Page 28 of The Omega Project

“Then why do you smell like you fell into a bleach bottle?”

I pull away with a grimace, avoiding her eyes as I snag my purse from the back of her chair. Finn is perfectly polite as he thanks her for the tea, but my sister watches us leave with a scowl. I hurry down the stairs, so conscious of Finn on my heelsthat I miss a step. I throw out a hand to catch the railing, and when I’m encircled in a strong arm, the sound that comes out of me could only be called a whimper.

“Calm.” It’s a purr in my ear, as warm and comforting as the chest I’m leaning against. “I've got you.”

“Sorry.” I’m still clinging to him, but he doesn’t seem to care as he steers us out of the building and through the scrap of front garden. The sun feels extra bright, but I shiver as he opens the creaky gate. I lift a hand to my eyes, but he’s already there, shielding my face where it’s nestled against his chest. “I didn't sleep well,” I mumble.

“You’ll feel better soon.”

I’m sure I will, especially if he keeps purring in my ear like that.

No, that’s the wrong way to think. This is myboss. And an off-the-charts powerful alpha. I don’t cling to men like this, or whimper when they pull away to get their car keys out of their pocket…

“Just a few more steps.”

God, he sounds like Dee trying to get Jacob to walk to the bus stop.

“I just need a coffee, and I’ll bounce right back.” I try to inject some enthusiasm into my voice, but when we reach the verge, my stomach dips as I take in the luxury sportscar. Jacob is right, it belongs in the realm of superheroes with its sweeping side panels and sharp rear wings. It’s beautiful – like a hornet on shiny chrome wheels – but it’s also too small to be hiding a hulking alpha.

“No Creed?” I realise how forlorn I sound, and rush to add, “It’s just, he likes to drive, doesn’t he?”

“He does. And he wanted to be here, believe me.”

I just nod as the doors open – unfurling smoothly into the air – and Finn places me on the seat. It’s like sitting at the controldeck of a space shuttle and I wish I was clear-headed enough to enjoy it. Maybe if Jacob gets his ride, I can have another turn, too.

“Your sister hasn’t heard from her packmate?”

I jerk out of my daze, squinting at Finn in the driver’s seat. “She talked about Abel?”

He shakes his head. We’re already moving, but it’s such a smooth ride, it feels like we’re floating over clouds. “I looked her up. I was curious to see what the army knew.”

“And?”

“Not a lot. He’s still classified as Absent Without Leave. But I have connections I can use. See what the real story is, if you think it would help your sister move on.”

I blink at him, trying to picture what that would look like. Claudia is so deeply embedded in her grief, I’m not sure if she’s even thought about life beyond her broken pack. “If you found something, could you tell me first? I would hate for her to be hurt all over again.”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.” I’m not sure when I took his hand, but he gives it a squeeze and I relax back into the seat. It really is like floating, and it takes a lot of effort to turn my head to watch him. He’s wearing black jeans and a hoodie, a faded logo on the front. If it wasn’t for his beautiful face and obvious dominance, he’d probably be mistaken for a car jacker. “Who are you, Finn Visser?”

He slants me a glance. “I’ve wondered the same thing about you, Emily Nash.”

“Seriously? I’m very boring.” I know I’m staring at his lips but can’t make myself look away. He’s fascinating when he’s just staring through the windscreen, but I’m pretty sure I’ll say anything for another of those lightning-fast smiles. “I went into a pet shop and asked for twelve bees. The shopkeeper countedout thirteen and handed them over. I told him he gave me one too many, but he just shook his head and said, ‘That last one is a freebie.’”

Finn’s lashes flutter, soft as wings, and then his mouth crooks up. “That joke’s definitely a keeper.”

I laugh, and as cinnamon and cedar swirls around me, I pinch my wrist to make sure this is real. Finn is still smiling, but something moves in his eyes as he watches me. Not lightning but a hurricane, stormy black sliding over the muted grey, while the car fills with the scent of ash and hot metal.

Iknowthat scent, and I cringe away, but he grabs my wrist, his eyes burning into mine. “Emily, did your walking corpse of an ex do this to you?”

Emily

“What?” I follow Finn’s furious gaze and realise my mum’s pink blouse is a little too short in the arm. It’s ridden up, the dainty pearl button resting an inch above Rick’s ugly bite scar.

“Did hemaulyou like this?”

“I... I… I…”

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