Page 10 of Bound By Pain
We round a corner, out of view of the warehouse, and my phone rings. Grateful for the interruption and hoping the call holds some news about my mate, I am quick to answer it, switching to speaker so Jericho can hear, too. “Shiloh Acherley.”
“Shiloh.”
A groan rattles up my chest when I hear Ridley’s voice on the other end. “If you are calling to place more blame at my feet-”
“Motherfucker-” he hisses, but the sound cuts off, replaced by shuffling noises. My annoyance with the exuberant Alpha grows. If there weren’t a chance he had news of Bea’s whereabouts, I would hang up.
“This is Lex Ferguson.”
I’d met Mr. Ferguson a few times during his role as Omen Powell’s bodyguard, our interactions limited to a professionalaspect. Given his close relationship to Ridley, it isn’t surprising that he, too, is one of Bea’s mates.
“Look, we can play the blame game all day, but it won’t get us anywhere.”
Pursing my lips, I take a steadying breath. “We’ve tracked Bea to a warehouse-”
“She isn’t in Maine,” he cuts in. “She’s here in Alabama, with Doctor Harrison.”
Rage and disgust flood my body at hearing that terrible man’s name. If he has my Omega… Thinking back on the pain I felt from our connection, Lex’s theory makes sense.
“I’ll be on the first plane-”
“No.”
A growl rips from my lips when this asshole interrupts meagain.
“We’re tracking leads, but we need backup.” Rolling my eyes, I start to explain that is precisely why I am heading down there, but he barrels onward. “One of my military buddies—and a currently suspended FCDA agent—lives in New York. He isn’t answering his damn phone, so I need you to go to his apartment and fill him in on what happened.”
“I am not your errand boy-”
“The longer Bea is with that jackass, the more likely we are to lose her. Don’t fucking argue with me.”
Click.
Gripping my cell tightly, I contemplate shattering the device on the sidewalk. If it weren’t the only way Bea could contact me, I would. Turning to look at my brother, I’m knocked to my ass when his fist collides with my jaw. “What the fuck?!”
“Apparently, you need some sense knocked into you.” Jericho towers over me, disappointment clearly written in his light brown eyes. “It’s been weeks since the gala where I told you to let go of the past and give Bea’s other mates a chance.You pushed her away instead, didn’t you?” His head shakes when I clench my teeth, ignoring the flash of pain from his hit. “I’ve always looked up to you, brother, but your stubbornness isn’t admirable. You’re only hurting your Omega by remaining obstinate out of fear.”
I accept his hand when he extends it, wiping myself off and avoiding meeting his eyes. Letting him down hurts more than I could have ever thought, especially when there is a part of me—one I’ve buried deep in my soul—that knows he’s right.
“Let’s head back to the car. I’ll have an officer take you back to the hotel so you can track down your pack mate’s friend. My team will search the warehouse and see if there is any evidence of where exactly in Alabama they took your girl.”
Stopping outside his car, I scrub a hand down my face. This whole day is a disaster, and we aren’t any closer to getting Bea to safety. I’m hanging by a thread. If we lose her…
Well, it won’t only be my Omega who doesn’t survive. I have no doubt Orion will fall into a bottomless pit of despair. Therapy won’t be enough to save him from this level of heartbreak a second time.
When the Portland PD’s S.W.A.T. team arrives, I turn to my brother and clap him on the shoulder. “Thank you.” He nods, jumping into his role as the agent in charge. Seconds pass before a regular cruiser arrives. The officer waves me over, and we’re soon on our way to the hotel to pick up Orion.
My phone buzzes as I walk into the building. A quick look at the screen shows an address from Ridley’s unsaved number. It feels ridiculous to take time away from my search to track down their friend, but if he can pull strings we cannot, it may be fruitful.
In the hotel room, Orion hasn’t moved from the chair I deposited him in earlier. His expression is blank, but thehopelessness in his amber eyes when he turns to look at me is gutting.
“We have a lead,” I tell him bluntly. “Bea’s other mates are taking over from here, but they need our help.”
He nods weakly and stumbles to his feet. Silence envelopes us as we ride down to the lobby and head toward my car, where it’s parked outside. Hovering by my door, I glance at him over the top of the car. Keeping Orion from falling apart is a task I am unsure I can handle when my self-control is wearing thin, but fear of him relapsing makes me feel as though I have no choice but to hover.
Shaking my head, I climb behind the wheel and buckle in. For now, he is sticking with me, so I can manage us both. If a time comes when he must be on his own… I’ll figure something out.
Urgency pulses through my veins as we finally return to New York. We’re still forty minutes away from our destination and an hour from Starburgh. The sooner we track down Mr. Ferguson’s military friend, the sooner he can head to Alabama to help them track my Omega.
