Page 65 of Shades of Scars

“I wish I was.”

“Is that the favor? Take them both out?” War grins like a kid in a candy shop, but then his face falls like he’s actually upset when I shake my head.

“I really fucking wish. If I could, I’d do it myself. I… found my omega. She was one of the omegas trafficked by Reighn. Sold off to Erossi.” I pause, careful with how much I share. It’s not my story to tell, and War doesn’t need to know the dirty details to give me what I need. “I just need enough proof to bring the bastards down. There’s two bounties out on my omega that I need taken care of as well.”

I reach for my phone and tap away at it until I send off the details regarding the bounty and the hit. I hear War’s phone chime, and he scrolls through it for a silent few minutes, amuscle in his jaw ticking. If there is one thing Warrick Arson and his pack hate, it’s omega dealers and abusers.

He doesn’t hesitate again. “You don’t need to call in the debt for this, Caito. However, I’ll be sending Fraser for back up. I know where Harlan does a lot of his operations. I’ll head to Fairvale Arbor with Cash and Salem to dig up that information you need.”

“I don’t need you to send that asshole here for anything. My pack can protect our omega without him.”

War shrugs. “Even so. Utilize him. You know how he gets when it comes to matters like this.” I can feel a muscle in my jaw tick at the reminder. If anyone had reason to hate underground omega trafficking rings, it’s Fraser Arson.

“Fine.” I say through clenched teeth. “I’ll put him to work.” War smiles, and it makes my fucking skin crawl. He’s one scary motherfucker that I never like to admit gets under my skin. I’m Caito fucking Archer. No one affects me the way Warrick Arson does.

It’s why I’ve been so hesitant to call in this damn favor in the first place.

I hate it, but I need Warrick’s connections. He knows people even scarier than him, some of which work for him. He’ll be able to get me the information we need to put Harlan away. We can force him to reject the bond with Scarlett, and then we can finally be a complete pack.

I’d still like nothing more than to kill the fucking asshole, but this is how it needs to be. I can’t ignore my pack’s logic. If I make a move against him and things go sideways, it will make stuff worse for Scarlett and my pack. I can be level-headed about this.

“We’ll be in touch. Expect Fraser by Sunday morning.” The call disconnects before I can change my mind and argue. Wren’s going to be fucking pissed that we’ll have to find a place for Fraser to set up and do his thing. He won’t like having a strangealpha knowing so much about our situation, but this is the best I can offer. Our pack lead’s connections through his dead old man aren’t doing us any favors.

Sometimes it’s worth it to dig up the corpses of your past.

Especially if it means you can keep those who matter most safe.

A knock sounds on the closed vault door, and Lark pokes his head in. I arch a brow at him, but then I note the lines bracketing his face. Rising to my feet, I growl, “Scarlett?”

His lips thin. “Apollo took her back to her apartment to pack up some things. The roommate convinced her to have a girls night. Here. They’re dancing upstairs, and Wren is on a fucking war path. Just wanted to warn you in case he calls-”

Just then, my phone lets out a shrill ring, and I curse underneath my breath. Fucking Apollo. He doesn’t know how to tell our omega no. Apparently doesn’t fucking matter if her life is in danger or anything. I pull the device out and grimace when I see it is, in fact, Wren.

“Lark’s already told me. I’m on my way upstairs.” I march around my desk to join my pack brother as we trudge towards the elevators like we’re being marched towards the gallows. That’s what it feels like, anyway.

I also hate telling my omega no.

But she can’t fucking be here in a crowded club with a goddamned hit out on her. The hell was Apollo thinking?

“Tell that fucking asshole to answer his damn phone. I’m going to bloody his fucking face for this.” Wren is a snarling beast snapping orders down the line. He’s currently an hour away upstate having an urgent meeting with one of his stand-in CEO’s for his father’s company, or what’s left of it, anyway. Still cleaning up messes his father made before the bastard croaked two years ago.

“I’ll relay the message, but I’ll make sure Lark gives him a good wallop in the meantime.” I hang up then, not wanting to listen to him rant any more. I’m going to have to hold back from pummeling Apollo the moment I see him myself.

“Thanks for that.” Lark grumbles, but I ignore him. Lark always likes playing peacekeeper and never wants to step on anyone’s toes, but I know what he sometimes gets up to in his free time.

The guy is a closet psycho.

Especially when it comes to the pack or our omega.

“How the fuck does this happen? Is he fucking dense?” I growl, irritation making my skin itch something fierce.

Lark chuckles. “I think he had a doe-eyed omega batting her lashes at him and begging him to let her go out with her friend one last time before she goes on lock down.Ravenis the safest place she can be as far as girls night venues go, honestly.”

My teeth are still grinding together the moment the elevator doors slide open to revealRavenin all its glory. I pause when I take in the crowd, and then I groan. “It’s fucking masquerade night? How did I forget about this? How the fuck are we supposed to find our omega when Apollo isn’t answering his phone?” Anxiety is picking at my careful control.

“Gus was manning the main floor when I got here and said that they were close to the bar. Apollo wanted to be near the exit, just in case.” Lark begins to lead us in the direction of the main floor bar, and my irritation only spikes higher the more I have to push off drunk fucks when they stumble or accidentally grind into me. I have to snarl at one particularly handsy beta who thinks it’s a good idea to cup my balls to get my attention. I shove her so hard that she damn near flies across the dance floor.

No one is allowed to touch me except my omega.

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