Page 10 of Toy No More

He shielded me, I think. Mr. Wilson never would’ve admitted it, but he fell into that trap so many people do. He viewed me as competent and useful, but I was still an omega to him. Maybe he saw his omega daughter in me. Soft, submissive, to be protected. I don’t want to be seen that way…yet at the same time, I appreciated not having to get my hands too dirty.

“Here, no one’ll hold you back or hold your hand,” Jasper says while stepping toward us. He glances around at the guys who make sounds of agreement. “The recipe for success is to let people be the best they can be at what they’re good at. I’m curious to see what that’ll be for you.” As he steps close to me, I look up to meet his eyes. He’s only a few inches taller than me, but his innate confidence makes it that much more obvious.

I meet his gaze for a moment before looking down to show respect.Know when to accept your orders and keep your mouth shut.Another helpful advice Mr. Wilson gave me at the very beginning.

“Anyway,” he blurts after a few seconds of silence. As he turns away from me, his pheromones hit me in the face. “We’ve got one more stop to make, so come on.”

Jasper walks toward the car and I use the moment to inhale and stretch out my fingers before closing my fists again to ground myself. Trey nudges me playfully before heading out as well. Gibbs studies me while shuffling the now nearly empty cigarette box in his hand. I don’t like his cold, calculative gaze, so I hurry after Jasper.

My job is to drive. So I drive.

I get us across the city, north of the previous stop. This area is more residential. We pass a school, a park… Something inside me tightens because of the quiet, tense atmosphere in the car. Jasper sits with his head tilted to watch out of the window while he whistles a faint melody. Trey cleans his huge hunting knife.

As I slow into one of the tight alleys between the many four-storey tall apartment buildings, Jasper leans forward into the space in the middle. “There,” he says, pointing at the building ahead. “Stop by the side entrance. Stay here. Be ready to go when we get back.” His words are sharp and clear.

I can tell from his voice that he enjoys ordering people around. It comes naturally, not just because he’s an alpha.

“Understood,” I say.

After he pats me on the shoulder, they all leave. Trey swiftly unlocks the door with what seems to be a hook pick and just like that, they’re in. I try to ignore and suppress that heavy feeling at the bottom of my chest.

Of course they’re not doing anything good there, you idiot. And you’re as culpable as any of them.

Waiting anxiously with the window half open so I can hear, my mind keeps coming back to the interaction from before, analyzing my every move and word. I should’ve talked more. Been more assertive. I can’t afford to be seen as weak.

‘Nothing worse in this world than being perceived as weak, boy.’ I never thought I would miss Carlos Wilson this much. He was a gangster, and he was stuck up sometimes, but there was more to him than that. Than violence.

There were nights where I wholly enjoyed listening to Carlos on our drives. And there were moments when he almost made me feel like he cared about me.

Am I judging these people too quickly?

Maybe there’s more beyond all this careless brutality, but…I highly doubt it.

This time, I’m more perceptive. The moment I hear a commotion behind the door, I turn the engine on and anxiously lean forward. Jasper comes out first, dragging a girl next to him. She trembles as he holds her arm. Under his jacket, he aims his gun at her to make her cooperate.

My stomach clenches.

Trey walks out after them, but Gibbs is nowhere to be seen. Even when they both get into the car, he’s not coming. I glance at Trey and then Jasper in the back, but neither of them pays mind to me. The girl’s trembling breaths on the verge of hyperventilating echo in the small space. Jasper puts a seatbelt on her and locks the door on her side.

“That’s it. Be a good darling, alright?” he whispers to her in a voice that makes the hairs at the back of my neck stand.

I swallow hard, squeezing the wheel. “Where to, boss?” I ask, fighting myself to drain all emotion out of my words. Finally, Jasper meets my gaze in the rearview mirror.

“Dollhouse. The warehouse entrance,” he says, almost hisses. I never was one to believe in energies or vibes, but right at that moment, his energy is as black as his eyes in the dimly lit backseat of the car.

“Pl-please, don’t,” the girl mutters.

I shift into gear and drive, even if everything inside me screams not to. I glance into the rearview mirror more often than I should, seeing Jasper raise his gun to her mouth while shushing.

“What did I say? Do I have to remind you?”

The girl shakes her head rapidly while suppressing her loud, ragged breaths.

Trey next to me pulls out another cigarette and puts it between his lips before opening the window and hanging his arm out. The air rushing in is cold, especially as it touches my skin that feels like it’s on fire. Pinning sensation of discomfort passes through my fingers, so I tighten them more around the wheel until they nearly turn white.

“Why did Gibbs stay behind?” I ask in a hushed voice.

“Hm?” Trey turns to me lazily. “Oh, he’s just doing some…cleaning up,” he says with a chuckle. “He’ll get back on his own when he’s done.”

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