Page 80 of Carmichael's Omega

"The cops are there," he says, grim, as he hangs up the phone.

I suck in a deep breath and nod. The door bangs open. Before I can even turn my head, Rique is between Alize and me.

"What's wrong, Cassie?" Alize hurls her question around Rique's broad shoulders.

"A hard weekend," I tell her. I really want to spill, but not with Rique standing... no,bristling, in between us.

"I'll take care of her from here," Alize tells Rique.

There's a tense moment, just a fraction of time, while my omega-wolf stares at them without reacting.

"Rique, thank you," I whisper. I gently pat him on the back as I edge around his tense frame. "Um... males aren't allowed in here, so I'll go with Alize, OK?"

"I'll stay with you until Miranda gets back, Luna," he tells me.

"She is the luna. You need to listen to her, OK, Bru?" Alize says.

"No,chica, it's not OK,si?" Rique's chest rumbles dangerously.

"Enrique Guerrero, stop it right now," I scold him.

His head whips around to stare at me in surprise. "¿Que?How do you know my full name,Bella?"

I immediately turn beet-red. I don't look at him, turning my head away.

"Luna? Cassie?"

"I heard Miranda say it, OK?" I tell him in a huff.

"When?" he asks, confused.

"The last time you were here. I had a question for Miranda," I mumble. He still looks confused, so I add in a whisper, "at night, Rique!"

Alize easily pushes him back outside and shuts the door in his face. Males who are doubled-over, laughing hysterically, are easy to move.

---

Mattie

I'm quaking as Miranda walks over to me and straightens up the room. Her eyes critically examine everything, including me, in one swoop.

"Drink this, then hop in the shower, Mattie," she says to me.

I drink, shell-shocked but obedient, when the buzz on the door comes. I nearly leap out of my skin, but Miranda is already striding to the door.

"Hello?" she calls through the buzzer. Her eyes cut to me, the order in them unmistakable. My heart pounding in my throat, I head into the bathroom.

She follows me a moment later.

"They are coming up. That gives us five minutes before they knock on the door, OK?" she says.

I scrub, feeling nervous. My left cheek is bruised a nasty yellow-green. The scratches Dylan left behind can mostly be hidden beneath my clothing, but what if they strip-search me? Can they do that? Will they do that?

My breathing is ragged as I step out of the shower and wrap the towel around me. Without any hesitation, Miranda whips the towel off and hands me clothes. I pull them on without checking to see what they are while she speaks.

"Mattie? Listen," she says softly. I turn, looking at her, half-dressed. An odd sensation takes over, and she smiles gently.

"The drink I gave you slows your responses so that you can lie more easily, OK? Don't panic when you feel that."

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