Page 165 of Broken Omega

“Oh,” I murmur, looking up ahead and seeing my favorite academy receptionist standing next to her car.

Lana sees me and waves. I glance at Kellan and see him waving back.

“Wait. Lana’s your friend?”

He nods slowly. “Yeah. Sorry, I would have told you, but I didn’t want Frost freaking out because she works at Goldcrest. Are you mad?”

“I’m stunned,” I admit, feeling pretty much the same way I did when I saw him kiss Donnie.

Of course he’s friends with Lana. She’s awesome. He’s awesome. I’m just lucky they didn’t fall for each other. I’m completely into watching my men with each other, but I wouldn’t want to share Lana with them if we were talking anything more than friendship.

We stop walking at Lana’s car, and she gives me a bright smile. “Hey, Brooke. I love the new look. That top is so cute.”

“I have a new stylist,” I tell her. “You’ve met my mate, Kellan.”

“I have. He’s one of the good guys. I’m so glad you two got to meet.”

“It took a while,” Kellan confesses, shooting me a smile. “But we got there.”

“So, you’re cool with all of this?” I ask.

She nods, her smile fading. “I think it sucks that you felt like you had to run away to do it, but honestly, I understand. Edith Merritt went A.W.O.L. not long after you guys left, and the investors had to hire a replacement immediately. Another Omega ran off after you did, Brooke. Same night.”

“Really? Who?”

“Ember Nestor,” she says. “I know you were friends. She had all this stuff in her purse that made it look like a plan she maybe had for a while. She forgot to take it with her though.”

There’s so much I could say about that, but I keep my mouth shut.

Lana still works at the academy. I don’t know for sure that she’s trustworthy.

I want her to be, but I don’t want to screw anything up for Ember if I’m wrong.

“Oh, wow,” I murmur.

“We should probably get going,” Kellan reminds us.

Lana nods. “Right. Get in. I can’t promise it won’t be a bumpy ride. I was about to get a new car before the shit hit the fan.”

She gives Kellan a pointed look. He takes a set of keys out of his pocket as they get in the front. I open the back door and slip inside. Kellan gives Lana the keys, and she shoves them back at him.

“Hell, no, Mr. Helps the Unicorn Escape. I’m not having the investors, or the new administrator, associate me with your ass. You’ll give me it after you drive it away from the academy.”

He puts the keys away with a helpless sigh.

“Mr. Helps the Unicorn Escape?” I ask, leaning forward in the middle of the backseat.

“Long story,” Kellan says.

“You’re the unicorn,” Lana tells me.

“I’m not really a unicorn.”

“Oh yes you are,” Kellan murmurs.

Clearly there’s some subtext I’m not picking up on, so I drop it.

“Okay, I know where the cameras are, so I’ll drop you off out of range,” Lana says, as she starts the car. The engine makes a weird noise, and nothing happens. She perseveres. The car gets going after a few tense, failed attempts. Sighing, she pulls out of the spot and we’re on the move.