Page 5 of All That We Keep
I study his face, taking in the tension around his ocean-gray eyes and the way his smile doesn't quite reach them. "I don't like the look on your face." Anxiety spikes in my chest again."What's really going on? Why are we staying somewhere else? What happened with Ward?" They’ve never held information back from me before and I don’t know why they are now.
Grayson plops down into my nest in front of Maceo before reaching forward to grab my chin between his fingers. Before I can ask another question, he slots his mouth over mine, the contact once again calming my racing heart. But it only helps a little bit, because I can feel the tension in his body even through the gentle kiss.
When he pulls back, his thumb traces along my jawline. "I'd very much like to have this conversation when we're not at work, okay?" His eyes search mine and whatever he sees heightens the worry in his expression. "I messaged Quentin to see if he'd be up to doing a house call because I'm not sure I want to wait until tomorrow."
The mention of our doctor makes my stomach drop. If Grayson is calling for a house call, then whatever is wrong with me is more serious than I thought. Well, fuck.
“Yeah, yeah, okay. Where is Luther?”
Grayson offers me a small smile as he leans over to wake up Luca. “He’s pulling the car around. Come on, sweetheart. It’s time to go.”
My beautiful Omega lets out a small groan as he stretches, one hand still firmly around my ankle, the other one stretching high up into his nest. His entire body shimmies and then he opens his eyes, finding mine before anyone else’s. “Hi, bear.”
“Hi, cupcake. Time to go.”
He nods and pushes to his knees before trying to climb into my lap even with me still in Maceo’s. I snort, about to pull him into my chest anyway, when Grayson steals him from me. “As much as I’d like to see what would happen, we don’t have time, and I’m not keen on anyone in the office just walking up to see you two.” I throw Grayson a glare, my Alpha saying the exact words I wantto hear and somehow, words that tell me I was right to think something was wrong. “I’ll explain in the car, babe.”
4
Blake
An annoyed huff falls from my lips as Maceo stands up with me still in his arms, the Beta heading toward the hallway without putting me down. He’s not actually going to… "I can walk downstairs," I protest, though even as I say it, I'm not entirely sure it's true. Everything is still clammy and my legs feel like jello. Even so, I own the company and I’m not entirely sure I want everyone here seeing their Omega boss falling apart.
Maceo's grip on me tightens slightly, his arms secure around my back and under my knees. "I know you think you can, but just for once let me do this, okay?" His voice is gentle but leaves no room for argument. "I assure you that passing out in the elevator will have everyone more worried than they already are."
I know he’s right so I let my stubbornness take a backseat and twist my face into his chest after watching him walk into the private elevator. Grayson is right behind us with Luca in hisarms, my poor Omega still between sleep and half-awake where he keeps trying to say something about mango chutney. No doubt that’s going to be the first food Grayson buys and the first thing Luca is going to chuck in the trash.
We make our way downstairs in relative silence, my ear pressed to Maceo’s steady heartbeat, his scent keeping me from freaking out all over again. I had never really thought about my connection to Luca. Sure, we were mates, like far beyond the natural course of things—connected even before we shared an Alpha. However, these last few weeks have proven our connection to be something else entirely and Maceo might actually be right.
Because Luca is my Omega and all the shit that keeps getting thrown at him makes me feel useless.
Because I’m not an Alpha.
I tamper down a growl of frustration as doors open and close, the cool air hitting my skin as we step outside. I twist around to see Luther already waiting by the car, his imposing figure even more imposing than usual. I can see the concern etched into the hard lines of his face, though he's trying to project his usual calm authority.
“Alpha,” I breathe out, reaching forward for him. He steals me from Maceo before placing me into the backseat, his lips immediately on mine. It’s both possessive and a claiming, his tongue spearing into my mouth as he takes what he needs and then he pulls back, the tight smile from before back on his face.
I’ve only known two or three times that he’s needed us all in the same place, at home, and away from the world. One of those times was when we got Luca back. I can only imagine whatever is happening is bad. Likerealbad.
Grayson climbs in on the other side of me as Maceo takes up the front passenger seat. Luther makes his way to the other sideof the car as well, giving Grayson a similar kiss and then pressing a soft one to Luca’s forehead before driving off.
Even with my pack’s scents swirling around in the car, I can’t relax. Because the bond isn’t relaxed. Grayson and Maceo are keeping something from me but most of all, Luther is pissed. Raging. And beneath all of that? He’s terrified.
"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" I ask, my voice stronger now that I'm sitting up and surrounded by my pack.
Luther's jaw tightens as he navigates through the afternoon traffic. "We're going to stay at one of Grayson's properties for a little bit. Ward came by this morning to let me know that while the protective order on Hudson is still active, he's out on bail."
The color drains from my face as I curl into Grayson’s side. Luca stirs a little bit and I hold my breath, hoping and praying that he doesn’t hear this just yet. He went through hell and back to get to us and I don’t want him to suffer anymore.
Maceo clears his throat and meets my gaze through the rearview mirror. "They can't find him."
My heart drops into my stomach, my body frozen in disbelief.
The Alpha who tortured Luca for months, who broke him down systematically until he was barely recognizable as the sweet boy I went to school with, is free and hunting for us. The protective order means nothing if they can't find him to enforce it. And knowing Hudson, if there was a buyer for Luca, that means he’ll doanythingto get my Omega back.
I know Luca’s parents said there wasn’t one but I don’t believe for a second that Hudson was going to break the pattern for him. It doesn’t make sense. None of this does.
Without thinking, I pull Grayson’s arm out of the way and tug Luca into my chest, my body moving on pure instinct to protect him from a threat that isn't even physically present. My grip is probably too tight, but I can't seem to loosen it as images flash through my mind of what Hudson did to him before.
