Page 105 of Broken Omega

“I have to get going. If you need anything, like food, Kellan should go out to get it on his own.”

Brooke shouldn’t be seen. The academy will be looking for her eventually, and it’s better if they don’t have any idea where to start looking.

Kellan nods. “That makes sense.”

“We can all talk this out properly in the morning.”

I hand Kellan the keys.

I’m trusting this stranger with something very precious to me, and for once I’m not thinking about the apartment. My instincts don’t want me to leave my mate right now, but I picked the kind of job that gives me no real choice.

It’s the first and only time I’ve questioned that decision, and I know it’s only because I don’t want to leave her side.

“Lock the door behind me. I’ll knock three times when we’re back. It’ll be around seven a.m.”

One last glimpse of Brooke’s face, and I leave.

I have almost a whole shift to get through before I get to see her again.

It’s going to be the longest night of my life.

BROOKE

There’s a hint of awkward in the air after my hug with Frost, and it lingers after he leaves. This whole thing is probably kind of a lot for Kellan. He seemed shocked in the ambulance, and I think he still is. He locks the door and sets the keys down on the counter next to the tin of quarters.

It’s pretty dark in the apartment now that the light from the hallway has been shut out. The drapes are open, so there’s moonlight spilling into the left side of the room where the sofa sits, looking kind of small and cozy. Intimate, even.

“I have no idea how this thing works,” Kellan admits, shining the light from his phone on the box by the door. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before.”

“Me either,” I tell him. “This apartment block might be as old as the city itself.”

He laughs. “You could be right. I’ll try to get candles while I’m out.”

“You’re going somewhere?” I ask, wondering what he’s thinking.

“We kind of skipped dinner,” he reminds me. “So, I should probably grab us some food.”

“Oh. Right. Dinner.” That main meal that most people bother to eat every day. How could I forget?

“Do you have any preferences?” he asks.

I shake my head. “I’m not vegan, or whatever. Anything you pick will be fine.”

He nods slowly. “I’ll find someplace close by, and I’ll get back as quick as I can.”

“I’ll be right here waiting,” I assure him, because he looks a little concerned about leaving me here alone. It’s kind of sweet, I’ll admit. I’ve never had a guy worry about me before.

He turns and unlocks the door. The light from the hallway spills in when he opens it.

Turning back to me, he says, “Lock the door behind me. I’ll knock three times when I get back.”

He doesn’t wait for me to answer. He just goes.

I close the door and turn the key.

He could have taken the key, locked me in. He didn’t.

He’s given me the chance to run, to escape into the city on my own.

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