Page 40 of Omega in Hiding

Dario makes a strangled sound, and if I thought my face was hot before, it’s now like the sun. My throat is tight and I can’t speak. Not that I’d know what to say if I could.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” Alessio tilts his head, studying me like I’m an amoeba in a petri-dish. “You’re hurt because you slept together, but then he just bailed without a word.”

“Please tell me you weren’t that foolish,” Dario says, breaking his silence.

I croak, “What happened between me and Connor is my business.”

Dario groans. “So then that’s a yes?” He rakes a hand through his hair, looking rattled. “Valentino is going to have my balls for this.”

I meet Dario’s gaze, feeling resentful. “My sex life isn’t you or my brother’s concern.”

“That’s what you think.” Dario jabs his finger at me. “Valentino trusted me to keep you focused on the work. You’re supposed to be learning how to help run the ports. Instead, you were off fucking themanny. You think this shit won’t blow back on me? That just shows you how selfish and naive you are, Paolo.”

“I’m not naive or selfish,” I snap.

Dario chuffs. “Yeah, you are. Nobody matters but you. All you care about is what you want. You’re twenty-four years old, but you still pretend like being Valentino’s brother has no bearing on how you live your life.”

“Why should it? I’m not the head of the Black Knives, he is.”

He widens his eyes. “That’s exactly the kind of attitude I’m talking about. Did you not notice someone tried to murder you yesterday? Why do you think that was, huh? It’s because you’re Valentino’sbrother.You have to stop having your head in the clouds. You have responsibilities. You have to step up, kid. Valentino has been more than patient with you, but it’s time you grew up. You need to do what Valentino asks you to do.”

“Iamdoing what Valentino asked of me. I’ve been busting my ass learning about the ports. Don’t belittle the work I’ve done,” I growl. “I’ve been in that study every day doing the work.”

Dario shakes his head. “Sure, you’ve been working hard. But obviously not hard enough if you still had time to put your dick in the manny.”

The heat returns to my face. “Fuck you, Dario.”

“Yeah?” he snarls. “You think you should talk to me that way while you’re living in my house?”

“It wasn’t my idea to be here.” I don’t like fighting with him. He’s like family to me. But I don’t know how to back down. I’m confused and angry at the world, and it’s all because of Connor.

“Haven’t we welcomed you into our home?” Dario demands. “We’re not holding you hostage. If you don’t want to be here, go.”

“I can’t,” I mutter. “Valentino will be mad if I leave.”

Alessio exhales impatiently. “You two need to calm down. What we don’t need is to turn on each other right now. Fighting isn’t helping anything.”

Dario grunts and I stay silent.

Alessio rubs Baby Joesph’s back as he continues. “Instead of arguing with each other, we should try and figure out why Connor left, and where he might have gone.”

“Why bother? I say we just forget about him,” mutters Dario. “He wanted to disappear, so let him disappear.”

“Maybe I’m not okay with that,” I say, meeting Dario’s dark gaze. He looks less angry now, although still grumpy. “I want to be sure he’s okay. I want to know what spooked him so bad he felt like he had to run away without a word.”

“I think that’s a waste of time and energy,” Dario says.

I grit my teeth. “And I don’t.”

Dario squints at me. “Since when do you care about the omegas you sleep with?”

Avoiding his gaze, I murmur, “I told you Connor was different.”

Dario gives a humorless laugh. “Why are you so damn attached? How many times did you sleep with him?”

“None of your business.”

Dario shakes his head. “Please tell me you at least used a condom?” My face flushes with heat and it must turn red because he widens his eyes. “Oh, come on, Paolo. Are you serious? You fucked him without protection?”

---