Page 84 of Taken Off Camera
“No.” Leo shakes a finger at him. “Absolutely not.”
Milo grins at me. “See? Get your diamonds, if that’s what you want.”
“I think this one would prefer a new motherboard,” Ezra counters. “Go for a complete system overhaul.”
“Shush, both of you,” Leo scolds.
I take another bite of food, then another, my appetite returning as the tension inside me settles. For all their wealth and power, the Rockfords are just people. Complicated, connected people who, for my Alpha’s sake, have decided to include me in their circle.
Sebastian leans in, his lips brushing my ear. “We can leave whenever you want.”
I shake my head. “It’s okay. This is… nice.”
I exchange a glance with Saint, who appears as bewildered by the Rockfords as I feel. Neither of us has ever known a home where people cared about each other. That was a fairy tale not meant for the likes of us.
The Rockfords are a cast of perfect princes, scooping up unfortunate Omegas and showering them in wealth.
It’s all too good to be true.
I turn to face Leo again. “To answer your question, yes, I enjoy working in the entertainment field.”
The pregnant Omega leans forward. “How did you get your start?”
I laugh. “It’s not hard. The first camera I used was pretty crappy, if I’m being honest, but it’s what I could afford. Then all I had to do was sign up for an account and get to work. The viewers found me all on their own.”
“Why camming instead of a job as a back-room boy at a club?” Leo smacks his husband’s hand away from his plate again. “They bring in a lot of money.”
“Well, for one, I wasn’t sure my fake ID would pass closer inspection,” I say dryly. “But also, I enjoy orgasms, but not so much people in real life. Cammingallowed me independence, physical distance, and the choice of who I took private sessions with. It doesn’t pay as well, since I don’t offer more of the kinkier things big spenders are into, but it gives me freedom.”
Leo clasps his hands together. “And that’s how you met Sebastian.” He tips his head up toward his Alpha. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Nolan smooths a hand over Leo’s blond hair. “Sure is.”
Gabriel snorts. “You think anything to do with people hooking up is beautiful.”
Leo blinks guilelessly at him. “Isn’t it?”
Disarmed either by Leo’s romanticism or Nolan’s glare, Gabriel nods and returns to his sausages.
Damien and Phoenix sneak back in, looking rumpled and satiated as they resume their seat at the table.
Jade wipes his mouth with a cloth napkin and leans back in his chair. “Now that all the pleasantries are over, can we get to the business of planning how to kill this Travis asshole?”
“So stabby these days,” Ezra murmurs.
Jade glares at him. “Don’t you have an Omega to chase down?”
Ezra raises an eyebrow. “The fun of cat and mouseis setting the trap. He’ll get tired of running and be home soon enough.”
Gabriel claps his hands together. “I, for one, agree with Jade. We haven’t buried a body in, what? A month?”
Milo fiddles with his silver butter knife. “Six weeks.”
Okay, maybe not princes. The Rockfords aren’t saviors in white. They’re villains, just better dressed than the ones I’m used to.
22
The first thing that strikes me is howcalmeveryone is.
