Page 16 of Claimed Omega

“Then we need to find another mode of transport,” Daniel stated the obvious. “They could have multiple trackers, knowing we’re going to look for at least one. And they know what car they’re looking for, so we dump it.”

“Got you covered,” Viper rasped. “They’re half a dozen old cars in the parking garage under this building. Started them up, and two of them purred like a kitten, plus both had a full tank of gas. Luck is on our side.”

“And where exactly are we going?” I asked, catching the way Viper studied me the whole time he spoke, the tiny grin at the corners of his sexy lips. He blew me a kiss when he caught me staring, which made me hot. Last night, he was incredible, but that didn’t mean all was velvet smooth between us. It also didn’t mean I couldn’t still be turned on by this god.

Aspen was watching me, too. Something was gnawing at me, steadily growing as the minutes ticked by.

“We’re not going anywhere until we have full bellies first,” Thelma announced, heading into the kitchen and pulling a pan from the cupboard.

“I’ll help.” Daniel was on his feet, heading toward her.

Shadow and I moved slowly to the couch, and when he sat, he didn’t groan in pain, so I took that as a good sign he wasn’t as bad as I thought, or he was better at pain tolerance than me.

Aspen and Viper joined us—Aspen sitting on my other side, and Viper sitting on the coffee table, facing us, legs wide and bent arms resting on his thighs.

“Do you have to sit on the table?” Aspen asked, causing him and Viper to get into a battle of words.

Shadow glanced over at me, his touch tender, and I couldn’t begin to explain the joy that burst through me to see him up and about.

“I seriously thought I was going to lose you yesterday, but you look so much better today.”

“I feel it. What about you? Are you okay with everything going on? I heard you had a heat cycle last night.”

“I’m over it. Viper was there for me.” I held onto Shadow’s hand, stroking it and wishing we weren’t in such a life-and-death situation. I leaned against his arm once more, loving his warmth. I’d missed him.

“Everyone’s going to be looking for us,” Shadow began, glancing at his men, who calmed down their bickering.

My knees were bouncing from the danger we were in, but none of the Alphas were panicking, which tempered my anxiety.

“We should get out of here early,” Aspen contributed, leaning forward to watch Shadow, his hand on my leg, holding onto me, his touch like fire.

Shadow nodded. “We use the car Viper found, and there’s a rear way out of the building that takes us along back streets to avoid the front main road. Then we head toward the mountains. There are secret underground roadways that lead out of the city that not many know about. They may not be manned.”

“Or,” Daniel said, stepping out of the kitchen. “You use my other apartment. I haven’t been there for months. It’s located in the heart of the city, where no one will suspect you to go, and it has underground parking.”

Shadow’s brow pinched together while Viper rubbed his chin.

“He’s got a point. If we can get out of here without being spotted, we stand a good chance of hiding right under their nose.”

I blinked at the guys, nodding. “I’m with Daniel. Axel will have every exit out of the city blocked, and if you know about the mountain tunnels, then what’s the bet others in his mafia do as well?”

“I vote Daniel’s place, too,” Aspen said.

Shadow was silent, studying Daniel. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a second apartment?”

Daniel shrugged, looking away sheepishly.

“For a long time, I was scared that one day you’d realize you were wasting your time with me. I saved for a long time to get a nice place of my own in a good part of the city.” He sighed heavily, staring at his boyfriend, who groaned under his breath. “Shadow, I wasn’t doing it for any vindictive reasons. I figured what harm it was to have it as backup should we ever need it.”

I leaned against Shadow, drawing his attention to me, his expression hard, the edges of his eyes crinkled with deep lines. My poor Alpha appeared older after being shot, and he worried so deeply for us, but his being upset with Daniel wasn’t the answer.

“If it wasn’t for Daniel holding onto his place, we wouldn’t have a place to hide. I see it as fate. Sometimes, things happen for a reason.”

Jawline tight, Shadow nodded. “Okay, so after breakfast, we get ready, take supplies with us, and head off. Daniel, you and my grandma are going to leave the city.”

“No!” Daniel snapped, then cleared his throat. “Shadow, I can help you. Don’t send me away, please. I’m not losing you.”

The room fell silent, and my heart broke for Daniel, his posture curling forward, his eyes glistening. Hearing his voice breaking had my chest clenching.

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