Page 80 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus
Eileen and Kiernan say their goodbyes and leave the room.
Archer and I are quiet for a while. I don't know about him, but I'm stupefied. And I was worried courting Everly would be an abuse of power?
Those assholes intended to… My fists clench at my sides. I want to destroy those assholes. Thinking they could use anyone that way isdisgraceful.And a very good reason why only honorable people should be in our profession.
"Anastasia had post-heat cramps," Archie says, staring at the door. His leg is shaking so hard it jiggles my desk. "How soon after the end of the heat do the cramps normally start?"
"Essentially as soon as the sex ends," I reply mindlessly. "Sometimes, according to my dads, even before the fucking is over. It signals the end is coming."
I hit my feet. "Everly should be cramping, then. Her heat has been over for more than a day."
"It appears I didn't fully think through my directive to Tom and Luke," Archie says, grimacing.
"What directive?" I growl.
What the hell does that mean?
"You and Everly didn't discuss birth control by chance?" Archie asks, a hint of discomfort in his tone.
The door opens. Murphy and Everly walk in. Tom catches sight of us and gently tries to pull Evie behind him.
Lovely.
Whatever it is Murphy thinks he needs to protect Everly fromme.
"I feel like Luke right now, but…" Murphy grunts, jabbing a finger at my chest. "You've got bad energy."
"Everly, are you having post-heat cramps?" I ask. My jaw feels tighter than my chest as I ask the question. My hands hit the cool wood of my desk as I stretch forward, studying her face.
"No," she whispers. Her eyes dart between the three of us. "Do you think it's possible? I mean, does anyone ever really get pregnant on the first try?"
"Try?" I choke.
Evie's eyes go wide. She glances between Archie and Murphy. "H-He d-didn't know?"
"Knowwhat?" I ask. The words sound clipped even to my own ears.
"I tried to tell you in the office of the store," Evie says, swallowing thickly. "That night before my heat."
"I know you have a bad habit of thinking the worst of people," Tom growls, stepping into my personal space. He jabs his fingerinto my pec,painfully. "Of running your mouth before you have a chance to think it through. Donotdo that right now." He spins and heads back to Everly. "Come on, little one. Let's see if the nurse practitioner can give us some insight."
"No," Evie says, dragging her feet and trying to spin back to me. "I'm so sorry. I thought you knew."
"Knew what?" I growl as Tom very carefully maneuvers her out the door.
Archie takes a step in front of me and squeezes my shoulder. I shake him off as he explains the details of how Everly had her implant removed and why.
Archie, Luke, and Murphy allknew.
Not one of them said a fucking word to me.
I stagger back a few steps, falling onto the couch.
"How could none of you tell me?" I hiss. "You purposely fucking kept it from me! It wasn't an accidental oversight!"
"That's on me. I didn't want to give you any reason to sell." Archie sighs, taking a seat at my side. "I didn't fully consider the repercussions. I think I thought we'd tell you after you told the investors to bugger off, but before her heat."
"It sure fucking didn't work out that way, did it?" I snap, running a hand over my face. I'm not sure what I'm feeling.
