Page 104 of Stolen Omega

Not too many things unnerve my Beta, but helicopter rides are at the top of that list.

Too bad we don’t have anything else to go on right now.

It’ll probably take Seth a while to dig for the information I requested.

We can’t sit around doing nothing while we wait.

I drive through the gap once the gates are fully open, heading up the slight incline to the dirt parking lot out front of the farmhouse. Harris has a Humvee, a Chevy Impala, and a locked barn full of fixer-uppers he hasn’t gotten around to fixing up.

He stays out here because it’s quiet and he likes to spend a lot of time on his own.

He’s not quite an eccentric recluse. He does own a garage in Silver City, where he talks to actual people and fixes up classic cars for clients who tell him money is no object. He just prefers to spend his down time relaxing alone.

I park up by the side of the Humvee and kill the engine.

I had a Ford Mustang before I met Harris. I thought that was kind of cool, but I got it because it was reliable and fast. I had no idea cars were my big weakness until he invited us over for a helicopter tour of the city. Considering we were about the start a tour that would bring us out here, I thought it was an excellent idea. Of course, Russ spent the whole of that two-hour ride trying not to puke.

He made it until we landed, when he threw open the door and lost his lunch on the grass.

I got to check out his car collection while Russ went for a lie down in his spare room.

One of his clients had given him a Dodge Viper to work on, and I was in love.

I bought my own the next fucking day.

It’s the most expensive thing I’ve ever bought, and the guilt was real, but it’s all I’ve had to smile about while we’ve been running down the clock on our true mate’s contract. Almost every minute of every day has been about making sure our future mate is safe and protected.

I’d sell the car, trash it, or give it away if any of those things would bring Zelena back safe.

She’s worth more than anything to me and Russ both.

I step out of the car first, waiting for my Beta.

He gets out of the passenger side slowly, taking his time closing the door and then stretching his legs by the side of the car. “Can’t believe I’m doing this again.”

“Just think about who we’re doing this for,” I remind him.

“Zelena’s the only reason I’d set foot on that thing again.”

I turn as the light goes on above the farmhouse door.

The big, vibrant blue door opens. Harris steps out, wearing a frayed pair of jeans and a flannel shirt. His shoulder-length, blond hair is tied back and he’s wearing a grin as he bounds down the steps to the dirt parking lot.

“You made it! In one piece,” he says, glancing at Russ. “Well, two pieces, I guess.”

“Yeah, we managed to survive the drive over. It’s good to see you. I just wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Of course,” Harris says, nodding. “I’m sorry your client is missing. I’m just glad I could help.”

He leads the way across his field to the helicopter sitting on the grass.

Opening the door to the back, he nods at Russ. “There’s a shade you can pull in the back if you need, and there’s a couple paper bags under the seat just in case.”

Clearly, Harris remembers the last time well.

I expect Russ to look annoyed at the jibe, but his expression is slack when I glance at him.

His face is ashen, and I doubt he even heard what our pilot just told him.

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