Page 48 of Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots

"You mean get away from her scent," Theo observed quietly, his perceptive gaze making me uncomfortable.

"If that's what it takes to focus, yes," I admitted, standing up and stretching. The tension in my shoulders had been building all day, a physical manifestation of the protective instincts that had been screaming since the moment I saw that syringe in her shop.

Lucas gathered the files, tucking them into a neat stack. "We should talk about what happens next. The shop repairs are underway, but that's the easy part. There's still someone out there who specifically targeted her."

"And we're no closer to identifying them than we were yesterday," Dakota added, frustration evident in his tone. "The blood sample isn't in any database, the security footage is too grainy for facial recognition, and we've hit dead ends with Thompson's research contacts."

"We know they're organized," I pointed out, moving toward the kitchen. I needed coffee if we were going to make any progress tonight. "The attack was planned, coordinated. They knew Vivian's routine, her apartment location, and had been watching her shop."

Theo followed me, tablet still in hand. "They're also likely connected to whoever killed the other Omegas. The method—a syringe with an unknown compound—matches the pattern."

I nodded, measuring coffee grounds with practiced movements. "Which means they're either working for someone with significant resources, or they have those resources themselves."

"What about the research facility Thompson was working at?" Lucas suggested, leaning against the kitchen doorway. "We know they've been evasive about what exactly Thompson was working on. It can't be a coincidence."

I nodded, pressing the button on the coffee machine. "I've requested a warrant for their research files, but it's being blocked at every turn. Someone with influence doesn't want us looking too closely."

"Which only makes me more convinced that's where we need to be looking," Dakota stated, his expression darkening. "Corporate research facilities don't get this kind of protection unless they're hiding something big."

Theo tapped something on his tablet, brow furrowed in concentration. "It also seems Blackwood Industries is involved somehow.”

Dakota whistled low. "Blackwood? As in Senator Blackwood's family?"

"The very same," Theo confirmed, expanding the diagram to show more connections. "The Senator's brother, Marcus Blackwood, is the CEO. Their family has controlled the company for generations."

I frowned, watching the coffee drip into the pot. "That complicates things. Blackwood has serious political pull."

"And a reputation for being untouchable," Lucas added grimly. "His family has connections in every branch of government and enough money to make problems disappear."

"Which would explain why our investigation keeps hitting roadblocks," I murmured, pouring coffee into four mugs. "If Blackwood is involved, they'd have the resources to protect whatever Thompson was working on."

"And the resources to send professional killers after anyone who might compromise that work," Dakota added, accepting the mug I handed him.

Theo adjusted his glasses, still focused on his tablet. “I will have to do more research into Blackwood, but even with solid evidence.”

I sighed taking a sip of my coffee, "We need to focus on what we can prove. The attack on Vivian is our strongest lead right now. Someone wanted her dead, and they failed. They'll try again."

"Which is why she's here," Dakota said, accepting the mug I handed him. "Though I still think a safehouse would have been more appropriate."

"This is safer," I replied firmly, shutting down the argument we'd had multiple times already. "Safehouses have protocols, paperwork, officers rotating in and out. Too many potential leak points."

"And nothing to do with the fact that you're drawn to her," Dakota muttered under his breath, just loud enough for all of us to hear.

I shot him a warning glance, “And you aren’t…or Theo and Lucas?”

Dakota shrugged, not denying it. "We're all affected. But you're the one who brought her here instead of following protocol."

"She's safest with us," I insisted, though even to my own ears the justification sounded incomplete. The truth was more complex—yes, she was safer here, but I also wanted her close. Needed to know she was protected, specifically by us. By me.

Lucas gave a small snort. "We've all felt it. That pull. The way her scent gets under your skin." He tapped his temple. "Even when we're not in the same room, I can still smell those forget-me-nots."

Theo cleared his throat, a rare flush coloring his cheeks. "There's a biological explanation for our collective response. Omegas in distress trigger protective instincts in Alphas, particularly those with—"

"Save the science lecture," Dakota interrupted, though without real heat. "We all know what this is."

I set my mug down with more force than necessary. "What this is," I said firmly, "is a witness protection situation that's become complicated by circumstances none of us were expecting.”

"Complicated is an understatement," Lucas muttered, running a hand through his hair. "None of us expected to feel this... connection to her."

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