Page 82 of Broken Dreams

Quinn makes a face, and I smirk. She really doesn’t want to do this.

I guess, she says as she pouts.They were old when I met them as I grew up, they’re all ancient now. Why would they care about me?

“Ah, I think you’re selling yourself short, Quinnie,” Callum says with a shit eating grin. “Here we are.”

Pulling into a restaurant that appears to be a pub, I’m glad we’re wearing appropriate clothing. I’m wearing a pair of dark cargo pants and a short sleeved shirt, while Quinn is wearing a comfortable dress that stops at mid thigh. We look like normal people.

I’m oddly nervous because I haven’t eaten in a restaurant in ten years. Quinn squeezes my hand, winking at me. Yeah, we’ve survived some pretty fucked up things. We can handle a restaurant. Getting out of the car, Callum holds up a tablet.

“Cerenity actually made me feel really small and dumb when she mentioned this,” he says. “This is a much better way for you to write.”

Brow raised in question as she tosses her pad of paper and pen back into the car, Callum grins at her.

“I wanted to make a dramatic statement,” he says.

That sounds exactly like him. Quinn looks amused as she shuts the door, and we walk toward the restaurant. There are a few vehicles in the parking lot, but I’m surprised it’s not busier. Duncan opens the door for us, dropping another piece of information as we step inside.

“We may have rented out the restaurant so it would be nice and quiet,” he admits.

Immediately, I feel the anxiety begin to drain from my body. They didn’t have to do this, and it’s kind of insane because normal people can’t. It reminds me that Pack Kelly isn’t normal.

We’re led by the hostess to a slightly larger table than I would expect, and I wonder who else is coming. Pack Dresmond sits at a table next to us, giving us the illusion of privacy as Kane wears a new baby carrier that appears to be a sling. The baby doll’s butt is sitting inside of it, its head peeking out at the top. There’s a tail of fabric fed through a ring that allows a very colorful pattern to be seen as it flows over Kane’s shoulder.

It’s bright pink, and somehow he’s rocking it out without a care in the world as he talks with his brothers and Morris.

“Kane is trying out different styles of baby carriers so he can report back to me which ones he likes,” Adira murmurs, appearing amused and completely smitten. “Today, he’s wearing a ring sling. I’m half afraid the baby is going to slide out somehow.”

My lips twitch even harder because he’s wearing a baby doll. My intrusive thoughts are going crazy with thoughts of how many different ways the doll could fall.

“Oh! I’m so sorry, Kane and this baby kind of take up a lot of room in my brain lately,” Adira explains. “I’m Adira, Quinn, and I’m so excited to meet you. Truly, it’s very nice to see you awake instead of not.”

Quinn huffs out a laugh at her enthusiasm, shrugging. The last time Adira saw her was after she’d passed out. Callum slides the tablet to Quinn, and she writes,Hi. It’s good to be awake.

Adira grins as she reads that, recognizing that it’s a bit tongue in cheek and teasing.

Chatting for a bit, we order drinks, and the waitress doesn’t blink at all at Quinn’s written speech.

“I’m sorry I’m running so late,” an older man with closely cropped dark hair says, pulling out a seat next to Adira. His gazeis assessing and warm as he leans forward to hold out his hand to Quinn.

What exactly is going on? I know nothing about criminal structures or the mafia, so I am very confused as I watch.

“Quinn, you may not remember me. I’m Cian Sullivan,” the alpha says. He’s fairly tall, and wearing a dark blue suit that appears custom tailored. Somehow, I can read that he’s someone who is used to being paid attention to.

Quinn inclines her head at him, and he smiles. Turning toward me, he waits for an introduction. Am I supposed to tell him my name? I’m shit at the polite niceties these days.

“Cian, this is our other omega, Linus Kelly,” Callum says, jumping in as I smile tightly and shake his hand.

“Good to meet you,” Cian says. “I want to make sure this is a stress free lunch, so I’ll get to the point so as not to draw this out.”

Sitting down, he leans forward to gaze at us. Quinn and I are sitting next to each other, and you can probably feel the nerves coming off of us.

“Adira came to me and told me a little about your story. Not enough to be invasive, but so I would understand that this is what she continually reminds the senior members of the families of,” he says. “Our omegas aren’t safe. They haven’t been for some time.”

“The old men have been saying that everything is fine,” Adira says. “I walked in on their meeting beaten to hell, a living embodiment of how they’re incorrect. There are head hunters stalking the cities to find omegas they don’t believe anyone will miss, and it’s disgusting.”

“That’s how I disappeared,” I chime in. “I was walking home from the school library after a late study session, about a mile from my apartment. I was so close to home. I’ve never stopped thinking about the ‘what ifs’.”

I’ve never said that out loud before, and Quinn covers my hand with hers.

---