Page 28 of Omega Inked

I'm not going to seduce him.

That's not why I'm here.

"So...you're Eduardo Cruz's daughter," Mercer says. "The Control Bureau's lost princess. You know everyone thinks you're dead."

"Not dead," I say. "Obviously."

"You ran away."

I nod. "Director Cruz--he was never dad to me--I used to hear the things he would talk about with his lackeys. The way they treated omegas, how they hunted them down and gave them to the highest bidder. And I knew I needed to escape before I came of age...so I did."

"How'd you do all this?" he asks. "Get away--go into hiding for two fucking years? That would be valuable information for us."

I bite my lip. "I've been with two other girls this whole time...we've been scrounging for suppressants, only leaving one at a time so they never see us together."

"Where do you live?"

"I paid off a beta bodyguard to keep our secret after stealing some money from my father," I tell him. "But we were running out of money. So we knew it was finally time to escape Solstice Bay."

"Then you came to us."

"Exactly," I say. "Look, Mercer...I'm grateful to you all for helping me. I didn't mean for this to happen with Liam and Phoenix, but it felt like none of us could resist."

Mercer snorts. "I know. I could see it."

I frown. "See what?"

"I could see the look in their eyes when they were with you." He pauses. "It's how I looked at my mate, once upon a time."

My eyes go wide. "You were pack bonded?"

"I was," he says. "She died in the ACB's first purge, along with our other alphas. But I still remember it, you know? When I look at you, I can't help but wonder...what if things had been different?"

"I'm sorry," I say, my voice hollow. "I didn't know."

Mercer shrugs. "It was a long time ago."

I nod. "So...where are we headed, anyways?"

"Right now? There's an old warship the Enclave uses as a stopping point--that's where we're going. Then...then, I guess we figure out a way to get you out of Solstice Bay."

"And Liam and Phoenix?" I ask.

"What about them?"

I swallow hard, knowing Mercer isn't going to like this.

"I don't want to go without them," I whisper.

Mercer runs a hand through his hair, exasperated.

"Look, I get it. I really do. But Phoenix and Liam have a part to play here in Solstice Bay. They can't just leave; we're all working on helping omegas here."

"Then maybe I should stay," I say.

Mercer laughs out loud at that--a cruel laugh without any humor in it. He doesn't even bother arguing with me, shaking his head as he looks out at the dark sea.

"What's so funny about that?" I ask. "Mercer, I'm not leaving without them...and Ican'tleave until I know my friends are safe. Jade and Kendra are depending on me to get them out."

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