Page 28 of The Alpha: Part Two
“Ben?” he asks, the merest drop of hope lacing his tone.
“Not yet,” I say softly. “We’re going for him next.”
“Is she…” he trails off.
“She’s fine. Really fine. Are you alright?”
He pulls back, barking a rough laugh as he puts himself back together. “Fuck no. Are the rest of your people here? Help me get this tape off.”
I tell him the abridged version of everything while I unravel the tape from his knuckles. Bryant comes in at a point, followed by Corso.
“Kaleb and Trent are going to park the van near the side entrance,” Corso says quietly. “We probably need to move. Is Benjamin close by?”
Michael shrugs, but Bryant answers. “He’s in the next building. James is clearing the level. It should be a quick in and out grab.”
Michael shoots him a glare. “I should fucking kill you where you’re standing.”
“You should,” Kaleb shrugs, “but don’t. We don’t have time, and your omega doesn’t want you to.”
“Why not?” Michael snaps.
Kaleb offers him a smile that might actually be sarcastic. “Because she decided he gets a second chance.”
“You’re Devon?” Michael asks him, and pulls a shirt from the top shelf of one of the lockers to put on.
“Kaleb. Devon is with Desir’ee,” Kaleb says.
Michael nods and shoves his feet into his shoes. “Let’s go get my brother.”
Chapter eighteen
Ben
Anxious energy is winding through me. Something is about to happen. Something important. I can almost feel it getting closer. I’ve been feeling the build up and pacing my cell for a couple hours now. Whatever it is, it’s happening soon.
James knocked on my door a bit ago.Knocked. And asked if I was awake. I answered him by knocking back on the door. He said, “good,” and I haven’t heard anything else from him, but I know he’s still there. Waiting.
I don’t want to fight Michael again. Ever again. If we get out of this fucking catastrophe, I’m never fighting with him again for the rest of our lives. He can win any argument we have, I don’t have the will to fight with him anymore. I might not even be able to practice with him. It only lasted a breath, but I don’t ever want to see that level of anguish on his face again.
James starts speaking in a hushed tone, but he isn’t speaking to me. There are other quiet, muffled voices on the other side of the door and my ever-optimistic mind is screaming that it’s Michael. The lock turns, and when the door swings open I find myself blinking wildly as Seth fills the doorway. He looks me over from my eyes down to my feet and nods once before stepping to the side.
My racing mind fills that brief moment with every horrible and beautiful thought I’ve had since I’ve been here. Maybe he’s here to get me out. Maybe he’s here to finish the job Flores started. Maybe he’s here to gloat because he’s been working with Lopez this whole time and now he’s got Desie all to himself because Michael’s dead. Maybe he paid off James and he’s whisking me out of here so we can go get Michael and Desie. Maybe I’ve finally lost my mind and I’ve just hallucinated and it’s really someone else here instead of Seth.
But then Michael steps through the door and I take my first full breath in what feels like years. He puts his trembling hands on either side of my face when he gets to me, angling it from side to side as he examines my nose.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers.
I just laugh at him and pull him into the hardest, tightest hug I can manage, then I shove him behind me when I notice the unfamiliar alphas standing with Seth and James.
“Relax,” Michael says gently. “They’re Seth’s people. We’re leaving.”
“What about James?”
“Switched sides. Lopez too,” Michael squeezes my shoulder in solidarity, “They’ll catch us up in the van.”
“Is Desie okay?”
Seth answers instead of Michael. “She’s fine. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
