Page 151 of Fallen Omega

“No, you’re not.”

I reach behind the bar to collect any outstanding debt slips. There’s one. Easy enough.

“It’s fine for you,” Liz says, coming at me like she’s just wanting to start a fight. “You leave whenever you want.”

I recognize it, that need to push to make something happen because of what’s inside her. She’s frustrated over something and I just slide a look at her.

“Get changed. Loose dress, combat boots and jacket. A hat. Steal one from Knight’s room.”

The fight rushes from her. “Why?”

“We’re going hunting.”

I don’t go where I’m heading straight away. We have time. Our quarry is out there, and he’ll be at other haunts.

Besides, even for all her chatter, Liz is a lick against dry skin.

She’s not hunched into herself. And she’s not the girl I chased that time. There’s another reason her mouth doesn’t stop talking. Finally, I take her shoulders in the bar and spin her to face me.

The place is dark, mostly empty and seemingly neglected, but come eleven p.m., it’ll be full.

Still, I drag her to a quiet and dark corner, my voice pitched low. “I know you’re not a virgin.”

Her eyes widen. “Did Knight?—”

“Didn’t fucking have to. It’s all over you. We don’t care.”

“Because you’re alphas.”

“And it’s our pack, yeah.”

But the nerves don’t leave and her gaze jumps around. Finally, she says, “He knotted in me.”

Oh, shit.

Not that he did, but she doesn’t know. Fuck, maybe the little cocky bastard doesn’t know either. “That only really matters if he’s in rut, or if you’re in heat. Besides, you’re on the drugs. It stops anything catching.”

Now she relaxes and I almost hug her to me, almost touch her, kiss her, bite her.

She shouldn’t be out in the fucking world. She’s too naive.

What I should do is take her back. Instead, I tip her very expensive hat she grabbed from Knight’s room into the right position, and I just say, “Come on.”

“Where?”

“To the bar.”

Her hand slides over mine and it takes all I am not to turn my hand to take hers. Later, I promise myself. When the job’s done.

I don’t care about image, but if I’m to shake someone down, holding a girl’s hand won’t help.

At the bar, I get two rums, handing her one and sipping the other. As I pay, I ask the bartender, “Seen Eastman?”

Her eyes narrow. “That fuck? He owes me money. But yeah, he’s hiding out at Lyle’s Ladies.”

“Thanks, Flo.”

“Any time.” I slide more money to her for the information. I take care of those who provide for me, and I drink my drink, as pretty Liz struggles with hers. “Having fun?”

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