Page 60 of Verses and Blooms
“What’s the name of either one?” I asked, wanting to see it for myself.
“The groomer’s called Groom and Grind. They do coffee in the café next door and grooming there. Their sign shows a coffee cup and paw prints.”
Ledger’s description let me pull it up easily. I zoomed out to view the town as a whole, scanning the streets.
“Sunset Heights,” I said, studying the pictures, trying to figure out where they could be holding an operation this big.
“What does the Omega Network have in that town?” Kane asked.
Ledger answered, already moving to the next search while I continued studying the city.
“They have one just down the street,” he said a few moments later. “Looking at the reviews, people seem happy. No red flags and no one reported missing. No nearby facilities outside of their heat clinic that’s attached, and, apparently, that’s really strict. There’s a message board complaining about how all of these alphas couldn’t make the cut.”
“Maybe ARC was a one-off,” Audrey said, though she didn’t sound convinced, more like she wished it were true.
“There are bad people everywhere,” Rydell said. “This may have just been a case of the board of this facility being corrupt. It was created to hide away rich people’s shame, right? That would make sense. A nationwide name but privately funded to ensure that it was a whole different ball game.”
“You do have a point,” the chief said. “The moment money gets involved, corruption starts to bubble under the surface. Eventually, it puts down roots.”
“Would it help for me to go to Sunset Heights?” Audrey asked.
“No,” the chief said immediately, along with me and Caspian. Ledger wasn’t as convinced. He cared about our girl but he was also practical. Right now, he was thankfully outvoted.
Audrey huffed out a laugh. “I know you guys don’t want me in danger, but what if I can help find it?”
“You did,” the chief reassured her. “I’ve got a team out that way. I’m sending them to search the area. You weren’t far from this, so it helps narrow it down to a manageable range.”
“Fine,” my omega relented, “but I’m here to answer any questions or help in any way I can.”
The difference between the girl shaking in her seat when she started that folder and the girl now was staggering. She was ready to fight for the women and men still in captivity. Audrey had a good heart. It was one of the reasons I loved her.
“When it comes time for those interviews with the Omega Network, just know I’ll be using every bit of this, everything you’ve done, to fight your case. I know Ares already promised to get you out of there, but he’s not doing it alone.”
“Thank you, David,” she whispered.
He shared a look with me, and I nodded my thanks before he stood, said his goodbyes, and left me alone with my pack.
Despite the darkness of this meeting, I wanted us to enjoy our final night together before we had to pretend like we belonged in a place like ARC.
The Omega Network could ask all the questions they wanted, but at the end of the day, I wasn’t letting my pack stay inside those walls any longer than necessary.
They had two weeks. Two fucking weeks, before I pulled rank and every string I had to get us on the other side.
Chapter Twenty-One
Audrey
This was my second time walking into Ash Recovery Center, though it was the first time I was coherent.
Yet, I couldn’t help but feel just as sad and scared as I did that day. I finally had a real taste of pack life, and I wasn’t ready to give it up now.
Director Cross and the chief were waiting for us as we carried our things back into the lobby. Cross tried to smile and greet us, but I couldn’t force myself to be nice.
What had he truly done to make our lives here easier? He had allowed so much to happen on his watch that I’d lost any and all respect for him.
His smile fell quickly, and he let out a breath. “I don’t know what to say other than I’m sorry.”
The man sounded defeated. I had no sympathy for that. Not after looking through the folder and seeing the horrors I was forced to face while he played the compliant director.
