Page 107 of Dubious Match
“Did you pay at least?” I ask, struggling to focus on normal things. I need to do this to ground myself.
“Yes, Hollis, I did. What’s two more things around you that you can see?” Lars asks, coming to join Caleb in front of me, despite his earlier insistence for space.
These men just know what I need, but that’s from growing up together. Grounding techniques help when I’m freaking the fuck out.
“You,” I say, a weak smile tilting my lips. “The sidewalk behind you. That’s helping. I know who the girl you saw is.”
“Who?” Caleb asks, eyes narrowing.
“Nova. She’s the new midwife that’s seeing Adira and Quinn,” I say, voice cracking. “Ugh, guys she’s a tenant on Pack Ledger’s property.”
“Then, maybe we should give her a visit soon,” Caleb says. “I don’t know, Hollis. Something isn’t adding up. Lars and I went after her because there were too many questions. Why the fuck is she in our city?”
“Your mafia roots are showing,” I say weakly, sitting back in the seat. “Let’s go to the bar before I perish of low blood sugar.”
“Brat,” Lars laughs. “You know you’re more likely to attempt to take a bite out of us first.”
He’s not wrong.
I feel more normal when I get back to the office after eating, but I have a new fixation. I really wish I had a damn photo of her or had a last name for Nova so that I can dig up information on her.
There’s not much that has trickled through the gossip channels about her, which means I’m going to have to ask my alphas about her. How the fuck am I supposed to do that without sounding like a stalker?
Mal mentioned that Nova was going to sleep in her van before he extended an offer for her to rent out his tiny home. This means that she’s nomadic, and I want to know why. If she’sMaree, then it somewhat explains the pull I experienced when I saw her driving.
“Fuck!” I yell, throwing a pen across the room.
Unfortunately, Hayes walks in as it skitters across the ground and hits his boot.
“Rough morning?” he asks, bending down to pick up the pen.
“No, just a confusing one,” I admit. “It looks like you’re here to help distract me, and I’ll gladly take that option.”
I haven’t been able to concentrate for long enough to make any calls, or do very much work as my mind goes round and round. I think a break is necessary before I lose my fucking mind.
“Fair enough,” he grunts. “Can I lock the door? I have some news about Emilia and the injunction for protection to keep her away from you.”
“I didn’t realize anyone was working on that,” I say. I mean, after what happened at the mixer, I’m not surprised that Cian pushed for that, but she wasn’t even there. “And yes, go ahead and lock the door, please.”
Standing, I grab my water bottle and walk over toward my living room set up. I need a break from my desk. Hayes flicks the lock after picking up the pen and joins me, taking a deep breath as he sits down.
“More bad news I take it?” I ask, feeling tired. My body has been working on high doses of epinephrine. Between my experience with Emilia’s goons, the hospital stay, my heat, and conversation with Caleb and Lars, it feels as if I’ve been on a yo-yo of extreme emotions.
Hayes gazes at me for a long moment before he sighs. “Possibly,” he mutters. “This whole situation pisses me off for you since most of it is wrapped around ROWS’ bullshit. Emilia just wants to have power over the narrative of what’s best for omegas. Domh got the injunction order from a judge, but onlyup to twenty feet away. That’s stupid if you ask me. Emilia also has a gag order that states that she can’t talk about you in her podcasts, nor can she call you anymore.”
“That’s a mixed blessing,” I mutter. “Twenty feet is nothing.”
“Domh argued, but the judge said that we can’t expect him to believe that she sent people to hurt you,” Hayes grumbles. “He obviously only granted the protection order to appease Domh and get him out of his hair. Domh has been by his office every day for the past two weeks. He just passed it this morning and had Emilia served.”
“So this was just approved?” I ask, eyes widening. “I’m sure she didn’t like that.”
“Fuck her—” Hayes leans forward, his eyes on the street as he snarls. “You have got to be kidding me.”
My gaze snaps up to see what he’s rambling about, and I sigh. Emilia is walking on the opposite side of the street with other ROWS members, her hands moving as she talks. She’s obviously going to split hairs about this protective order.
“God, she’s such an asshole,” I mutter, watching as she stops in front of my office. The twatwaffle pulls out her tape measure with a grin and wiggles it at me in an attempt to get a rise at me, while I turn to speak to Hayes, pretending to dismiss her from my sight.
“She’s got big ole lady balls,” Hayes growls, making me smirk.
