Page 17 of Claimed Omega

Shadow got to his feet and made his way over to Daniel, who pulled away from him.

“I hate that you constantly push me away. I’m not a child. I can look after myself.”

“Daniel, please,” Shadow pleaded, taking hold of his hand tenderly, then drew him against him, their brows touching. “I would never push you away. You are part of me, and I’d be nothing without you. But I need someone to care for my grandma by getting her safely out of the city to one of a dozen motels. The mafia doesn’t know either of you.”

Daniel’s chin was trembling as he lifted his gaze to Shadow. “I don’t want you to die when I could be there and maybe could have helped.”

My throat thickened watching them, my eyes stinging, and I felt awkward watching their intimate moment. I adored Shadow, and I understood Daniel’s agony because I would be the same if he packed me away while two mafia families wanted his head.

When Shadow turned around, taking Daniel’s arm with him, I lowered my gaze, wishing I could just disappear. They crossed the room and vanished into Shadow’s bedroom, the door shutting behind them.

Then their raised voices started.

Aspen took me into his arms while Viper strolled into the kitchen, telling Thelma, “I’m here to help. Tell me what to do.”

“Do they argue a lot like this?” I asked, glancing up at my huge blond Adonis.

“Sometimes, Daniel can get fiery, but I agree with Shadow on this one. I mean, if you weren’t involved, I’d be shipping you off with them.”

My shoulders shot back. “You wouldn’t dare!”

His eyes widened with seriousness. “I’d tie you up if it meant saving your life, little Omega. Don’t underestimate how much you mean to me and the length I’d go to in order to protect you, even if it makes you mad at me. I can live with your anger, but not if you’re dead.”

As much as I hated his words, I also loved them. “You’re a real sweetheart, you know that,” I said softly, wanting only him to hear me.

“Hmm, I’m pretty sure that’s what I call you.” He grinned wickedly, the sides of his mouth quirking upward. “Don’t go stealing my nickname, or I’ll have to come up with something new for you. Something like Chewbacca. Alfalfa. Bambi. Fire girl. Poke.” He moved closer to me.

“Poke.” I scrunched up my nose. “What the hell sort of nickname is that?”

His gaze trailed down my body as he gently brushed his hand over my breasts.

“Because you’re always so horny that your nipples are hard, poking against your shirts.” He grinned, followed by Viper chuckling in the kitchen.

My nipples tightened with arousal from his touch as if to prove his point, and his eyes dipped, noticing them. Despite my face heating up, I wouldn’t back down and glanced at the erection in his pants.

“That’s okay. I can live with Poke because your new name is Tent.”

Six

TRINITY

Istood outside Shadow’s bedroom door, my stomach full, while the clanking of forks striking plates sounded behind me. Viper and Aspen kept eating with Thelma, but I couldn’t stop worrying about Shadow and Daniel, who still hadn’t appeared from the bedroom.

I lifted my hand and did a quick knock.

“Yeah?” Shadow grumbled, which I took as my chance.

Pushing down on the handle, I opened the door, peering inside, feeling awkward but also wanting to help. Daniel sat on the bed, wiping the tears from his eyes while Shadow was facing me, heartache in his gaze.

“Is everything okay?” he asked, his voice stoic.

I nodded and stepped inside, inviting myself in and shutting the door behind me. I figured Daniel didn’t want the others to see him crying.

“I was worried about you both and wanted to see if there was anything I could do.” The blur of the urgency of what our day was going to bring us and how much I adored these men, especially my Alpha, kept me in the room.

“It’s all good,” Daniel stated in a watery voice. “There’s nothing I can do to make him change his mind.”

Shadow sighed, facing his lover, the ache obvious when his shoulders sagged. “It’s because I care for you that I’m sending you away. My angel, do this for me, and I’ll have a lifetime to make it up to you.”

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