Page 17 of One Way Out

“The one where I was handcuffed to the desk?” I ask. “The one with the guy with the scar?”

“Yes,” McCabe says. “That’s not a normal part of the intake process. Not for the omegas. That room is normally used to impart the rules to incoming alpha inmates. They brought you in because they wanted you to sniff through the pheromone cards. All the samples they offered were considered a high enough percentage to be a scent match, but they wanted to see what would happen if you were presented with options and if you would gravitate toward Valor. It was nothing more than a setup. They were always going to put you in A block to see if the two of you found your way together.”

“God,” I whisper, tightening my hand on Valor’s lower back to keep myself upright. My massive alpha bends, nuzzling his temple to the top of my head, but he pulls back when the mask catches in my hair.

“It gets a hell of a lot darker than accurately predicting matches,” McCabe says, his tone lined in disgust.

“Of course, it does.” Valor grunts. “How about you tell us what you’re going to do to help us get out of here?”

“I don’t owe you anything.” McCabe scoffs. “I have my own bloody directives, and none of them revolve around the lot of you. Not in the least.”

“But you helped me,” I say, tilting my head. “And I appreciate it more than I can explain.”

“You remind me of…” The guard takes a step back, shaking his head. “Someone I owed a favor to. She’s dead, but helping you is what she would have wanted. That favor has since been repaid.” He pulls a hand up to rub his temple. “Hell, maybe I’m getting soft in my old age. I’m good at my job. I know better than to engage.”

“But you still did.” My chest gets tight from studying the pain written all over his face. “She must have been important to you.”

He nods. “The others I’d dealt with up until you were here of their own volition. They may have needed the money, but they signed willingly. My time here is coming to an end.” His gaze moves to Valor. “You can’t keep counting on me to dig you out of the trenches.”

“By the sounds of it,” Valor growls, taking a step forward, “you haven’t done a goddamn thing that wasn’t to your immediate benefit. You might have called Saylor’s family, but I’m sure you got a nice commission off the guys now locked up in here.” My hand tightens on his hip in an attempt to hold him back from getting any closer to McCabe. He’s handcuffed and masked, meaning he’s at a huge disadvantage. “You made sure we overheard that conversation with your boss. What kind of bonus did you get from Amato? You know what he’ll do to Saylor if he gets his hands on her!”

His terror floods the bond. As much as I hate feeling his fear, it helps me better understand where his outward anger is coming from. He’s deathly afraid of what happens if I come face-to-face with his boss.

“I’ve done my part.” McCabe rolls his shoulders back. “You’re aware your benefactor will be coming to collect you. I even pushed to have you held for the standard five to seven days after bonding. You weren’t put to sleep like a rabid dog. I guess expecting athank youwas too much. Come along. It’s time you return to your cell on the floor.”

God.

He really is a confusing man.

I’m right back to wanting to punch him in the throat all over again.

ChapterSix

Omen

Ibelieve all the cells are locked down, not just ours, but it’s difficult to tell since only Paulo is next door currently.

Leo and Shaw explained what went down with Edwin and Max in the cafeteria. They never made it back after their altercation with my new cellmates, and I can’t help but wonder if they’ve been moved to a new block or if they’re simply in the medical office.

I’m not sure if Edwin, Paulo, and Max came into the facility as a unit, or if they only bunked together after meeting here, but I assume it’s the former, meaning Paulo is probably good and pissed at all of us.

He’s also normally one of the first to exit when the doors are unlocked, so I believe it’s not just us locked in.

Strangely enough, Paulo is the only one of the three I don’t hate. He’s far more tolerable than his friends, and I even feel a twinge of sympathy that he’s over there by himself.

There’s a certain kind of misery that comes from being trapped in a confined space with someone who’s on your last nerve and a different variety entirely when you’re completely alone.

Being alone right now would not help my mental status, even if I am on the verge of strangling Shaw with my bare hands. Every three minutes, the man looks at me like I’m supposed to update him on what’s happening.

He’s in for a stark surprise if he thinks that’s how the bond works.

Valor has had enough time and practice to know how to block his feelings.

Saylor is more of an open book, but even being able to sense her annoyance, confusion, or frustration does not magically impart the wisdom ofwhatorwhohas caused that particular emotion.

Shaw paces back and forth across the room. It must be time for a check-in because he stomps over and stops in front of me.

“They’re fine.” I shove my hair back from my eyes and stretch against the sofa. “You’ll be the first to know something. Well, as soon as I do, I will pass any information on to you.”

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