Page 172 of Fallen Omega

“They all do.”

“That one, Dante,” I say, “needs a code to get out. Did you give it to her?”

“It’s in there.” The asshole doesn’t look the least bit concerned.

My hands coil tight. “Does she know?”

He pours two drinks and spins to look at me. “She can get out. You know how it works. She’s not fucking stupid and as much as you like your games, she’s not a fucking child.” He pauses as he takes me in. “She’s ours, for all intents and purposes, so I’m not putting her in there to leave her for fucking dead.”

Trevor doesn’t look. Neither does anyone else. And I glare at fucking Dante. “Just how is she ours if we don’t want to keep her, like you insist on saying?”

“And you’re sickeningly in love with her. You want to keep her.”

“And you?”

Dante doesn’t answer. Not for a long time. He leans back, sips his drink, only the tight hold he has on the glass gives me any indication of his turmoil, whatever the fuck’s going on with him.

“Like I told you, she’s going to perform, do an act. You can help Darcy. Get Angel, and go help pick the song and outfits. Tonight, we’ll perfect the act. After that, I’m going to headline her here. Down in the club. She’ll sing, make us money, make her money, and they won’t be able to touch her. She’ll drive men crazy, knowing they can’t touch our omega.”

“And the fucking Council?” I ask.

“Do they have a leg to stand on?” he asks Trevor.

The man sighs. “It’s more a matter of what they think they can do. Even if she’s marked and you’ve essentially made a life bond with her, they can make that life fucked.”

“Even for us?”

“That’s Candice for you. She’s ruthless. If you have leverage, that changes things.” He shrugs. “That’s all I know.”

“What kind of leverage?” Dante leans forward.

Trevor clutches his drink. “Depends on the circumstances.”

I look at Dante. I don’t like the sound of that.

“So, we got nothing?” he asks. “Fucking Knight here marked her but didn’t claim her. The mark should be enough to protect her.”

“You told me they have her slated for another alpha?” Trevor asks. Dante nods. “But she’s not claimed, just marked?”

“Yeah.” Dante refills his glass. “Just marked.” He pauses. “Even marked they can take her?”

“No, but they could use that against you. And marks wear off. If she’s on their system, their radar…” Trevor takes a swallow of his drink.

“Put her in a wig to perform.” Dante glances my way. “Theygot nothing.”

“They do.” I swallow. “What if we claim her?” I rub a hand through my hair.

Dante goes still and it’s the last thing he wants, would ever want. But if it’s a way…

Trevor glances at Dante, then at me and sighs. “Normal circumstances, yes. You’d be fine. This—you—aren’t normal. I don’t know what they’ll do. Marking her might allow them to watch over their omega and use that excuse to come down on you or your business partners. Claiming her is different.”

“Can they do that?” I frown.

“You are criminals they can’t pin anything on. If you mark an omega, as in mark her again and she’s seen with you here or you claim her, then they can maybe use it. Or maybe it makes you all safe. I don’t know. We’re poking in the dark here.”

“Not if we don’t get leverage.” Safe or not safe. Know or don’t know. We need leverage like in any good operation. I run a finger along the edge of the bar. “We need to?—”

“We’ll work it out.” Dante dismisses me, turning to Trevor. “What do you know about Hover Valley?”

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