Page 59 of One Flew Over the Omega's Nest: Part One
“It’s not happening,” I say bluntly, really wishing I could set fire to the phone right about now. It would be all melty and smell horrible, but at least this conversation would end.
“Itwillhappen,” he snaps again. “You have been promised to the Giovanni heir—”
“I amnotfor sale!”
“Then you will wither away and die in there.” The dial tone that sounds in my ear tells me he’s hung up, and I breathe a sigh of relief. My heart is pounding so hard I’m surprised he couldn’t hear it through the phone.
Sighing, I hang the phone back on the hook, and let my head fall on the payphone box. I don’t know if it’s the most sanitary, but I stopped caring about things like that a long time ago.
“Your Daddy wants to marry you off?” Jo’s voice sounds behind me, unusually tentative. Fuck.
“How much of that did you hear?”
“I swear, I wasn’t tryin’ to eavesdrop or nothin’.” She sounds like she feels a little guilty, but it’s not like I was quiet. “I followed you ‘cause I was worried, and then I heard yellin’…” She trails off, and I lift my head to turn and look at her.
She’s leaning against the wall behind me, her bottom lip tucked under her teeth. The moment I lay my eyes on her, some of the anxious energy that makes me want to light something up eases.
“Yeah.” I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “He sent me here because I refused to marry someone for a political alliance. That’s how my parents’ marriage was. Mom was so miserable, being stuck in a loveless marriage with no freedoms of her own that she spent ninety percent of her time high or drunk. Then she died when I was twelve. Accidental overdose, but they covered it up to look like a murder. Can’t have a senator’s wife being a drug addict.” My voice is bitter, and Jo’s brow furrows in concern.
“Do you want me to kill him?” My mouth opens slightly, staring at the little ball of fire in front of me. Barely over five feet tall, she stands with her hands on her hips, and her face completely serious.
“What?”
“I mean, would you bemadif I killed him?” She asks, lifting her hand to pick at her nail. “I’ve never murdered a beta before, but I can’t imagine it would be much different than killin’ an alpha.”
“Jo—” I shake my head. “You—there’s no way you could get to him.” Why isthatwhat I’m saying? Why am I not telling her that I don’t want her to kill my dad?
“I’m not gonna be here much longer, Darlin’.” She shrugs, glancing at the cameras. I know for a fact they don’t have audio capabilities, but I’m not sure that Jo does, which is why I’m surprised we’re having this conversation right here. “As soon as I figure out what’s goin’ on with my sister, I’m outta here. And I have connections that aren’t a fan of your daddy.”
It’s not that I think she’s lying, but it all seems a little…fantastical. But I don’t want to ask any questions that might break this moment.
This moment that she’s showing me how much she cares about me, in her own way.
I think I might be in love with her.
A smirk tilts at my lips as I approach. “You’re out of here, huh? What about me?”
She lifts her head to look at me, a feral smile on her face. “Didn’t you figure it out yet, Darlin’? I’m keepin’ you. Which means, you’re comin’ with me.”
“Good.” My voice comes out quieter than I thought it would as she reaches for my collar and pulls me down.
I could resist if I wanted to, but hell,whywould I want to? Her sumptuous lips take mine in a claiming kiss, and I can’t stop the groan that comes out when she bites my lower lip.
“You still haven’t answered me, Darlin’. You want me to kill him? I’ll even let you help.” There’s a devious twinkle in her eye, and it’s easy to forget that she is a literal serial killer. For a moment, I let myself consider the possibilities. I let myself remember every punch to the gut, every backhand across the face the moment I defied him. Every decision of my life, taken out of my hands.
When I accidentally burned the house down, something that only happened because of him springing a fucking engagement on me with no warning, and how he threatened to have me committed if I didn’t “fall in line”.
Plus, you know, based on what Jo overheard the doctors saying, the fact that he may be a part of a terrorist organization who is apparently intent on eliminating all designations.
“Let’s sleep on it, Fireball,” I tell her, stepping away and threading our fingers together. “We can make that decision once we’re out of here.”
twenty-seven
Jo
Igasp as I’m pulled into a dark room from the hall and immediately pushed against a wall. I can’t believe I let myself be caught with my guard down, but I was so busy thinking about what I should do about the fact that I can scent both Hayden and Kole again that I wasn’t paying attention.
I reach for the knife in my pocket, ready to plunge it into whoever has me, when a hand grabs my throat and squeezes tight. The light flicks on, and less than three inches away from my nose is Banesworth.
