Redemption (Rogue Nation MC #1)

6. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Theo

What was that sour, yeasty smell? It assaulted my senses as soon as I walked through the door of the pub in front of Gavin. Mind you, it wasn’t unpleasant. More unexpected and I wrinkled my nose a bit. Gavin looked at me. “You don’t like the smell of beer?”

“That’s what beer smells like?” he nodded at me and smiled. I shrugged my shoulders. “Huh. Almost 25 and never knew that beer smelled almost like sourdough bread. I guess it’s not bad.”

“Wait until you taste it.” We found a small 4-person table and sat down. “I’ll get you a light beer, less alcohol, and not as harsh on the tongue as a dark beer.” He raised his hand to get a server’s attention.

“Can’t I get a cocktail? I’ve read they taste more like fruit juice if done right.” I liked bread, but I was wholly unsure about how I felt drinking it.

“Umm… no. Those fruity drinks are like 12 bucks and a beer is only $4.50. Not to mention, those drinks have way more alcohol per drink, and you’ll be drunk off your ass before the real fun can begin.” The server arrived and he ordered two of the cheapest beers on tap.

“Real fun? Is there something planned for later? A surprise for my birthday?” I plastered the best smile I could on my face while my stomach churned with fear.

“Yeah, something like that. Father has it all planned out.” He shrugged his shoulder and stared across the room at an omega that was dancing with someone next to the bar. “Personally, I think it’s better than you deserve, but Father and Mother have decided that it’s exactly what you need, and I’ve been recruited to make sure it happens the way it’s supposed to.” His eyes widen when he realizes he may have said too much.

Maybe they don’t care about Gavin as much as I thought. They’ve enlisted him to kill me. Tonight. Away from the house, away from them. They’d never be suspected of anything torrid to shame their public image. “If you think it’s too good for me, then why follow through with it? Can’t you stand up to them? Aren’t you an adult alpha with your own opinions and reasoning?” He had to know they were going to pin this all on him if someone saw something.

“Just shut it and drink your beer. You’ve never understood how my family works. The things we’re willing to do for one another.” He pushed an open bottle in my direction and turned back to his omega entertainment.

Nope. If I was gonna die tonight, I was gonna push. I wasn’t making it easy on him. “Gavin. Adopted or not, I am a part of YOUR family. I’m your brother, according to the legal system, anyway. I’m sure Poppy left stuff for you in his will. Couldn’t you just find your own way and not feel the need to do things you don’t agree with?” Taking a sip of the beer, I realized that drinking bread, was NOT all it was made out to be in books.

Gavin raised his voice, just below yelling, and slammed his fist on the table. “Leave that old fool out of this. I never wanted you in the family. My parents never wanted you either. Don’t you get it, Theodore? You were forced on us. He demanded they adopt you. The poor little orphan grandson of his friend. His useless, broke friend. At one point or another, families demand things, and you have no choice but to comply. Either do it or face the consequences.” He downed the last of the beer in his bottle and raised his hand to order another. “Now, drink your damn beer and have a good time.”

I blinked rapidly a few times to clear the tears from my eyes so they wouldn’t fall and give away how I really felt about this night out thing. “Well, whatever your reason for being here, thank you for doing this with me. I know you don’t like me, but I don’t have friends and it’s not like I live an outgoing life.” He didn’t even react to my words. It was as if I never even spoke, so I sipped on my beer and watched the people around the room, not really seeing them. I was too far into my head, trying to quell the fear welling up in my chest.

As we left the first bar an hour later, I noticed that the car wasn’t out front. “Where’s father’s car? Aren’t we being driven from place to place?”

Gavin smiled at a pretty omega passing him on his way into the bar. “Nope, we’re walking. Every place planned is within a couple blocks. No need to waste gas, we can walk it. Clear our heads.”

Half a block down, we entered a second bar. This one smelled worse than the first and the music playing was older, so were the patrons. “Are the drinks here cheaper? It doesn’t look as modern as the last place.”

“What in the hell would you know about modern? You live in a set of rooms in my family’s house. No rent, no bills. You just freeload off us. Just fuckin enjoy your night out.” He sounded exasperated. Shaking his head, “Jesus.”

“Sorry. I was just trying to make conversation.” I slowly scanned the room looking for someone I found attractive that I could work into my plan for the night.

He stopped and turned to me. Leaning close to my face and snarling, “I’m being seen in public with you against my wishes and better judgment. I never said I wanted to talk to you, too. Just drink your fuckin drinks and let’s get this night over with.” I hunched my shoulders down and tried to make myself as small as possible. I didn’t want to be here either, not that I would ever say that to him.

After the 3rd bar and 4 beers, I was a little lightheaded and feeling hot. Not sexy hot, but like I was in a room with the temperature turned too high. Gavin kept checking his phone like he was waiting on a call or text. Maybe he was just checking the time over and over. I didn’t know. Not really sure I cared by that point. I was ready for this to all be over. Rubbing my hand over my abdomen just below my belly button to soothe the slight ache that appeared there, “Gavin, can we go home? It’s been kinda fun, but I’m not feeling too good. I just want to go to bed.”

“Really Theodore? Bed? Who’s bed? I’ve been watching you check out the alphas in the last 3 bars. You looking for something specific?” he carried a bit of a list to his walk and a bit more to his speech. I tried to count how many beers Gavin drank over the course of the night, but I lost track after the 7th, and I know I saw him take at least 3 shots at 2 of the bars when he went up to get us beers. This didn’t bode well for me. “One more place and then we’ll find you a place for a nice long sleep. Plenty of rest for you.” The way he tried to growl at me while he slurred his words would have been funny under any other circumstances. “We’re headed one block over. It’s where my friends and I hang out most often.” He leered at me again and my stomach lurched. “We’ll cut through here.” He turned into the alley.

I’d guess it was 25 or 30 steps down the alley when Gavin stopped. “Fuck Theodore, you’re close. I can fuckin smell you already.” He was clenching his fists over and over by his sides.

“Smell what? I didn’t do anything Gavin.” I tried backing up a few steps when he reached out and grabbed my shirt. “You’re not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever!” He pushed me away hard with his left arm and his right fist connected with my cheek, knocking me into the brick wall behind me. Pain shot through my head as it connected with the bricks, hard.

My vision faded in and out and I had a hard time breathing as his fists pounded on my body over and over, anywhere he could reach. I focused on staying conscious and not throwing up as pain shot through various parts of my body. Ranging from sharp stabs on my extremities to a hot dull ache in my back and abdomen, the pain worsened. ‘In and out. In and out.’ Were the only things I could concentrate on trying to control my breathing. It wouldn’t be good if I passed out. I know he was yelling and growling, no signs of a slur in his speech now. “Heat… what my friends and I did to you… nothing compared… gang rape… your cherry ass… my turn first… kill you.” None of it made sense.

The blows stopped and I felt a deep growl reverberate through my body. “Get the fuck off him, you bastard!” I felt hands on me as I was lifted into the air. Before I could open my eyes to see who it was, everything went black.