mon, Liz.” He looks past me, and grabs a bottle. It’s wine, something fancy by the label. “I’m going to walk you to your room. I want to kiss you, maybe just hold you.” There are hidden words there, ones that echo in me.

He wants to fuck me. I want to fuck him.

But he’s being a gentleman.

Unlike Dante.

He laughs, gesturing to the door. “And yeah, that means fucking you, but not tonight.”

I drop my gaze and move out of the room, and we take the stairs down.

We pass Dante’s suite. But we don’t stop, instead Knight turns left and to my room.

“I…” I clutch the wine as he hands it to me. “I guess you don’t want to come in.”

Knight’s eyes glitter. “If I go in, I’ll have my way with you, and you definitely deserve a spanking for all the self-abuse going on. I don’t care if Dante pissed his claim in cum over you, or if he had every hole you own. I don’t care that you smell like him and sex.”

I can’t move, I’m riveted to the spot.

“Actually, I lied. I want your virginity. For me, it’s special and Daddy likes a good girl, and you’re the most perfectly perfect good girl I’ve met.” He leans in, his smile there, a stern light mixing with the sparkle of mischief in his eyes. “Want to know what Daddy likes even more?”

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