Absolute Devotion (An Omega’s Preference #3)

28. Bear

twenty-eight

BEAR

Victor’s laugh echoes through the club, loud and grating, as he leans back in his chair, his gun trained on us without a hint of hesitation. Beside him, Eugene, Thomas, and Kaden sit with an air of smug confidence, their hands relaxed around their own weapons. I glance at Xylo, who’s tense but keeping his face composed, his hands raised to show he’s unarmed. I know him well enough to see the restrained anger beneath his calm exterior, and the same fire pulses through me.

“Montgomery’s gone, boys,” Victor sneers, his voice dripping with mockery. “And if you think he’ll make it back in time to stop any of this, you’re dead wrong.”

I grit my teeth, resisting the urge to leap across the table. “You don’t know Montgomery,” I reply. “He’s going to be back before you even realize what’s happening.” Montgomery isn’t coming back but I don’t need him to. The agents outside don’t want any blood or evidence that this organization or any other exists.

Victor only chuckles, glancing at his associates as if this is some grand joke. “Oh, we know exactly what’s happening. And your dear friend has walked straight into our trap, leaving the two of you here. But let’s not waste time on him when we’ve got more pressing matters.”

Thomas leans forward, his gaze narrowing. “Let’s make one thing clear: Nala doesn’t belong to you,” he says, his voice low and menacing. “She’s ours.”

Xylo’s eyes flash with barely contained fury. “She’s not a possession. She’s a person.”

Thomas snorts. “She’s a contracted Omega, registered under Redland Academy. Every Omega there is spoken for, as per their terms. Packs have paid a lot of money for the younger ones and Omegas like Nala fetch the highest price. And now she’s trying to slip out of that contract. Not that she's aware that she's been sold, I guess. Being bonded to you makes this all a bit more complicated.”

I clench my fists, keeping my voice even. “So, you’re not part of POCA? Not that it matters. She’s ours, a woman who is not up for sale. None of those Omegas should be.”

At that, the four men burst into laughter. Victor actually doubles over, wiping a fake tear from his eye. “POCA? You think we give a damn about them?” He shakes his head. “They’re old news, Bear. You’re out of your depth. We work for the highest bidder, and Nala’s already been bought and paid for as I said. That overpowered scent of hers will come in handy during the cages on game nights. She'll be an attraction. The little escape she pulled was an inconvenience, nothing more.”

I can feel the blood pounding in my ears, but I try to keep a level head. “So, you’re trafficking people under the guise of these ‘contracts.’ That’s illegal, and you know it.”

Thomas’s gaze hardens, and there’s a gleam in his eye that makes my stomach turn. “She’s not a ‘person’ as you keep saying. She’s an Omega. Nothing more than a hole to fill, and she’s been filled by enough—”

Before he can finish, I lunge across the table, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him down onto the polished wood. The table groans under the impact as I press my forearm against his throat, cutting off his words.

“You don’t get to talk about her that way,” I growl. He struggles beneath me, his hands fumbling for his gun, but I don’t let up, adrenaline and rage giving me strength. His eyes widen in panic as I press harder, determined to make him feel every ounce of fury I’ve held back.

“Bear!” Xylo shouts, but it’s lost in the chaos. Eugene stands, raising his gun, and I catch a flash of silver as he aims. Before I can react, a gunshot rings out, reverberating through the room. For a moment, everything stops—the noise, the movement, my own breathing.

I glance over and see Xylo standing beside the table, his hand pressed to his shoulder, blood seeping between his fingers. He dabs at it, his face unreadable, before letting out a low, menacing growl.

The next second, the door to the private room bursts open, and agents flood inside, their voices booming over the noise. “FBI! Hands up, everyone!”

In the confusion, I feel someone grab me, tearing me off of Thomas and pulling my arms behind my back. I struggle for a moment before I realize it’s an agent, and I catch sight of Xylo, who’s been forced back against the wall, his gaze still fixed on the other men.

Just outside the room, the other patrons of the club are screaming, ducking under tables, while agents swarm Victor, Eugene, Thomas, and Kaden shouting commands as they wrestle them into cuffs.

Victor is yelling something, but his words are lost beneath the chaos. One agent keeps a firm grip on my shoulder, pushing me down until I’m sitting in a chair, hands in front of me. Another agent steps in, leaning close as he checks my wrists and looks me over.

“It’s all taken care of,” he says, his voice even. “You don’t need to do anything else.”

I glance over at Xylo, who’s still watching the scene with a hardened expression, and he lets out a derisive snort. “All taken care of?” he scoffs, glaring at the agent. “You really think hauling them out of here solves anything? What about the organization backing them?”

The agent gives him a tight-lipped smile, clearly unfazed. “That’s not your concern,” he says, his tone clipped. “We’ll handle it from here.”

“Right,” Xylo mutters, his tone thick with sarcasm. He’s still holding his shoulder, blood seeping through his fingers, but he waves the agent off when he tries to examine it. “We don’t need any of your ‘handling.’ We need to get back to our Omega.”

The agent’s eyes narrow, and he holds up a hand, motioning for us to stay seated. “I’m afraid that’ll have to wait. We have a few questions for you first.”

A spike of suspicion runs through me. Our Omega’s fear trickles through the bond, the need to get home growing. “Questions?” I repeat, glancing between Xylo and the agent. “You’re holding us here while there’s a man headed for our home as we speak. We need to leave.”

The agent doesn’t flinch, his expression unchanging. “We understand the urgency of your situation, but we need to understand everything that transpired here tonight. This isn’t something we can ignore.”

My jaw tightens. This feels wrong—deliberately wrong. It’s as if they’re trying to delay us, to keep us from getting back to Nala. I exchange a look with Xylo, who’s obviously thinking the same thing.

“Victor invited us to a meeting.,” Xylo says, his voice hard. “They were here to take someone who doesn’t belong to them. We were doing what we had to, to keep her safe. You need to let us leave.”

The agent just shakes his head, unbothered by our protests. “I need you both to remain here. We’re still assessing the situation, and until then, I can’t let you go. Now,” he says, voice sharp, “do either of you require medical attention?”

“No,” Xylo and I answer in unison, both of us glaring at him.

The agent raises an eyebrow at Xylo’s bloody shoulder. “You’re injured,” he points out. “I can call in a paramedic—”

“I said no,” Xylo snaps. “Just let us go. We’re not waiting around here while you waste time with useless questions. There’s nothing left to discuss.”

The agent sighs, crossing his arms as if settling in for the long haul. “You don’t seem to understand. You were involved in a violent altercation with several individuals we’re currently investigating. We need a full account of your version of events, and you’ll give it before you leave. Is that clear?”

I feel a surge of frustration rising, but fighting him will only delay us from getting home. We’re caught in their web, stuck here answering questions while Nala is out there, vulnerable and waiting. I know Montgomery and Zahria will keep her safe but it doesn’t make it any easier sitting here.

Xylo leans back, his gaze fixed on the agent with a look that could burn through steel. “Fine,” he says, voice barely more than a growl. “Ask your questions but make it quick.”

The agent nods, finally seeming satisfied. “Good. Let’s start with why you were here tonight.”

“We were here to meet with Victor,” I reply tersely, something I know they already know. “They requested a meeting. Said they wanted to ‘negotiate’ with us. Turns out it was a setup to stall us and send one of their guys after Nala while we were distracted.”

The agent scribbles in his notebook, completely unfazed. “And your purpose in protecting this Omega? Is she contracted to you in any way?”

I grit my teeth, biting back a retort. “We’re protecting her because she’s under threat,” I say carefully, not wanting to reveal more than necessary. “She’s not a commodity. She doesn’t belong to them.” As much as I want to reveal that she’s our mate, that might further endanger her.

The agent’s gaze sharpens, and he exchanges a look with the officer standing behind him. “I see. And you believe this threat is legitimate?”

“You have Victor and his men in custody,” Xylo says flatly. “Are you really asking if we believe the threat is legitimate? You saw them yourself. They pulled guns on us, and they were ready to do worse if we didn’t cooperate. That should tell you everything you need to know.”

The agent nods slowly, jotting down more notes. “Noted. And how did you become involved with…Nala, was it?”

My patience snaps. “That’s not your business. We’ve told you what you need to know. Now, if you’re done wasting our time, we need to get home.”

But the agent just laughs, his gaze narrowing at me. “It is our business if she’s part of an ongoing investigation. We need to know everything about your involvement with her and with Redland Academy.”

At the mention of the academy, Xylo’s expression darkens further. “Redland Academy? You think we care about their twisted ‘contracts’? That place is just a front for trafficking, and you know it. They don’t have the right to call anyone their property.”

The agent raises an eyebrow, his gaze narrowing slightly. “You’re making some serious allegations, detective . Allegations that we may need to corroborate with further information.”

My fists clench at the thinly veiled accusation, and I take a steadying breath before replying. “Corroborate whatever you want. The fact remains: Nala isn’t safe as long as organizations like Redland are out there, and that’s why we’re protecting her. Now, if you’re so concerned with the truth, why don’t you focus on the real criminals—the people who tried to take her by force?”

The agent’s expression doesn’t change, but I can see a flicker of something in his eyes—a hint of unease. “We’re fully aware of the scope of this investigation,” he says, his tone clipped. “And I’d suggest you let us handle it from here.”

“Let you handle it?” Xylo’s voice drips with contempt. “Where were you when they were hunting her down, turning her into a tool they could auction off to the highest bidder? Where were you when they stuffed her in cages every week to taunt her and terrify her? Where was your investigation then?”

The agent doesn’t respond, but he doesn’t look away either. His silence speaks volumes, and a cold realization settles over me: this isn’t just about justice. There’s something else at play here, some hidden agenda that goes deeper than we initially thought.

I’m about to press further when another agent approaches, whispering something in his ear. He nods, glancing at us briefly before addressing his colleague.

“Escort them outside,” he says. “But keep them here. We still have questions.”

I exchange a wary glance with Xylo, who looks as ready to snap as I feel. But we don’t have much choice. For now, we’ll have to play along and hope we can get out of here soon. We’re escorted out of the club, where the cool night air hits me like a slap to the face, sharp and grounding.

The agent follows, his eyes narrowed as he motions for us to sit on the steps outside. Reluctantly, we do, and I feel the weight of his gaze on us as he looms nearby, clipboard in hand.

Xylo glances sideways at me, his voice barely a whisper. “This doesn’t feel right, Bear. They’re stalling.”

“I know,” I murmur back, my voice low. “But they’re holding all the cards right now. We have to wait it out.”

The agent steps closer, clearly picking up on our frustration. “One last set of questions,” he says smoothly, as if he’s doing us a favor. “And then you’ll be free to go.”

“Ask away,” I say, forcing myself to stay calm.

“Are you aware of any groups involved in the protection of Omegas like Nala?” His tone is casual, but his eyes are watchful, assessing our every move.

Xylo raises an eyebrow, his expression shifting to one of controlled disbelief. “There shouldn’t need to be groups like that,” he says, his tone dripping with disdain. “But if you’re asking if there’s a network trying to protect people from the ones you just hauled out of here—well, maybe that’s something you should look into.”

The agent purses his lips, clearly unsatisfied with our answers. “Alright,” he says, finally stepping back. “You’re free to go. But consider this: we have eyes everywhere, and we’re aware of every step you take. I’d advise you not to interfere in this case any further.”

He dismisses us, but the veiled threat hangs in the air. The agent watches us leave, his gaze cold and impersonal, a sick feeling churning in my gut as we walk away.

Once we’re out of earshot, Xylo lets out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. “They’re not going to do anything, Bear. They’re just going to throw it under the rug, pretend this was all some minor blip, and move on like they’ve done all the other cases.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, my hands clenching at my sides. “I don’t trust them any more than I trust Victor and his men.”

Xylo nods, a grim look settling on his face. “We need to get back to Nala.”

We hurry down the street, my thoughts racing as we put as much distance as possible between ourselves and that club. Montgomery should be getting close by now, and if there’s any trouble back at the house, he’ll be there to handle it. But the gnawing feeling that we’re still missing something crucial sticks with me, an unsettling knot in my gut that refuses to go away.

I’m suddenly glad we chose to drive separately, Xylo fumbling for the keys, his injured shoulder slowing him down. I grab them from his hand, sliding into the driver’s seat, and starting the engine without hesitation. Xylo settles beside me, his hand pressed against his shoulder, pain etched into his expression.

“You alright?” I ask, casting him a worried glance as I steer us toward home.

He lets out a dry chuckle, grimacing. “Nothing a little time won’t fix. But we don’t have time to waste, do we?”

“No, we don’t. Let’s just get to Nala.”

We drive in tense silence, the night stretching long and dark around us. I keep my eyes on the road, hands tight on the wheel, as the reality of our situation settles over me. We’re dealing with something far bigger than I’d thought, something that reaches into places we can’t see and pulls strings we don’t even know exist.

But no matter what, Nala’s safety is the one thing we won’t compromise. No matter how high the stakes, no matter who we have to go up against. She’s counting on us.

As the familiar streets come into view, a fresh wave of determination surges through me. Whatever waits for us at the house, we’ll be ready. And if those agents, or anyone else, think they can stop us from protecting her—they’re in for a rude awakening.

“Bear,” Xylo says, breaking the silence as we pull into the driveway. “We need to be ready for whatever comes next. I don’t trust those agents, and I sure as hell don’t trust whoever’s pulling their strings.”