Page 186 of Juliet & Her Romeos

“Now, your brother is a good Omega.” Olivia tightens her hand on Laurent’s neck. Ambrose’s rage heightens through the bond but he doesn’t react. “Wipe that sour expression off your face, Amby. You should be happy that your mom is back home. We’re finally together again as a family. Although, we need to be careful. You know about the kidnappings that have been happening in Sanctum. Beautiful elite Omegas and Betas are being stolen by gangs. The news says that it’s getting worse by the day, Omegas even taken from people’s homes. Social media posts are going viral about it. Will you help to protect your brother?”

Protect Laurent?

Hasn’t Ambrose been doing that all his life? Except, protecting him fromthiswoman.

“Of course.” Ambrose’s voice is steady. “I’d die to keep him safe. Still, how is what we do any different? The Betas are bought by us and kept locked in our academies. They dance until they bleed, and that’s what our business empire is built on.”

Silence.

I’m impressed, when I know what facing his mom on his knees must be doing to Ambrose.

Laurent’s expression softens for a moment.

“I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear that,” Olivia says, stiffly. “If the board knew you thought like that, you’d sink the company.”

“It’s lucky we’re in private then.”

“You little brat…”

Vito looks up, hurriedly. “It’s great to finally meet you, Laurent. You’re my family too, since you’re Ambrose’s bro. We should go out to a bar for a beer or something.”

Laurent splutters with laughter, before catching himself. “Bro, I’m not allowed to go to bars, to drink beer, or whatever thesomethingis. I’m simply a pretty bauble, property of the Romeo’s business empire too.”

When Olivia calmly slaps Laurent across the cheek, I jump.

Laurent’s head snaps to the side, and a crimson handprint blossoms across it.

He doesn’t say anything, merely turning his head back like nothing has happened. His cheek is already swelling.

“Baubles don’t speak in the presence of Alphas. Now look what you’ve done. You’ve messed up your hair again.” Olivia firmly adjusts Laurent’s hair, which has been mussed by the strength of her slap.

Laurent holds himself still, deathly pale.

Next to me, Swan’s breathing is ragged. I can tell how hard he’s holding himself back.

Ambrose has grasped Vito’s hand and is crushing it against his knee. He’s forcing him to stay on his knees and not to fight back.

He’s tapping something else secretly to him in Morse code again.

I turn to Benedict, mouthing against his neck, “Let her win the battle to win the war.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Let her have the power now,” I whisper against Benedict’s throat. “So, we can take it from her later.”

Benedict nods. “Like moves in chess.”

Olivia looks Vito up and down, contemptuously. “Taking an Omega for a beer…? What kind of etiquette does your SecondAlpha know? Ambrose, not only have you bonded without permission but you’ve bonded to trash.”

Vito’s ears redden. He ducks his head.

I ball my hands into fists.

Fuck her.

Vito is better than any elite I’ve met.

I hate the way that they’re talking about Vito in front of him like he’s not even there.

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