Cause Ωf Death (Femme Fatale Freakshow)

Chapter 13

T his woman. This fucking woman. She drives me to utter distraction, and I swear to God that one day, she’ll be the death of me.

I just hope that I can finally make her mine before that happens.

Packing up my life with the military, even with Steve’s help, had been hard. Pushing our limits so we could do the return trip in two days had been harrowing. Arriving at the house in Merced after two exhausting days on the road only to find Leslie and Kimberly trying to catch Gizmo and shove him into a cat crate had not done my temper any favors. Then to find out that the woman I adore had gone against our established protocols and disappeared, only to call for a pick-up with Kieran Prince in tow? That shattered whatever chains that still tethered my fragile control.

I’d gritted my teeth and barked out to Leslie and Kimberly to join Steve in the U-Haul truck as I stalked Gizmo down and unceremoniously bundled him into his travel crate. Luckily for me, the little fur ball didn’t put up a fuss, and the ride to the storage facility was done mostly in silence. Only Steve spoke, and that was to notify the hire company that we’d be extending our contract on the truck. I love the man, he’s worth his weight in gold and will be an asset to our pack, should we ever get it formally established and recognized.

Swapping out the truck for the modified SUV hadn’t taken but a moment, the only real delay being at my behest. I’d opened the truck and gone searching for my battered metal trunk, hauling it out of the enclosed container and maneuvering it into the cargo space of the Suburban. Nobody batted an eyelid or even asked what was so important about the trunk.

They already knew.

My ire has not dwindled an iota by the time the headlights illuminate the abandoned and decrepit shell of the hotel resort where Disa and her target are hiding out. I already know where they are, Kieran Prince stashed away in a van hidden in some outbuildings, with Disa concealed in the shadows. I leave the engine running as I pull the handbrake and step out of the vehicle, turning to stare directly into the eyes of the incorrigible—and hopefully mine soon—omega.

“Disa Mariah Aloft, give me one fucking reason why I shouldn’t put you over my knee and tan your ass until it glows,” I growl, fighting the urge to pull her into my arms and either shake her or kiss her senseless. “You’re fucking lucky that Steve and I made good time and arrived before Les and Kimmy could leave without us. Now, where’s this hostage of yours? We need to get gone, and get gone yesterday. This place is being watched.”

Disa shudders at my words, then turns and jogs over to where she left Prince. She’s wearing a dark, oversize hoodie and boots several sizes too large for her, so at least she isn’t naked. But I still don’t like the idea of her being out here alone, unarmed, and under-dressed.

I quickly help Leslie and Kimberly into the rear row of seats with Gizmo’s crate between them, before pulling my own med-kit from the trunk stashed in the back of the SUV. It’s one I’ve kept stocked and ready from the first day of basic training. Its contents are more on par with what you’d find on a combat medic rather than in a generic first-aid kit. I set it on the back seat and open it up, then glance over to Steve.

“You’ll patch him up. Les and Kim can help if needed. Wisp’s up front with me.” My orders are low and concise, no bark needed to emphasize them. Steve just nods.

Good man.

Good sigma.

Uneven footsteps crunch over the rubble-littered ground, Disa’s melodic voice carrying on the air as she encourages the man draped over her shoulders to take one step, then another.

What the ever-loving FUCK? What’s wrong with him?

Steve steps forward to take on the burden of assisting the other guy, and I stride back to the driver’s door and get in. A couple of minutes later, Disa is dressed and sitting next to me, her target—or is he now her hostage?—slumped next to Steve, and I haul ass out of there.

I wasn’t lying when I told Disa we were being watched. The neighbors hadn’t noticed when those who had abducted her and Prince had first arrived, but as we’d neared the coordinates she’d given to Leslie, my powers had kicked in.

While traffic isn’t unusual to see on this road during daylight hours, it becomes quite sparse once the sun sets. The empty ruins are located on private property, and there is no reason for anyone to trespass unless they’re up to no good. The moment I turned down the drive the neighbors noticed, and if we aren’t out of there in the next two minutes, we’ll end up being denied an exit thanks to a double-barrel shotgun.

I only slow enough so that I don’t roll the Suburban as I tear out of the drive and onto the road that will take us to the highway. I blast past the beat-up old pickup that pulls up to a stop at the entrance of the property next door. The tension in my shoulders leeches away slowly as they turn and head toward the derelict cluster of buildings in my rear-view mirror instead of following our SUV.

I tap into my ability for a moment, seeking out any indication that we’re still in danger, but nothing of import flares up. Nevertheless, we’ll stop in an hour or so and switch out the plates, just in case. But before we can do that, I need to know what the fuck is going on.

“Talk, Disa. And don’t you dare think of leaving anything out. You’re in deep enough shit with me as it is,” I growl, a twinge of guilt poking me as the woman I’ve adored for most of my life sighs in response. I can’t help it, though. She’s under my protection, has been since before she could walk. She’s pack, and not just that, she’s mine . I’ll wait for her for as long as she needs, but she’s always held my heart—and my balls—in her slender, delicate hands.

I glance over to where Disa sits in the passenger seat next to me, about to prod her to talk, when she opens her mouth. The words that pour from her lips are devastating.

In less than half an hour, she decimates any confidence I have about emerging from this contract unscathed.

Kieran Prince isn’t just a victim.

Kieran Prince is an omega.

And he’s being hunted.

An hour into the journey to the safe house in Redding, I pull into a gas station and park in a dark corner, out of range of the lights and cameras. While the others stretch their legs and use the facilities, I use the time to switch license plates, just to cover our asses further. My ability is currently dormant, no niggle or indication that anything is awry, but I don’t want to risk it.

Kieran is still in the car, passed out on the back seat. Steve did his best to patch him up, and I thank my lucky stars that my alpha tendencies make me pedantic over having a well-stocked and up-to-date med-kit on hand. While it doesn’t contain a saline drip, it does have some pretty hardcore antibiotics in both oral and intravenous delivery. The omega’s color has somewhat improved since we shoved him into the back of the SUV, but it’s still not great.

However, it’s not Kieran’s color that has my gut clenching with worry. No, that’s reserved for the sucker-punch that Disa delivered at the end of her report.

Kieran’s abduction wasn’t an assassination attempt, nor has it been for ransom.

He’s been sold.

The gasp Kimmy had emitted when Disa shared that juicy little snippet told me that she—and possibly Leslie—had discovered something during their own forays into the depraved depths of society where the degenerates lurked. It’s something we all need to discuss, but doing so while driving is not the best time or place. It will have to wait until we arrive at the house in Redding.

Task done, I hop back into the driver’s seat and head over to one of the pumps. It takes less than a minute for me to line up to the correct pump, open up the gas cap, and insert the nozzle. I don’t need to pump any gas, but I’d prefer to have the tank as full as possible, at all times.

“So, what’s the plan, Hen?” Steve asks as he strolls up to me. I glance around, noticing Leslie inside at the register paying for a mountain of snacks, and then pointing to where I’m standing. They must be covering the cost of it all with one of their fake IDs.

“The plan is to get to Redding as fast as possible, get the omega set up somewhere he’ll feel safe while we make sure he’s on the mend, and then figure out what the fuck we’re up against.” I growl back, frustration bleeding into my tone.

“And this other alpha Disa was telling us about? The one that Kieran was asking after? You know as well as I do that he’s not just going to sit back and wait for us to drop Kieran back in his lap. The moment he’s able to, he’ll be on the hunt for us. I’m confident in Leslie’s and Kimmy’s abilities to keep us flying under the radar, but?—”

“I get it, Steve. Trust me, I get it,” I butt in, fighting to manage my temper as everything else seems to spiral out of control. “I’ll talk to Disa about him tonight, get her impressions on whether he could be part of the problem, or if he’s trustworthy. I’ll also have a chat with Kieran once he’s awake and cognizant. But until then? We get to Redding, make sure we’re secure, and then get some sleep. That’s my current plan. I’m tired, and nothing good ever comes from making snap judgments or decisions when a person isn’t firing on all cylinders.”

The gas nozzle clicks off, punctuating my speech with perfect timing. By the time I’ve got it hooked back onto the pump and the gas cap refitted, Leslie is ushering both Kimmy and Disa back to the Suburban. Once everyone’s situated in their seats, I do one last inspection lap before settling myself back into the driver’s seat. I’m exhausted, both physically and mentally, so most of my actions are automatic and based on muscle memory. We’re still a couple of hours away from our end point. Even then, I won’t have the opportunity to collapse in a heap until I’ve got everyone and everything inside and squared away.

A meaty hand slaps down on my shoulder before I’m able to release the handbrake, making me pause.

“Hen, I’m gonna grab some shut-eye. That way I’ll be refreshed enough to take over once we hit Redding, and you can get some rest. You might be the alpha of this unofficial pack, but you have me, Les, and Kimmy as your betas. Fuck, even though the short-stack over there’s an omega, you know she’s ready and willing to put the work in, to help share the load. You don’t have to shoulder the burden of responsibility alone, man. Let us help. After all, that’s what family does for one another, amiright?”

I nod, sending a tired smile back to my pack—my family —watching in the rear-view mirror.

I’m not in the army any longer, the buck doesn’t have to stop with me.

I guess I’ll just have to keep telling myself that until it sinks in.

It’s well past midnight by the time I pull into the drive of the corner lot that houses our safe house. It’s a newer purchase, one made in the aftermath of Disa’s induction into the Guild.

We’ve each always had our own spaces, houses or apartments we bought after we left the orphanage. Even though we hadn’t been neglected or abused while there, the damage of being abandoned by our families at such young and vulnerable ages has always run deep. None of us ever want to find ourselves in the position of being alone, defenseless, and without any prospects to assist us, so we pooled our finances together to purchase a number of domiciles. While not all of them will fit the five of us, we all have keys to each other’s houses. Disa and Kimmy live in the one with their names on the deed, which is also the largest of them all. Leslie has a three-bedroom condo in Los Angeles. Steve has one half of a neat little two-bed duplex in Sacramento, while I have the other.

The moment Disa metaphorically signed on the dotted line with the Femme Fatale Freakshow , the five of us decided to pool our resources once again and purchase a couple of safe houses, large enough to comfortably fit us all. Not just that, but they’ve all been retrofitted to survive a zombie apocalypse. You know, just in case. You can’t be too careful when it comes to dealing with the dregs of society, especially if you’re the one preventing them from further polluting the gene pool.

Leslie had found a suitable five bed, three bath home in San Diego while they were in the city for a job, while the house in Redding had been discovered by Steve when he was taking a break between bounties. He’d really lucked out with that one.

It’s a brick-built ranch with high ceilings and a lifted roof. The master suite had originally included a walk-in closet large enough that we’d converted it into a roomy—albeit currently empty —nest. So that in the eventuality that Disa finally experiences a proper heat, we were prepared. The other three original bedrooms are spacious and share two full-sized bathrooms. The covered porch at the rear of the house has been enclosed and converted into another large bedroom and bathroom, and the attic space has been modified into two long rooms with a heavy-duty HVAC installed. When we first bought the house, Kimberly and Leslie called dibs on the attic rooms and plotted out how to best set up their multitude of servers and other machines in the larger one. They decided the other, smaller room would suffice for their gaming systems—especially since they decided to install an overhead projector and drop-down screen for their gaming pleasure instead of just using a large flat-screen television.

I maneuver the car to the double garage attached yet offset at the side of the house. There’s another, single garage at the end, perfect for storage, but it currently sits empty. The double doors of the main garage space open, thanks to the sensor stuck to the windshield behind the rear-view mirror. The lights inside flicker on as soon as the motion sensors register the SUV entering the space. We all sit in silence as the door quietly closes behind us, shutting us all in.

“Okay, gang. Let’s get this beast unloaded, and then those of us that got some shut-eye on the trip can unpack and keep an eye out, while the rest of us get some rest. I don’t think we’re in any danger as yet, but I’m happy to keep watch until morning, all the same.” Steve’s voice is soft, but his quiet authority is there, nonetheless.

“What about Kieran? He’s still out of it, Hen, and I’m worried,” Disa pipes up, and she’s not wrong. While the omega’s color has improved, we don’t know yet if he’ll need additional care. From what she’s told us about his condition, he requires medication we simply don’t have to ensure his ongoing health.

“I’ll carry him into the master suite, and you and I will tend to him, little Wisp. He knows you, trusts you, so I’m happy to follow your lead. If what you said in the car about this Adam guy is true, then we’ll see if we can get him to join us over the next day or two, and perhaps get him to bring along whatever meds Kieran needs.” My statement is met with a round of relieved smiles and nods.

The mass exodus from the vehicle only takes a couple of minutes, with Steve and Leslie traipsing back and forth between the house and the garage to unload the car’s cargo area. I have no doubt that Kimmy is closeted away somewhere out of the way with Gizmo, setting up her workstation and bringing all our security measures online. I also wouldn’t be surprised if she’s placing an online grocery order with expedited shipping so that there’s food and other necessities for us all by morning.

As soon as Steve and Leslie have cleared enough of the SUV, I step forward. My hands are gentle as I tug Kieran from his seat and into my arms, his weight almost negligible. Disa hovers around me like a bee buzzing around a flower as I carry him inside, following the voices through the main living area and into the section of the house where the bedrooms are all situated.

The bed in the master suite has been completely stripped of all bedding. I’m not surprised. Injured or ill omegas tend to prefer recovering in their nest, and while this one doesn’t have the same familiar smells and textures of Kieran’s own nest, it’s better than leaving him exposed to the world.

I grin as Disa hurries forward to snatch several blankets out of Leslie’s hands, clutching them to her.

“No, we’ll need these to make a blanket fort. I don’t know if you’ve got any hooks on hand, but if not, we’ll improvise until we can get some. We’ll also need to buy candles, fairy lights, and squishmallows tomorrow.” Disa turns and tosses a blanket at Steve as he rounds the doorway, the unexpected projectile hitting him in the face before he has a chance to catch or deflect it.

“Here you go, Paul Bunyon. Put your enormous height to good use and hang those up for me, won’t you?” Disa sasses while Steve simply does as ordered.

Whoever thought that alphas were the bosses of a pack has never seen a cherished omega in their element. We are slaves to their whims and happiness, and while an alpha’s bark may be effective for short-term control, an omega’s joy and playfulness has the ability to securely leash us.

Thanks to Steve’s ingenuous use of safety pins and books, Leslie’s creativity and flair, and Disa’s steady supply of suggestions and constructive criticism, it doesn’t take long before the empty ex-closet is now a snug and inviting blanket fort. While Disa shoos the others out of the master suite, I gently kneel down and set Kieran in the middle of a towel that’s been laid on top of the mound of blankets, pillows, and whatever soft furnishings have been hauled inside.

I remove his shoes but leave the rest of his clothing as is, not wanting to overstep and possibly cause the guy any further trauma. Judging by the battered state of him, the dude has suffered enough.

“Hey, Hen? Can I get you to help me clean Kieran up? I don’t know that I’ll feel comfortable undressing him or doing it all by myself.”

I grimace. I don’t know what would be worse for Kieran—a strange woman undressing him, or a strange alpha. Either way, we can’t leave him in the state he’s in, and not just because it can’t be comfortable for him. We also need to check him thoroughly for injuries, and make sure nothing has transferred from the abandoned ruin to the nest we’ve just set up beneath him.

Hence the towel.

I mentally brace myself for the potential fallout when Kieran wakes up, but there’s no other choice. Not just because it’s the right thing to do to make sure he hasn’t sustained any hidden injuries, but also because my alpha nature won’t let me leave an omega in this state, even if they’re not mine.

I just hope he forgives me.