Page 17 of The Omega Trials: Part Three

Sinclair pops the straw into the cup and holds it out for her grandma to sip. “Is he not feeding you well?”

“Oh, it’s horrible. Everything is green.” She waves her hand in the air. “And he won’t let me have any coffee.”

“Now, that’s just cruel,” Sinclair agrees with a dramatic gasp.

“Right, elder abuse.” Cora huffs, and then they both break down into a fit of giggles.

Once recovered, Sinclair sighs like she’s mentally preparing herself. “Ma, I have to tell you something.”

“Now, this wouldn’t have anything to do with those hunky alphas you keep bringing ‘round and some deadly Trials, would it?”

Sinclair nearly falls off her chair, and I don’t blame her. Titus, Bishop, and I all exchange panicked glances that silently askwho told her?!

“How did you figure it out?” Sinclair asks in disbelief.

“I told her.” We all spin around at the newcomer’s voice.

Celia explains that she assumed her mother’s attack was retaliation for something she did. “I figured I’d pissed off some John or dealer I owed money found out I was still alive. I went to the Doll House to find out. That’s when the girls told me that you were there and who took you.”

“And you realized the Echelon was probably responsible, not you,” Bishop pieces together.

“Exactly. So, when Mom woke up after surgery, I said as much, thinking she already knew all about the tribute and Trials.”

“Imagine my surprise,” Cora tries to say playfully, but it turns into a pained croak. She keeps wincing at the smallest movements.

“Just a few more minutes, Doc,” she asks when he goes to up her pain meds. Her and Sin spend a little bit longer together before she calls him back over. Within five minutes, she’s fast asleep.

“We should talk about her discharge plans,” he says once she’s out and all six of us gather around a lab station.

“She can stay with me,” Celia offers.

Sinclair scoffs. “You’re not taking her to whatever hellhole of an omega house you’re calling home for now.”

She doesn’t take the bait and answers as calmly as she probably can. “I have my own apartment.”

Sinclair raises her brows. “Yeah? Since when?”

“Since I almost died, got clean, and found a job that doesn’t involve taking my clothes off. That’s actually why I was at the apartment that morning. I was coming to tell you and Mom that I had my life back on track.”

“Okay, you know what, let’s do it.” Sinclair crosses her arms. “Let’s talk about how the hell youdiedbut actually didn’t and somehow I got wrapped up in paying off your debt.”

“Er . . . we’ll talk discharge later then,” Doc says awkwardly and scoots out of the conversation. Bishop follows him, which is fine. He’s a good logistics man.

Me? I’m here to support my girl. And keep Titus from throttling her mom. Because the more worked up our omega gets, the more and more he looks like he’s about to.

Celia releases a long, drawn-out exhale and then begins. “I had this longtime client, Don. He really liked me and treated me better than most, so when he offered to buy my contract, I thought I was actually in luck.

“My good luck didn’t even last forty-eight hours, though, because less than a day later, I’m at his place—some cabin way outside of town—he gets carried away and . . .” She shakes her head like it’s tough to continue. “And, well, I don’t remember exactly what happened, but one moment we’re going at it—”

“Ew.” Sinclair grimaces.

“Oh grow up, it’s not like you don’t know what I did.” The way they bicker reminds me more of siblings than child and parent.

“Anyway,” she continues, “the next thing I know, I’m waking up with lungs full of water, clothes ripped to hell and caught on some fallen branches in a raging river. The bastard got a little too kinky. I must have been so passed out, he’d thought he’d killed me and, being the stand-up gentleman he is, had dumped my body in a river.” She finishes with a huff and flops down on a stool like she just finished a grand performance and is waiting for our outpouring of sympathy.

Sinclair doesn’t buy into any of it. “Even if I believed whatever high tale, crock-of-shit that was, it doesn’t explain how I ended up paying off your ‘already paid’ contract.”

Celia bounces back to her feet. “It’s the truth! He tried to kill me!”

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