Absolute Devotion (An Omega’s Preference #3)

31. Montgomery

thirty-one

MONTGOMERY

Xylo and Bear briefly described what happened at the club, explaining that these Alphas’ involvements go way deeper than just a few stragglers from the POCA organization. That Redland Academy and others like it might be one of the biggest reasons all of these nightmarish incidents exist in the first place.

We’re gathered in a small, dimly lit room at the precinct, debriefing Chief Hart and a few FBI agents who seem more interested in shutting us down than in hearing the truth. My hands tighten into fists as I fold my arms across my chest, a small outlet for the frustration simmering inside me.

I’m leaning against the wall, a step back from everyone else. My gaze keeps drifting toward the door, the pull to get back to Nala like an itch I can’t scratch. She’s safe at her brother’s house, but with our bond so new, being apart like this—especially after everything that’s happened tonight—sets my nerves on edge.

“Alright,” one of the agents, an Alpha nearing his fifties with a thin face and small eyes, begins, sliding a thick binder onto the table. “We’ve received the intel on Wyatt, the Alpha you managed to apprehend. But as far as we’re concerned, this is an open-and-shut case. He’ll be moved into federal custody. We’ll take it from here.”

I share a quick look with Bear, who gives a faint nod, his face an unreadable mask. Zahria is standing beside Chief Hart, her arms crossed, barely containing her frustration. Xylo’s leaning forward with his elbows on the table, glaring daggers at the agents, clearly ready to speak his mind.

“We’re not so sure it’s that simple,” I say, forcing my voice to stay calm. “There’s more going on here than just one rogue Alpha. He’s part of an organization that’s targeting and stealing Omegas. We’ve already seen the signs—the network POCA once tried to build is still very much active, just hidden under layers of new contracts and buyers.”

Another agent, a Beta, clears her throat, raising an eyebrow at me. “With all due respect, Detective Tanner, we’ve already assessed this situation. POCA was shut down recently. Whatever underground network existed has been… cleared up. Any traces left are purely circumstantial.”

“Circumstantial?” I echo. “You’re sitting here telling me that POCA’s shutdown means the entire network is wiped out? Because I’ve got evidence to the contrary. Contracts have resurfaced under different names, hidden under legitimate businesses. It’s the same organization with a new face, and they’re still profiting off of selling Omegas to the highest bidder.”

The agent’s face tightens, her lips pressed into a thin line. She glances over at her colleague, a silent exchange passing between them. They’re uncomfortable, and it’s obvious they don’t want to deal with this.

Bear shifts in his chair. “So you’re just going to let them continue? Pretend this is an isolated incident and let it slip through the cracks?”

The male agent sighs, as if we’re all naive for even questioning them. “This is a matter of jurisdiction, detective. The FBI’s responsibility is to ensure the safety of all citizens, Omegas included. However, there’s no concrete proof that the organization you’re referring to still poses a viable threat. The incidents that led to POCA’s original shutdown were…extreme outliers.”

“Outliers?” Zahria’s voice is deadly calm, but I can see the fury simmering in her eyes. “You call stealing Omegas like they’re property an outlier?”

The female agent raises her hands, trying to wave the metaphorical white flag and failing. “It’s not about diminishing the severity of what happened in the past. But based on what we know, it’s simply an organization that’s dissolved. Those involved have been captured or reformed. The FBI has been monitoring.”

“And yet, an Alpha just tried to break into our home and kidnap our Omega,” I counter, the bite in my tone slipping through. “You can sit there all day and tell us POCA’s legacy doesn’t exist, but we’re living with the consequences of your oversight.”

Chief Hart clears his throat, glancing between us and the agents with a tense expression. “With all due respect, this isn’t just about one break-in. This Alpha had an entire network backing him. These organizations know exactly how to evade your systems. What I’m saying is we have a credible lead, one that needs to be pursued.”

The male agent waves a dismissive hand. “The FBI has been aware of POCA’s disbandment and the stragglers lagging behind. These Alphas are nothing more than that, trying to play a game that’s long over. If this so-called organization was active, we’d know. You’re grasping at straws here. Besides, we’ve already apprehended the Alpha. Case closed.”

My fingers curl tighter, nails digging into my palms. “And what about everything else? One of those Alphas talked about the academy being in network for contracted Omegas. None of that is tied to POCA.”

“Exactly,” Bear chimes in, his voice hard as steel. “They’re operating under your noses, hiding in plain sight. And every Omega who gets taken is another life ruined, another nightmare made real.”

The agents exchange another glance, visibly unsettled but unwilling to back down. Finally, the woman leans forward, her tone clipped. “Regardless of your… convictions , this case falls under federal jurisdiction. As we said, we’ll handle it from here.”

Chief Hart straightens, his mouth pressed into a thin line. “I’d like to at least ensure the documentation is thorough before you take over. All of the evidence should be reviewed before any decision is made.”

The male agent gives a tight-lipped smile, obviously pleased with his rank. “Hand over all relevant documents, and we’ll take care of the rest.”

My jaw tightens, the urge to fight them on this bubbling up, but I know it won’t do any good. We’re out of leverage, and they’re playing the jurisdiction card like a well-worn script. Reluctantly, I reach into my bag, pulling out the file we compiled over weeks of digging and investigation.

With a sigh, I slide the file across the table, watching as the agents take it without so much as a second glance. They tuck it away, their smug expressions already signaling they won’t be taking it seriously.

“Is there anything else?” the woman asks, looking between us impatiently.

The silence that follows is thick, each of us biting back what we really want to say. Finally, Zahria shakes her head, her face carefully blank. “No,” she says, her voice clipped. “Nothing else.”

The agents nod, barely concealing their satisfaction and stand to leave. The door closes behind them, the silence that follows almost deafening.

Zahria is the first to break it. “Are you kidding me?” She rounds on Chief Hart, her fists clenched, eyes blazing with anger. “You didn’t even try to fight them on this, Chief! You let them walk all over us.”

Chief Hart lets out a weary sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. “Look, Zahria, I get it. I do. But the truth is, as much as I hate it, this is bigger than what we can tackle head-on. The FBI has the resources to make this go away. They’re not interested in digging any deeper.”

“So we just give up?” Xylo asks, his voice filled with disbelief. “Let them sweep it under the rug?”

“No. That’s not what I’m saying at all. POCA might have been dismantled, but that doesn’t mean others like it don’t still exist. You saw how they tried to twist this tonight, how quickly they dismissed it. There’s a real threat here, and I want to make sure someone’s handling it. Which is why I’m offering you all a proposition.”

We exchange wary glances, unsure of where my uncle is going with this.

Chief Hart leans forward, his voice dropping to a low, determined tone. “If you’re willing to continue this task force, we can operate off the radar. We won’t have the same reach as the FBI, but we’ll be able to get our hands dirty, go places they won’t, dig deeper. It’ll mean longer hours, more time in the field, and risks.”

Xylo lets out a wry chuckle, shaking his head with a grin. “Our Omega’s going to have to approve this, Chief. No way am I going to be out in the field for hours on end without her knowing exactly where I am. We’ve only just gotten her to a safe place. None of us want to leave her alone.”

Chief Hart nods. “I get it. This decision isn’t something I’d want any of you to take lightly. But this is an opportunity to make a real difference. To save more Omegas from the hell Nala went through. I know it’s not an easy choice.”

My chest tightens as he speaks. This is exactly why we fought so hard to protect Nala. She was one of many, lost in a sea of forgotten faces, written off as someone else’s problem. And as much as I hate the thought of leaving her, of exposing her to any more risk, the idea of not doing everything in my power to stop this… it doesn’t sit right.

But I know this isn’t a case that’ll end in a week or even a month. It could take years, maybe even a lifetime, to dismantle something this deep-rooted. And that thought, more than anything, is what gives me pause.

“Montgomery,” Chief Hart says, meeting my gaze. “You don’t have to answer now. None of you do. But think about it. This is your investigation if you want it. There’s no one I trust more to get to the bottom of this.”

I swallow, my mind racing. I glance at Bear, Xylo, and Zahria, seeing the same conflicting emotions in their eyes. For all of us, the bond with Nala is still raw, still new, and the thought of leaving her for hours on end, of chasing after a ghost of a threat—it feels like a betrayal. But the idea of walking away, of leaving others to face the same horrors she did, is unfathomable.

Bear puts a hand on my shoulder, grounding me, his voice a low murmur. “I want to protect her, Montgomery. But I can’t stand the thought of others suffering the way she did. The way we almost lost her.”

Zahria readily agrees. “We need to talk to Nala. She deserves a say in this. But if she’s with us… I think we all know what we have to do.”

Xylo smiles faintly, the tension easing from his shoulders as he leans back. “Nala won’t want us to sit this out. Not if it means keeping others safe.”

Chief Hart rises, giving us a nod. “Take your time. Talk to her. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you. Just know that there are others out there who need people like you fighting for them.”

We stand, each of us lost in our thoughts, the weight of the decision pressing down on us. Whatever we decide, whatever path we choose, we’ll face it together. And with Nala by our side, I know we can take on anything.