Page 64 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
“Was,” I said. “Twenty years.” Two simple words but he knew about that. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what an Omega on a colony of horny men did. Working, drinking, and fucking were the three pastimes. He didn’t drink, but the men put Nate to work when needed both out and in the bedroom.
Peter’s voice was flat. “He had the punishment he was to do to me. From what you say, he could have avoided all that if he raised you. Instead, he traded you – sounds like the same old Nate to me.”
There were retorts, but it didn’t feel like my place to tell him what to think. I wasn’t a politician like Graden and the rest, but I knew the danger. Nate was in a position wherehecouldn’t do anything, if I made a mistake, he would be the one who paid for it.
He changed the subject. “I’ve sent a communication to your king and mate. You’ll be safe. The medical orbs around us are monitoring our status.”
I would have preferred the message only go to Graden, but I couldn’t dictate the terms. I was a guest in a hostile kingdom. I nodded my thanks.
“Your sim stays off.”
“You’re still thinking about killing him.”
His voice was soft. “Yes.”
“You know it won’t make the nightmares leave?” I presumed they must have gone down after two decades, but bad memories have a habit of sneaking up on you when you least expect it.
He turned slowly. “No, butanightmare will go away. If the situations were reversed, what would you do?”
Thanks to Volardi technology, Peter was young looking, but those eyes saw plenty except for one thing. He didn’t have the distant stare of somebody who killed a man. There’s a change when you do that. So many bounty hunters talked about taking down someone and then ‘something’ happened. It was different for everyone. Some hesitated before another guy who didn’t. Some killed and survived, but they were different inside. Not overly so but almost as if they got a glimpse into a realm most people never see. “If you’re going to execute the man,” I said. “Shouldn’t you tell him that, face to face?”
I didn’t sense fear so much, but rather a command. “I will not be near that thing.”
“Use my sim,” I offered and pointed to the lifeless Tiny on my stomach. “You got a Smart-Box. Make a slapper or use your own sim.”
His lips mashed together hard. “I promised myself I would never go around him again. Matros says I can do whatever I wish. He expects me to give him the Volardi Boot. I can’t see myself giving him the Volardi Hand or a Forgiveness Shell.” His frown wavered before he spoke. “You are Omega like me. There’s a special brotherhood between us, and you’re pregnant. As a fellow Omega and since it’s your first, I will talk to him, but not directly. You’re welcome to come.”
***
I was either invited or ordered, but that suited me fine. With my huge stomach, sore back and a baby I couldn’t risk, there is only so much I could do. At least this way, I could watch and nudge the situation. Graden would be here soon, and I didn’t know what responsibilities or restrictions he had. This might be the last time I get to see my father in a long while – or ever.
We weren’t that far from the previous room. Some kingdoms like to put their inmates in the deepest and darkest dungeon away from all light. Others were more vindictive and had the jails in high towers so that the prisoners could see what life they were missing. This kingdom believed in keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. Peter instructed me to wait at the end of the long stone hallway. On the other side was my father behind a purple electric field.
A shadow loomed over me, and I looked into Peter’s purple eyes.Purple?
My forehead wrinkled, and I pointed at my own blue ones.
“Sorry, it’s the Volardi default.” With that, the sim’s eyes changed back to deep brown with hints of copper. “Let’s do this,” he said before coughing loudly.
My father rose from the bed and then stood perfectly still. “Peter!”
“Nate.”
Each said a single word, but I felt the gooseflesh race down my arm and over my stomach. Neither man spoke for a minute. I got the feeling Nate didn’t want to push his luck or was trying to be respectful. Maybe fear kept him quiet.
“I didn’t think I would see you again,” said Peter.
“Neither did I,” whispered Nate. “Figured the party was enough. I didn’t want to come here... if it matters.”
“And whatdidyou want? I presume the last twenty years haven’t dulled your memories? I can refresh the events of that night if needed.”
Nate swallowed hard and shook his head no. He bit his lip before continuing. “I don’t know how much you were told about the last two decades, but I’msosorry for what I tried to do.” He blinked fast while his eyes misted. “I was a stupid kid.”
“Stupiddoesn’t cover it. You were evil! You attacked me because you could. I was the ‘queer kid’ in your eyes, and it gave you the right to torment me.” His hands balled into fists. “Hell, if you were just an asshole, I could have forgiven that. You assaulted and tried to stick your dick in me. Do you have any idea what that does to someone?”
Nate’s shiny eyes looked up. “Yeah, I do.” He stared down, and I got the feeling he was trying not to cry in front of Peter. That might have helped his case, but he was still part Alpha. After all the shameful things that happened, it was all he had left – not bawling. “I’m under no false hope. I know what you want to do. If that’s what it takes then maybe it’s best.”
I intentionally calmed my breathing. This was a dangerous game, but instinct told me I couldn’t fight for him. Twenty years killed the old Nate, but it also nearly destroyed whatever better person he might have become. I saved him, and he did nothing but stare out into the ocean. Perhaps if I were around, I could have helped more, but he needed to be his own man. Fingers went over Tiny’s body either to relax me or give me something to do.
