Page 25 of Omega's Reign

“You won’t. You’re not as powerful as you once were. But Holly is my omega. I can persuade her. I can put her in her place. Don’t kill me and hear me out,” Beckett says, his words like a slap in the face.

I don’t understand what’s going on. Beckett got to a jet ski? He didn’t choose to save us and instead came here alone? Is this why he demanded Andrew keep me out of a supposed fight?

Andrew climbs up the rungs and pulls me from the water, pressing his index finger over his mouth, silently begging me to be quiet. He searches around the deck, finding a net. I grab a broom, holding it like it could protect me in a gunfight. I know it won’t, but I don’t know what else to do. I lost my weapon along the way. I don’t see another one here. I’m not strong, but I’m an excellent fighter. My brothers made sure.

“Do you think I trust you to follow through? I need a guarantee before I negotiate anything.” Hector’s familiar voice sends goosebumps over my skin. I can’t believe Beckett is even here. He had this planned since the fire started, which is why he sent me with Andrew.

But I don’t feel as if he’s betrayed me. I’m just in shock. Hurt. I think he’s desperate. Beckett has struggled for months with proving he is capable of running a territory. But resorting to this? God, no. My sweet, protective alpha. What has this done to him?

“I have given you no reason to trust me, so no. What kind of guarantee? Property? A leadership position on one of the bigger packs?” Beckett remains even in tone, sounding as if this is just a part of his everyday life.

“I want the omegas. I also want restitution for the time I lost. For the packmates I lost. You killed my brother,” Hector says, his voice deep with anger.

I tense, jerking my attention away from Andrew. He doesn’t give away a single thought. All he does is adjust the net between his hands and tilt his head to the side, motioning to a metal ladder that goes up to the helm of the boat.

“He knows what he’s doing,” Andrew whispers, knowing that if he doesn’t say something soon, I might lose my shit. It takes everything in me not to rush around the pathway to the bow of the boat.

“He’s not the leader of Platinum Shores. He can’t make these offerings,” I mutter, hating that it has come to this.

“They don’t know that. They don’t know anything. Now, come on. We must attack from above. We’re running out of time.” Andrew gets me to step on the first rung, trusting me to go first. He waits until I make it to the top. I set the broom against the metal wall and peer into the console, spotting a man sitting in front of the navigation equipment. He focuses on his screen, not even looking up.

From here, I can’t hear Beckett any longer. It makes me want to hurry.

I don’t wait for Andrew to finish scaling the ladder before I yank open the door of the console and slam the broom handle to the top of the guy’s head. It’s enough to stun him but he doesn’t go down.

I search around, spotting his weapon on his hip. I crouch and grab it, yanking it free while shoving my arm against his chair, not letting him turn around.

He hollers, his voice echoing, and I cringe and slap the side of his head with the barrel of the gun. If I shoot him, it will draw even more attention.

But I don’t have to. Andrew looms over me and grabs the guy by his head, twisting hard and sharp, breaking his neck and cutting off all his noise.

The man slips down and Andrew flexes his jaw with a hard look at me.

“Can you drive a boat?” Andrew asks, turning the captain’s chair around.

I shake my head. “I can shoot a gun. I will not let Beckett make this mistake. You can either stay here and wait for my instructions or you can follow me.”

“Holly—”

“No. There is only one way to handle this, and it’s not by negotiation. We don’t negotiate with people who’ll turn around and stab us in the back.” I straighten my shoulders and check the gun, ensuring that the clip is loaded.

Andrew grabs a fishing knife from its spot stuck into the wood panel of the wall, and he swipes it on his wet jeans.

I knew he wouldn’t stay here, defending the cockpit. He is my bodyguard, and I know he won’t leave my side.

“Becks? What the fuck?” Jordan’s voice rings through the air, his surprise turning it higher in pitch. “Where’s Holly?”

I move faster, my heart feeling like a rock in my chest, smashing against my rib cage with every beat.

“She’s none of your concern. She’s safe, and that’s all that matters. We have bigger things to deal with besides a disobedient omega.” Beckett lowers his voice, his words dripping with what feels like anger. But it’s not directed toward anyone. He’s mad at himself. I know him well enough to notice. He hates saying things that he knows will hurt his brother.

“What the fuck?” Jordan repeats. “You are—”

Jordan’s voice cuts off, and he grunts, pain radiating with his groan.

I duck beside Andrew and look over the railing, spotting the group on the deck of the boat. Some men keep their backs away from Hector and another guy looming over my mates, watching as our yacht capsizes. The roar of the ocean and the sound of destruction is too loud to hear the people in the water.

My fear prevents me from even glancing in that direction. What if my packmates are out there? What if they’re not? I still have no idea where Wesley and Isaiah are. Because I don’t think they’re here.

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