Page 238 of Unhinged Omega

The smell of bacon wafts through the air as we make our way down the corridor. My stomach growls embarrassingly loud. Knight notices, of course. Nothing escapes him. His human hand brushes against my lower back, a gesture both protective and oddly tender.

When we enter the kitchen, I'm struck by the unexpected sight of Geo at the stove. His massive frame looks almost comically large in the surprisingly homey space, his broad shoulders and back blocking most of my view of the stove as he flips bacon like he could do it in his sleep.

Despite his intimidating stature and the various weapons I can spot tucked into his clothing—a knife handle peeking from his boot, the outline of what's probably a handgun beneath his untucked gray shirt—there's something endearing about seeing this notorious underworld boss wielding a spatula instead of a gun.

"Morning, Princess," he calls without turning. "Tin Man. Sleep well?"

"Well enough." I slide onto a stool at the counter, Knight hovering behind me like a particularly deadly shadow. I don't think he appreciates that nickname. "I didn't take you for the cooking type."

Geo snorts, sliding eggs onto a plate with practiced ease. "You think I'd let someone else handle my food? In this line of work? Faster way to die than picking a fight with your boyfriend there."

Knight growls in confusion at the word "boyfriend," and I have to suppress a smile. I suppose that's one word for it.

"Does he eat bacon?" Geo asks, nodding toward Knight while setting a plate piled with eggs and bacon in front of me. "I made extra."

"Of a sort," I say dryly.

Geo grimaces as he reads between the lines, but he shrugs it off quickly enough. Too quickly, perhaps, considering the subject at hand. "Well, I've always got assholes in the cells who fucked with my girls down at the club," he offers. "He can help himself to those."

"I'd rather not think about cannibalism before breakfast," I reply, picking up a fork.

"Is it cannibalism when you're not all human?" Geo muses, pouring coffee into a chipped mug that reads "World's Best Dad." Something tells me he got that from Raven, considering he's definitely not a family man. Not that kind, at least. "Philosophical question."

"I'm not equipped for philosophy until at least my second cup of coffee." I take a bite of the eggs, surprised to find them perfectly seasoned. "This is... actually good."

"Don't sound so shocked." Geo slides a mug toward me. Not the dad one, I notice. "I've got skills beyond shooting people and looking intimidating."

"Oh, intimidating is what you're going for? I thought it was more 'grumpy derelict.'" I smirk over the rim of my mug.

Geo's lips twitch. "Charming. Big day," he says, changing the subject. "You decided yet?"

I knew the question was coming, but it still makes something twist in my chest.

HaveI decided?

Knight stands silently behind me, awaiting my answer as much as Geo is.

"I don't see any reason to get so anal retentive about the exact time," I hedge, stirring my coffee instead of meeting his gaze. "What's a few more hours?"

The smirk that spreads across Geo's face tells me I'm not fooling anyone, least of all myself. I focus on my breakfast, unwilling to examine why I'm so reluctant to leave. It's not just about Azarel anymore. It's about... everything.

If I let Raven come with me, Geo is going to be pissed, and he'll come, too. But I know Nikolai is going to follow us. And if he and Geo are alone in the same room for more than two seconds, they'll kill each other.

For fuck's sake, this is starting to feel like one of those "get across the river with a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage" logic puzzles I used to hate growing up.

When did I start giving a shit about any of them?

"Look who's awake," Geo drawls, glancing toward the doorway. "You look like shit, kid."

Raven stands in the entrance, looking like he hasn't slept in days. His golden hair is loose in an uncharacteristic disarray, dark circles shadowing his usually bright blue eyes. He's wearing the same clothes as yesterday, rumpled now, like he might have slept in them. Or not slept at all.

"This is why you're single, old man," Raven replies, crossing to Geo and caressing his stubbly cheek before he pats it, a bit too hard to be friendly. "Your charm is simply overwhelming."

Geo grumbles something unintelligible, but he's already turning back to the stove, cracking more eggs. I hide a smile behind my coffee mug. The way they bicker, all softness wrapped in thorns, is annoyingly endearing.

And therein lies another complication. If Raven comes with me, I'm pulling him away from Geo.

Why should I care? Having a conscience is a luxury no one can afford—not out here in the Outer Reaches, and certainly not back home in Reinmich. I learned that lesson a long time ago.

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