Page 113 of Dubious Match
“Are you serious?” Drew asks, her voice throaty and surprised. It almost sounds as if she’s smoked several cigarettes, but I doubt that’s the case. Her lips are painted a pretty metallic red, and her hair is up in a bun with curled whisps around her face.
Her hazel eyes tell me that she doesn’t trust easily, and I nod as I pull out my checkbook from my purse.
“I am,” I say. I make out a check for five thousand dollars and sign it before handing it to her. “I’m always pretty serious, Drew.”
She bites her lip as she takes the check before nodding. “Most of the people here have heard about us, or have come by to see what we’re about. Remy and his pack were driving by when we were painting over some graffiti.”
“Mal pulled over and we spent the afternoon helping,” Remy says with a grin. “We’ve been coming to events for the past two years.”
“Is there a reason why you haven’t done much social media marketing?” I ask.
I know it can be hard, and sometimes dangerous. I have first hand experience with that.
“We’re trying to stay under the radar since we’re single omegas without a pack,” Rowan says.
My lips purse as I search for Emilia, making a noise under my breath as I see her.
“This may sound crazy, but please be careful of Emilia Richardson and her organization,” I say. “I don’t blame you for wanting to stay under the radar. She’s just not a safe person.”
Aria gazes at me for a long moment, her brown eyes trying to find the truth in my words.
“May I ask why you say that?” she asks.
“She has to stay twenty feet away from me at all times,” I sigh. “A judge slapped her with a protection order on my behalf.”
“Wait, she’s here,” Rowan says with wide eyes.
“And staying away from me,” I add. “I can’t stay in my own home without fear of being beaten or kidnapped. Please feel free to read between those lines.”
“I’m so sorry,” Rowan breathes.
“It’s not your fault, and I doubt she knew that I would be here,” I say.
Remy continues to talk to them, while my attention is pulled toward Emilia and her group. There is a young woman with black hair who says something to her before turning to walk straight toward me, making me curse this damn protection order.
What good is it if her little minions can do Emilia’s dirty work?
Twenty-Two
HOLLIS
I’m barely breathing by the time the woman makes her way over to me. Remy is continuing to speak to the organizers of the event, and has been joined by a few other people. I won’t make a big deal about this, and I have my weapons if needed. I doubt she’s going to do anything with Remy right next to me.
“Excuse me, you’re Hollis Edwards, right?” the woman asks. She’s wearing a pretty lavender formal dress and her hair is curled down her back. The sneer that seems to be so prevalent in the Twats at ROWS isn’t on her face, and she seems genuine.
Unfortunately for her, I’m not sure I have it in me to be kind tonight.
“I am, but if you’re involved with Emilia and the women at ROWS, then you shouldn’t be speaking to me,” I say stiffly.
“I’m Alyssa Lauren’s daughter,” she says, ignoring how standoffish I’m being. “She works with Emilia. They’re just a group of women fighting for omegas’ rights. Shouldn’t you be behind that as someone who promotes safe dating?”
Nearly growling under my breath, I turn toward her. I have a knife stuffed down my breasts, but I think Emilia and her crew may be keeping the young woman in front of me in the dark.
“I’m going to hold back my comment to that question,” I say. “You clearly know who I am, but I’m still in the dark. I think that’s a bit rude, don’t you?”
The woman’s lips open in surprise before she nods. “You’re right. I’m so sorry. My name is Gwen. I actually don’t have much to do with my mother’s organization. I’m her date tonight because she didn’t want to drive. I want to ask Rowan if I can write about Let Kids Be Kids in the Minneapolis Herald. I’m one of their reporters,” she explains.
“Hello, Gwen,” I say coolly. I really don’t have it in me to be any nicer. “I think you should do a little digging into the Regional Omegas Women’s Society before you do harm by saying they’re a harmless group of women trying to protect omegas’ interests.”
