Page 172 of Roulette Rodeo
"They found a body," Red insists, and I can hear tears threatening in her voice. "Same height, same build, your tattoo on the shoulder?—"
"Ah, that." Malrik's grin turns sharper, more dangerous. "Yeah, that was the asshole who was trying to kill me. Didn't end too well for him." He chuckles, the sound at odds with the casual admission of murder. "Funny thing about tattoos, they're not that hard to replicate on a corpse if you know what you're doing."
The casual way he discusses killing someone and framing his own death should be disturbing.
Instead, I find myself oddly impressed.
This rare male omega has survived things that would break most alphas.
"Okay, let me put you down before that pack of men over there murders me," Malrik says, finally noticing our less-than-friendly expressions.
"Planning on torture first," I say flatly, not even trying to hide the threat. "Then murder."
He laughs—actually laughs at my threat—and sets Red down gently. "Hey, I'm an innocent rare omega breed. I come in peace."
"Innocent my ass," Red giggles, smacking his arm. "You once knocked out three alphas with a bar stool."
"They were being rude," he says with a shrug. "I asked them nicely to stop. Twice."
Poppy honks the horn, leaning out the window. "MALRIK! If we're late for this surprise rodeo, you're a dead omega!"
"It ain't a surprise with your big mouth," he groans, then looks at Red with a questioning expression. "Bad timing to kidnap you?"
Red looks back at us nervously, clearly torn between wanting to go with her friends and not wanting to leave, given what just happened with Marnay. She takes a step toward us, then stops, uncertainty written across her features.
I make the decision for all of us, walking up to close the distance.
"If you want to borrow our omega," I tell Malrik, making sure to emphasize the 'our', "you can. As long as you keep us updated with her location."
"Sure," Malrik agrees easily, pulling out his phone. "Location tracking every minute, easy. I know how y'all possessive alphas are. I'll be good." He grins, showing teeth that seem a bit too sharp for an omega. "Plus, I'm the owner of the new gym that just opened, so you can literally track me down anytime."
"You own the gym?" Red gasps. "The one Poppy mentioned?"
"Surprise," he says with jazz hands. "Your old instructor decided small-town Montana was more his speed than Vegas. Less chance of accidentally killing someone who deserved it and having to fake my death. Again."
Red turns to us, excitement warring with concern on her face. "Can I... I mean, with everything that just happened..."
"Yeah," I tell her, reaching out to tuck that perpetually wayward strand of hair behind her ear. "We'll clean up here. You go have fun."
"You guys could come too," she offers, but I can tell she's torn. She wants time with her friends but doesn't want us to feel excluded.
"Another time," Rafe says, surprising everyone by speaking up. "This is clearly a reunion. Enjoy it."
The relief on her face is palpable. I pull her in for a soft kiss, trying to convey reassurance and possession in equal measure. When we part, I can't resist giving her ass a quick slap that makes her yelp.
"Go look sexy," I tell her with a grin. "But not too sexy that we gotta call the fire department."
She laughs, the sound lighter than it's been since Marnay showed up. "Yes, Alpha."
"FIFTEEN MINUTES!" Poppy yells from the truck. "You have fifteen minutes or we're leaving without you!"
"I can be ready in five!" Red calls back, already running toward the house.
We watch her go, that nervous energy transformed into excitement. When the door closes behind her, the atmosphere shifts immediately. The four of us exchange looks that communicate everything without words.
"The gym owner?" Talon asks, studying Malrik with new interest.
"The one who's supposedly setting up omega self-defense classes," Corwin adds.
