Page 23 of Claimed Omega

Head low, I crossed the main road on fast feet and darted up to the concealed door, banging on it with my fist. The guard recognized me instantly, grinning as he opened the door.

My skin crawled, but I didn’t waste a second and darted downstairs to the bar section. Smoke hung in the air, choking the back of my throat, the place half empty, while a slow number played on the speakers. The place resembled a depressed pub for locals to drink their sorrows down the drains.

Sweeping my gaze across the room, I found no sight of Rusty, and my gut tightened. I took a chance he’d be there, especially that early in the morning, and I’d been wrong. Making my way to the bar regardless, I grabbed the guy’s attention while he dragged a keg of beer toward the bar counter.

“What’d you have?” he asked.

“Looking for someone. He’s not here, and I figured you might know where else I can track him down?”

“Yeah, and who’s that?” He grunted as he shoved the round keg into place.

“Rusty.” I kept my voice low, not needing anyone else to hear me searching for him or draw attention to myself.

The bartender shook his head as he straightened and wiped his hands down his apron. “Nah, he ain’t shown up yet. It’s a bit early for him, but I can’t help you. I don’t know where else you’d find him. Come in later tonight, and you’ll most likely catch him.”

“Sure, thanks.” I nodded, disappointment spiraling down through me.

I turned and made my way back up, the icy touch of fear wrapping around my chest of how we’d prove our innocence without getting hold of Rusty. Part of me toyed with dropping off Trinity and the guys at Daniel’s hideout, then returning. I had until sundown, and I might get lucky to find Rusty.

The guard opened the door for me. “Nothing to your liking?”

His sarcasm had me fisting my hands, and the urge to break his nose billowed inside me. Biting my tongue, I slipped outside, clenching my jawline.

The door banged shut behind me just as a figure came up into my face so fast, I shoved my hands into his chest. Head jerking up, I came face to face with Rusty. He ran a hand through his short brown hair, muscles pulling at the fabric of his blue-and-black checkered button-up shirt.

“You got a death sentence, boy?” His raspy words flew at me.

“Fuck, I didn’t see you there.” I chided myself that I had to get out of my own head and keep an eye out. “I came here to see you.”

His mouth thinned, and he glanced over his shoulder, back down the thin lane, and back up. “Follow me.”

We paused around the corner, where shadows from the building and nearby trees planted on the sidewalk concealed us.

“What could be so important that you’re risking your damned life?” His brow furrowed, shoulders bunched up.

I’d thought he might truly care for my well-being.

“We were attacked this morning by two of Axel’s guards, and they were fighting alongside two assholes from the Shchavlev clan. Axel’s working with the fucking enemy, and I bet it’s why he killed my great-grandfather.”

“Since when do you care about mafia affairs, boy?” Rusty watched me closely, scratching the side of his head, his eyes spinning with thoughts. “You’re better off lying low and getting the hell out of the city.”

“Fuck that. This is my home, and I’m not being chased away. Besides, I figured you’d have taken more interest in knowing you have a traitor in your midst.”

“I already know that fucking snotface, Axel, is up to something, but we need evidence. I assume you’ve got the guard tied up somewhere for grilling to get the lowdown?”

I cringed hard, grinding my back teeth at Viper for having killed the guard.

Shaking my head, I admitted, “He got killed in the attack.”

“Fuck, man. You know what that means? With them dead, you’ll be blamed for attacking first. So, you’ve just forfeited your twenty-four hours of everyone else coming for you.”

“Who gives a fuck? They’re attacking us already. They broke the damn pact.”

“You need to go now and fast… hide. You have a week to prove your innocence, but everyone will go gangbusters to find your lot in the first few days.” He stuffed his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small cell phone. “Take this. It’s my burner phone and untraceable. No one has the number but me, and my number’s loaded. Throw yours away to avoid being traced.”

Rage burned through me at Axel, making me sick at how exposed I felt.

“Thank you.” I accepted the phone and stuffed it into my back pocket.

---