Page 46 of Vallaverse: Noir
“Thank you,” Dana tells him after he hands her the meds and a bottle of water. “Are you alright?”
“I'm better than alright,” Becket says. “This feels good. It feels right.”
Dana yawns, and wriggles her hips slightly. “It feels like I'm going to need an ice pack.”
Chapter Nineteen
Dana
It takes three days before I'm able to convince Pierce and Beckett that I can go to the mayor's house. In hindsight, Pierce was right. If we had just gone to the mayor's place, I wouldn't have gotten shot and Pierce wouldn't have had to fill out an incident report.
The flip side is that we wouldn't have found out about Councilman Hunt's corruption. I wouldn't have a brand new mating mark to go with my brand new Valla, either. The gunshot wound is worth it. I'd do it all over again if it meant I got to keep this bond with Pierce.
I've always wondered what it felt like for Omegas to be so utterly claimed, both inside and out. I thought they might feel pinned down. Controlled. Oppressed. I don't feel any of those things. Between my ties with Beckett and Pierce, the only thing I feel is full and fiercely protected.
I also feel very well-fucked.
We were supposed to take my car today. I was even going to let Pierce drive. I've been feeling guilty about having his driver take us all over the city for my case and I thought it would be nice to give him the day off. Pierce crushed that idea pretty quickly, though. He told me his driver enjoyed detective work and that it would break his heart to have the day off. Who am I to break the driver's heart? Especially when his car is nicer than mine.
Beckett is another problem this morning. He has good points that I'm having trouble countering, too.
“Listen,” he says, “I wouldn't let him in my house.” He motions at Pierce. “No offense, but I wouldn't. Neither would you. Nobody would unless they already know him. The mayor might know him, but Celia doesn't. There isn't an Omega with any amount of common sense who would let an unknown Valla into their house.”
I can't argue with that. He's right. The elusive Valla aren't known for their indoor etiquette. After hearing about what Pierce did at Councilman Hunt's home, I'm more convinced than ever that the mild-mannered man sitting next to me in the seat of this car is a well-performing farce.
“No one is suggesting that Pierce knocks on the door, Beckett.”
“Which leads to my next point,” he continues. “There were people waiting to shoot you behind the last door you knocked on. The people involved in this know you. They already don't like you. Let's assume the mayor is as corrupt as everyone else in this heap of a city. He's not going to answer the door, and neither will Celia. His men, who don't like you, will be waiting for you to knock. I can't handle you getting hurt again, Dana. I really can't.”
I can't argue with him on that point, either. I would also rather not get shot again. It's unpleasant. It hurts. It's already starting to itch. But what he's suggesting is simply unacceptable.
“It has to be me.”
“No,” Pierce and I say at the same time, for the tenth time.
Beckett is unperturbed. “You're both being unreasonable and ridiculous. Sending me is the best chance at finding Celia.”
I don't like it.
I hate it.
But he's right.
Sending him to the door would yield the highest success. He's a mentor from CCOE doing a house call on one of the people he mentored. There is no reason for anyone to deny him entry, and that's the problem Pierce and I are having.
“I'm not being unreasonable, Beckett. I'm being logical from an Alpha and a detective standpoint. Let's say they let you in. They close the door behind you. You are essentially trapped in the house and we're trapped outside. Anything could happen to you.”
“Nothing will happen to me, Dana,” he argues. “Let me do this. It's the smartest way. And if I don't come out directly or text you, you and Pierce can break the door down and come in after me.”
Pierce squeezes my thigh and I know I'm going to let Beckett go to the door. It's going to go against every instinct I possess, but he's right. Sending him is smart. “Fine,” I tell him. But if the door closes behind you, you will have ninety seconds to send me a text confirming that you're safe, and you will need to send me a text every ninety seconds after that or I will break down the door and drag you out whether she's in there or not.”
“Understood.” He smiles at me and nods at Pierce. “I'll text as soon as I'm inside. I'll probably call and leave the phone on mute. Would that make you feel better?”
“Yes,” Pierce agrees.
“Smart you,” I tell him, leaning into his side.
I don't feel as confident watching him walk to the door alone once we get there, though. Beckett isn't a pushover as an Omega. He might not go around looking for fights, but he's every bit asassertive as he needs to be. That doesn't make me feel any better about the fact that there's about to be a door between us.
