Page 51 of Retribution
“Eh, I think he may be able to this time, Kitten. Not being scent matched doesn’t mean that his instincts don’t recognize you as his,” I explain.
“I don’t trust my instincts,” she breathes, shuddering. “They’ve betrayed me too many times. So I avoid following them whenever possible.”
“I can understand that,” I say carefully. If I fuck this up, I’m going to meet a bullet to a very vulnerable part of my body. It probably won’t even be Isolde who pulls the trigger. “You’re the writer of your own narrative, baby. You can retrain your instincts, lean into what feels right. I think you’re too strong to not try.”
Grant’s eyes are heavy on me, but my concentration lays solely on Isolde right now.
“Someone without good instincts would have been killed by my men in the woods,” Grants grunts. “You managed to map out Lucas’ entire life because you could see he would be the easiest mark.”
“Omega instincts can be tricked through medication and manipulation,” Isolde says.
“Manipulation?” Lucas asks, coming in at the tail end of his words as he puts dishes down. “What are we talking about?”
“Forced omega heats,” Isolde bites out.
“What if I make something that won’t allow that to be possible?” he asks, sitting down. Alesso places dishes piled high with food down, appearing confused, but doesn’t say anything.
Good man, he’ll catch up.
“Wouldn’t I have heard of such a thing if it existed?” Isolde asks disbelievingly.
“Well that’s just it, darlin’. It doesn’t exist,” Lucas shrugs. “I occasionally get into the labs to work on things when I can. Research is where my heart is, but business is what was needed to get my passion projects into the hands of those who need them. So, I’ll make something that will mean you can’t have your heat forced.”
“What could be some side effects of that?” Alesso asks.
“If there’s a medical reason where Isolde needed her heat forced, there’s a possibility she wouldn’t be able to because of how I create the medication,” Lucas says. “I could make it a one time injection or a pill you take every day.”
“I don’t ever want my heat forced,” Isolde says, gagging. “It’s the worst feeling in the world. My body doesn’t belong to me. I haven’t had a heat in several years since I was sold at the auction house. I hate even thinking about this, but you need to know that I’m not normal.”
“We aren’t either,topolina,” Alesso says. “I don’t kill often, but I won’t lose any sleep over it when I do.”
“My job keeps me behind a computer as well, but I also don’t care if I have to relieve a douche nozzle of their life,” I say.
“You know my position, Little Nightmare,” Grant says. “I have very little care or conscience for protecting what’s mine.”
Lucas glances at him, but I can understand the undertone. I don’t think Grant wants to fuck Lucas, but he’s been with him for so long that there is a possessive connection between them.
“That’s an interesting choice of words, Grant,” Lucas says.
“Just telling it like it is, Sir,” he smirks.
Lucas rolls his eyes before moving back to Isolde.
“Just say the word and I’ll clear my projects,” Lucas says. “Now, what would you like to eat? Alesso made crepes and a quiche. I made crispy potatoes, biscuits, and sausage. We divided and conquered.”
“It all looks really good,” she says, looking around with eyes wide.
“You do not need to try everything,” Alesso says stoically. “We made a lot of food. Is there anything you don’t eat?”
“Can I have a small slice of quiche, a crepe, and potatoes, please?” she asks. “I don’t eat meat.”
Leaning forward, I grab the potatoes, smirking as Alesso and Lucas move to help with the other items. Isolde appears shocked as she watches the way we fill her plate, and I hope I haven’t served her too much.
Sometimes, too much food can feel off putting and affect one’s appetite. It happens to me just as often when I’m working and just want a snack to fill the hole of hunger.
“Thank you,” she says, her voice deeper and more sultry.
Fuck, everything about her is perfect.
