Page 181 of Carmichael's Omega

But there's nothing.

"Diosa, what happened?" Miguel asks behind me.

"Poison or a drug overdose," Rique says grimly from the open window. "No sign of forced entry out here."

"But, it's open," Devel muses. "And the lights and air were off. Let me come in," he calls out. "Carm, I know it's tough, but back off and don't touch anything else."

Shaking, I lay Renee back down and back away slowly into the hallway, joining Miguel outside. My alpha-wolf is stunned and furious. Did Renee commit suicide? Was it an accident? A murder? I want to shield my mates from this. I need to patrol. To make sure that the threat is gone.

Diosa.

I walk to the bar and sit at a booth in the back. The pack is quiet, subdued. There isn't much grief from my sister's death, but there is a deep sense of disquiet.

"She's gone, Carm?" I look up to see Nico.

"You shouldn't hear this," Devel says calmly as he joins us.

"I want to hear," Nico says, sliding into the booth next to Devel. The scarred male doesn't make another protest. Rique walks over and stands at the end. We are all exhausted and in shock. We came here to shower, and instead, we’ve poured on more pain.

"What did you find?" I rasp out.

"She overdosed. We found the spent needle in the sheets. She left a note." Devel hands me a small piece of paper. "It was under her body. Do you recognize the writing?"

I force my fingers to uncurl and grab the note. It's Renee’s writing. She always curled her e's in large loops.

I'm sorry. Nico told me years ago about Hugh, and I didn't believe him. I'm sorry, Nico. I should have listened. Hugh told me about Bembe. Not that he was my brother, but I knew that Alicia was taking a male pup away. Hugh said it was a favor for Papa. I was jealous because I wanted that attention from everyone. I was so stupid. Alicia is dangerous. She's working with cartels in South America. Be careful. I had to do this. I don't want to be in the way anymore.

Love, Renee

Nico takes the note from my numb fingers and reads it. What little color is left in his cheeks drains away, leaving him looking distraught.

"How did Renee know Alicia?" Devel asks quietly.

"Through Hugh, maybe," Nico responds in a tear-filled voice. "I don't know."

"Bring Diego here," I order a hovering Luis.

"I can't believe this," Nico whispered. His fingers smooth over the paper, ironing out the creases and smudging the pencil marks a little.

"She knew, ey?" I snap at him, furious. "About thatbastardohurting you?!" Why did Renee know and not me?

"When did you tell your sister about Hugh?" Devel asks calmly.

"When I was fourteen. Three... three years ago.Diosa," Nico whispers. Silent tears are streaming from his eyes.

Three years...

"Papágot rid of Bembe three years ago," I say grimly. My mind is racing.

"He still..." Nico shakes his head, his voice just a monotone. "Until last year. Hugh knew... or thought... that I wasn't his nephew.”

"Explains why he targeted you," Devel murmurs. "Then... he became obsessed. We found pictures of you everywhere on his computer."

"He thought that his sister was your and R-Renee's mama... but I thought that my real mama just didn't want me and that Papa and Mama hated me because Papa cheated. I knew that Papa cheated. Hugh told me. I didn't want to tell you. I didn't want you to hate me. I'm sorry, Carm. It's my-"

"It's not your fault," the Beta interrupts in a firm voice, repeating my sentiments. "The wolves who need to die for this are dead... or close to it."

"I don't blame you, Nico. Nico, look at me," I order, but he's beyond distraught. When he finally stops and lifts his head, even my alpha-wolf flinches at the look of despair in his eyes. Enough of this. I reach across the table to grab my brother by the collar of his shirt. I haul him over the top, putting my face right in his tear-stained one. "It is not your fault,sí? Stop blubbering."

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