Page 12 of Nothing is Free

I lift one of my shoulders in a half-assed shrug then throw myself into the closest chair and let the weight of the past few days drain away.

“I am now.”

CHAPTER 7

AVION

“Ab-so-fucking-lutely not!” I shout, slamming my hand on my desk. I rise from my chair so fast, the chair falls behind me, crashing into the panel wall, rattling the paintings hanging there. I look up quickly and grimace. I don’t usually have a flare for the dramatics in this pack, but what Omari is proposing is. . .well, it warrants this level of response.

“Not happening, Mari,” Dez says through gritted teeth, and I throw my hands out to him in solidarity. At least the two of us are on the same page.

“Dez agrees. He is head of security and the safety of this pack, if he is saying no, then it’s not worth the risk.” As soon as I say the words, I inwardly admonish myself. Freeya is worth every risk and the fire in Omari’s eyes tells me he is thinking the same. I bend down and pick up my chair. I consider sitting down but decide to slowly move around my desk. Omari takes a step back; his mouth is turned down in disgust as he challenges both Dez and me. His anger pours off him in waves and I can barely look him in his eyes. For a moment, I wonder who the Alpha is in thisrelationship. He is livid, pacing back and forth in front of my desk, like a caged beast, ready to maul us all. I’ve never seen him like this before.

“I don’t fucking need your permission!” he shouts, pointing a finger in our direction. “I will fucking find my mate myself. I came to you because I respect the position you all hold in this pack. You’re my Alphas. If I can’t convince you that I can do this, then I’ll have to show you.” He practically growls his words near the end, then turns to storm from the room. This entire conversation took a drastic turn within minutes of it starting. To think I was just inside him, professing my love and devotion to my Omega. Now he’s ready to rip my head from my shoulders. His scent is so sharp, burnt sugar, almost sour to my nose, making it hard to breath as it permeates the office.

“Wait, Omari.” Vic reaches out and grabs his arm, holding him still as he stands to block his exit. “Let’s talk this through.” He keeps Omari at arm’s length as he catches Dez and my eyes over Omari’s shoulder. Vic’s eyes widen, giving us a what the fuck just happened look? then turns his attention to our Omega. I watch his shoulders moving up and down rapidly from behind as he struggles to control his emotions, but Vic keeps him in place until finally he’s breathing calmly.

Dez curses under his breath, hands braced on his hips, and hangs his head. Out of all of us, seeing Omari like this is taking its toll. Omari is Dez’s kryptonite, and any signs of distress from our Omega sends him into a feral frenzy. Dez starts to cross the room, but I reach out and grab his arm, shaking my head no before he can move further. Omari doesn’t need coddling right now, far from it. He is angry and we need to let him ride it out. Although, this behavior is out of character for him, but everything about him has changedsince Freeya has come into our pack. Since he found his true mate.

Omari backs away from Vic, his anger now a simmering boil instead of the raging inferno we just witnessed. His emotions sweep through our bond like a dark poisonous entity, eager to sink its claws into our union, eating away at it until there is nothing left but contempt and resentment. I can feel it take root and I know I’m not the only one. I look up at Vic then Dez and I know if we don’t come to some compromise, we might lose him.

“I think we’re all very emotional at the moment. I know Avi and Dez just want to protect you, Omari.” Omari huffs out a frustrated breath, but Vic quickly holds his hands out, blocking his exit. “But. . .but in their case, I don’t think they have given your request the required amount of thought,” Vic says, as he tries to slowly ease the tension in the room. Because he’s right, we immediately jumped into Alpha asshole mode with thinking this through. My instincts, our instincts, are to protect our Omega, but our Beta, the mother of our unborn child, needed our protection most of all. We failed to give her that.

Omari finally sits, taking Vic’s seat and blows out a breath. “I can help you find her. I know I can. Our bond is strong. No offense to you three, but stronger than yours. I feel her. I can sense her, smell her. We’ve experimented with the idea before, that’s where I got the idea from. It was hers.”

Dez tsks in response. “We don’t have time for games, Mari. Yes, I remember you found her first, but we are talking about miles of separation, without direction, and as of yet, we don’t have a starting point. I can’t protect?—”

“But you can!” Omari argues. “I am safer with you. I will be with you. There is no place I would rather be than by your side actively looking for her. It will put my mind at easeknowing I am out there searching for our girl and our baby. If something happens to them both and I could have done something, anything. . .you will lose me.” Omari’s voice breaks as he hangs his head, cradling it in his hands.

The truth of Omari’s words hit exactly where he intended. The ache in my chest is like a dagger to my heart, the thought of losing him, maybe not physically, but emotionally, would shatter our pack. Our carefully built house of cards would come tumbling down around us if we lose him, if we lose her. We can’t lose either of them.

“Then the decision is easy.” Vic shrugs, somehow reading my mind before I can voice the sentiment.

Omari looks up at Vic with wide-eyed hope as his eyes volley back and forth between. This is a chance, an opportunity to get her back. We have to take it.

“I think you’re right,” I finally say after a moment of reflection. I tap my desk, like a judge pounding a gavel, my decision made. I look at Dez who still looks hesitant, but I can see he’s given in by his softening face and relaxed shoulders. “Take him with you. You have to let him try. The sooner we can get her home the better.”

Dez nods and goes to leave without a word. We all watch him go. Omari sits back in his chair and practically melts in relief. His arms drape over the arms of the chair on either side and his legs stretch out in front of him as he sighs.

Dez stops as he reaches the door and looks back over his shoulder. “Mari, be ready to go at a moment’s notice. It can happen at any time,” he says, taking a step, then he stops and tilts his head as if he forgot to mention something. Turning, he paces back into my offices and looks pointedly at me.

“What is it?” I ask, groaning, feeling exhausted after this entire exchange. I haven’t slept well in the past four days. I’ve stayed in my office, willing the phone to ring, as if theman who took Free would call and demand something from me. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, there is nothing money can’t buy. Yet, there was no call, no ransom, no demands for luxuries I possess. No. He just wanted her. Four days, and impotent doesn’t begin to describe how I feel. But at least now that I’m sort of settled and not ready to crawl out of my own skin with worry, I’m exhausted.

Dez looks to Vic then to me and smiles. “I’ve been thinking about why Freeya changed her last name. Well, the spelling at least. I will bet my left nut her parents are involved in this somehow. I have Malcolm digging for all the information he can gather but because he’s so busy searching for the vehicle, he hasn’t been able to give me much.”

“You bet your left nut?” Vic laughs, lifting his eyebrow in question, then smirks. “Well, now I am interested to see where this goes.” He gestures for Dez to continue and Dez hangs his head in exasperation and sighs.

“I think it’s time we do a little digging of our own. I say it’s time to put all that French etiquette, charm, money, and family status of yours to good use Avion Savoy. I think you and Vic should pay Freeya’s parents a visit, get a feel for them, see if they’re hiding something. Do what you do best,” he says, rocking back on his heels and crossing his arms over his chest like he knows me. Okay, he does, but out of principle I have to be difficult and ask what he means.

I purse my lips and Omari chuckles under his breath. Shooting him a scathing look, I narrow my eyes at Dez. “Do what I do best,” I say slowly as if I am unsure of what he might say.

Dez doesn’t hesitate to answer me, unfolding his arms to haunch his massive shoulders. “You know all that haughty shit you do when you want to push your financial weight around.”

I scoff. “My financial what?—”

“You do do that.” Vic chuckles as he rubs his hands together conspiratorially. Dez and Omari both laugh as I stare at them all incredulously. “I was starting to feel a bit left out, but this, I am more than ready to do.” Vic looks elated. “Gives me a reason to pull out the black Tom Ford suit I just bought.”

I shrug, I guess they’re right. Being a Savoy, my family is well known throughout high society. Being the only child and the sole heir of a billion-dollar export company afforded me an abundance of privilege. If Freeya’s parents are as shallow and self-important as I imagine they are, I don’t think I will have a hard time getting a read on them. I learned at a very young age how to throw my financial weight around as I was growing up.

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