Page 8 of Omega in Hiding

I recoil. “God, what kind of question is that? Why would you think I’m a virgin?”

“Because you never bring anyone home. Ever. Yes, there are rumors you’re with a different omega every night, but I’ve never seen them.”

“You think I’d bring an omegahometo fuck them?” I laugh, my face warm. “Obviously I go to their place or a hotel. And dear God, Valentino, I havenodesire to talk about mysex lifewith you.”

Valentino laughs sheepishly. “Fair enough.” He rubs his jaw. “But you’re really not a virgin, right?”

I groan at how he just won’t drop it. “No, I’m not avirgin. I’ve slept with many omegas. I’m simply not into settling down yet. There’s no reason for me to rush into that.”

“I guess I can’t blame you for being a little wild. I thoroughly enjoyed my single years.” Valentino laughs. “Of course now, I can’t even imagine being with anyone but Nico.” His eyes go all dreamy, and I let out an impatient breath, waiting for him to come back to Earth.

Apparently, he’s going to stay in orbit all day, so, I clear my throat when he continues looking faraway. “Anyway, I’m not going to get married just to please you and Mother. When the time is right, I’ll take an omega.”

“Not just any omega,” Valentino warns. “The omega you marry needs to be from a good,Italianblood line.”

“I know. I know. I get it. You think I haven’t heard this speech since I was a child? I know that whoever I marry needs to be in the Italian Mafia. I know whoever I marry must be able to give me many beautiful, healthy babies. I know all of the stuff that has been drilled into my brain since I was five. But regardless of all of the rules I need to follow, I’m not interested in claiming any omega at this time.”

He purses his lips. “Fine. I’ll allow that to slide to the backburner, if you’ll at least step up and do your part for the syndicate on the business side of things.”

“I will. Just don’t hound me to take an omega.” I rub the back of my neck, feeling agitated. “I won’t do something that personal on your terms. That’s not negotiable.”

He studies me and then says, “Okay.” He hesitates. “How come you don’t brag about your conquests?”

I laugh. “You just can’t help butting your nose into my sex life, can you?”

He grimaces. “Young alphas tend to brag like hell. But you never do.”

I exhale pointedly. “It’s not my style to brag.”

“Hmmm.”

“So,” I try to change the subject. “What is it you’re so eager for me to do?”

“You mean other than settle down with a nice little Italian omega and have babies?”

“Valentino,” I growl. “Drop it,please.”

He grins. “Okay.” His smile fades. “I need you to learn how to run the ports.”

Surprised, I widen my eyes. “The ports? Me? I thought that Alessio was running them.”

“He is, but that’s an important part of our business, and I want you to understand how it all works. I need you to understand howeverythingworks. Then, you’ll truly be indispensable to our operation.”

“You have Dario. What do you need me for?”

“What do I need you for?” He laughs incredulously. “You’re my blood relation. What are you talking about? Dario is like family, but ultimately, he isn’t actually family. Technically, if something happened to me, you’d be next in line. Dario would hold down the fort while you got up to speed, and he’d stand beside you always. But Dario has no desire to become the head of the Black Knives unless you also died.”

I shudder. “That’s a happy thought.”

He sighs. “It’s the reality of our world though. Death is a thing in this line of business. I’m not saying I want that. Obviously. I’m saying if anything happened to me, Dario would be there to lead and guide you. But he would never try to replace the blood line heir. Not unless he had to.”

“Because we’re all dead.” I wince. “God, see, the violence that surrounds us is unsettling. I don’t like that part of this life. I’m not a violent person, Valentino. Can you see me slicing a man’s throat?” I grimace. “I can’t.”

“It’s true we’re very different. I was raised to be the head of the Black Knives. Father had me torturing and murdering people from a young age. But unlike you, I don’t flinch from violence.”

I laugh dryly. “No. I suspect you even like it.”

Valentino smirks. “Yeah, I do. When a person deserves it.” He shrugs. “I enjoy hurting them. I like making them pay.”

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