Page 41 of One Flew Over the Omega's Nest: Part One
"Doctor," he all but snarls. "Doctor Henry Whitmore, the brain behind the drug that's keeping you from being put in the Cathedral."
Whitmore. That’s who the orderlies in Zombieland referred to. Sothisis the mastermind behind everything here.
"Doctor Whitmore," I give a saccharine smile, "who's to know what's omega instinct and what's not? I enjoy ownin’ a little piece of my man, but I can assure you I was notnestin’. I've never even had a heat."
Something that Declan's doctors had been doing their best to figure out, but ultimately concluded that my omega is in a constant state of distress and has never had a safe place to exist. They figured that Mabel being taken was so traumatizing, that even once I was safe in Declan's care I most likely wouldn't stabilize until I knew where she was.
Don't want to think about what that means if we're too late.
"We're aware." Doctor Brooks gives me a fake smile. "Not to worry, Jo. It won't be an issue anymore… Mr. Pierce has been very worried about you these last two days." There’s a note of warning in his voice, like he might expect me to claim him as my alpha.
But nope, I’m not biting.
It’s then that the last part of his sentence hits me, and my stomach sinks.Twodays? I really hope Turnip found someone else to hand-feed her bits from the cafeteria.
"I've been out of it for two days?" I try to keep my jaw off the ground. What the hell happened to me? That's two days I haven't been able to look for Mabel. I need to figure out how to get out of here so I can go back to the abandoned wing and snoop some more.
"We've been keeping you hydrated and comfortable. We don't know what caused the loss of consciousness exactly, but we upped your dose of the instinct inhibitor, and you should be good as new." He pats my hand, and I suppress the urge to pull back and wipe it off.
"Thanks Doc. Any word on when I can get out of here?"
"I'll send nurse Helaena in to check your vitals, and then you'll be good to go," Brooks says before heading for the door. "Doctor Whitmore? Are you coming?"
The other doctor's jaw ticks as he glares at me like he wants to say something, but then he nods at Brooks and follows him out the door.
Ugh. I get the same slimy feeling from Whitmore as I do Brooks, but…Whitmore actually seems like he might hate me. Which, totally fair if you know me, but I've never even met the guy before.
I only have a brief second to rest my head back on my pillow before Nurse Helaena comes bustling into the room. "Hi, Jo," she says kindly as she approaches the bed. "How are you feeling, sweetie?" The bruises on her neck are pretty much gone at this point, and her deep brown eyes shine with warmth as she pulls a stool next to me.
I never much cared for people calling me sweetie, but there's something about Helaena that reminds me a bit of Mama. She doesn't look a thing like her, but it's all in her demeanor. The way she's able to keep her kind heart despite dealing with assholes like Brooks and Banesworth. Part of me wants to ask why she's here. Why she works in an abusive environment like this, but I of all people know that we aren't always in control of our circumstances.
"Just peachy," I give her a weak smile, noting that I feel much weaker than normal, but that might be due to not eating for a couple of days, "any chance of gettin' these things off my wrist though?" I look pointedly at the handcuffs, still tethering me to the bed.
Her cheeks flush, and her eyes flash with something that I might have thought was outrage if she wasn't so timid. "Yes. As soon as the orderly gets here, we'll have him take them off. I was supposed to wait for him before coming in, but…" She glances quickly behind her before leaning in close. Her whispered words come out so quickly, I almost don't catch them. "I know you won't hurt me, Jo. You only hurt people who deserve it. I can't say much, but…a name." Her eyes close for a second, and it looks like she's summoning the courage to say whatever name she wants to say. "Joshua Barone."
The name hits me like a punch to the gut as realization dawns on me, and tears sting my eyes.
Joshua Barone. Seventy-one year-old CEO of TC Tech, number six on my hit list.
He was a monster. Years and years of victims threatened or bribed into silence, with the backing of the Vasiliev Mafia family.
"You?" I ask, my voice choking. "Or…?"
"Me." Her own eyes are glassy as she grasps my hand. “I was eighteen.” My heart clenches.
He hurt her, and I killed him. The door behind her creaks open, and I nod wordlessly at her, a single tear running down my cheek. I can't even wipe the damn thing away. But I know she won't hold it against me. With one name, Helaena has just confirmed that I can trust her.
"Everything okay in here?" The sound of Sam's voice fills me with relief. I had honestly been expecting Banesworth, but seeing Sam almost made me…happy. Which is strange because I've had one full conversation with the man.
"Peachy-keen, Sammy-boy." I give a half-hearted wink. "Nurse Helaena here was just comfortin’ me and my crocodile tears about still not being trusted enough to be in a hospital bed uncuffed. I haven't stabbed anyone in nearly a week." Nevermind the fact that I’ve been unconscious two of those days.
His eyes dart to Helaena for a split second before he comes over to me, pulling a set of keys from his pocket. Helaena scoots out of the way to give him some room, and he leans over me, unlocking the cuffs. My mind expects to be enveloped in his whiskey and coffee scent, but when nothing fills my nose…my brain short-circuits.
If my omega weren't in a steel box, I'd be whining, but it still bothers me that I can't scent him. His safety. Comfort. So instead of an omega-whine, a stifled sob comes out.
It's ridiculous.I'mridiculous.
I'm also bone-deep exhausted, which is what I'm going to blame my next actions on.
