Page 11 of Nest of Thieves
He and the tattooed alpha must be pack.
Shaking his hand, I scan the crowd for his friend. I look at Riku. His eyes are light green and they make me instantly suspicious.
“Riku?” There’s no way this is the same alpha from the bank robbery. Those alphas had no idea I was an omega, and while green eyes are less common than any other eye color, it’s probably a coincidence. I was in a disguise. I’m being paranoid.
He nods. “What’s your name?”
“Jo.” I pull my hand back and take a drink of champagne. “Where are you from?”
“Why do you want to know?” The skin around his eyes tightens, and his mouth presses into a thin line.
“Why are you so defensive?” I ask, tipping my head to the side.
He relaxes his shoulders. “I’m not. It’s been a long day. Are you enjoying your evening?”
“I’m having a ball.” I flick my gaze around.
The tattooed alpha is nowhere in sight.
Riku laughs under his breath. “Funny.” He steps closer and my hackles rise when he inhales. I’m on suppressants, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a scent. If he picks it up at all, it’ll be faint. The room full of omegas should help me blend in. The perfume hanging in the air is stifling. Riku hums in approval at whatever he smells.
Is it my scent he likes or is it another omega’s?
“Sweet. A bit like cake.” His eyes stray down to my lips. “Do you taste as good as you smell?”
Sweet baby Jesus, am I attracted to this? Something isn’t right about this pack. I’m not sticking around to meet more of the alphas.
“I hope you find the omega you’re looking for,” I say, dipping my head and slipping past him.
“What makes you think I haven’t already found her?” he calls after me.
I grind my teeth together, searching for a side exit. I use it to make my escape into the fresh air. I cast a glance over my shoulder. Riku is talking to a group of alphas, distracted for the moment. Sighing, I face forward and immediately crash into a hard chest.
“Easy, mami.”
I know that nickname. My heart skips, and I resist the urge to startle. He caught me by surprise, but he doesn’t scare me. Breathing in engine grease and citrus, I lift my gaze to meet pretty brown irises. The sun is almost set, and it casts a dull orangish glow across the landscape, lighting the tattooed alpha up like he’s some sort of angel. Only, I know better.
Vette is no angel.
He’s the devil without a disguise. He doesn’t try to hide who he is, and damn if I’m not a little envious of how easily he carries himself. Vette stands as if the whole world could come for him and he’d simply laugh and point a gun.
“What do you want?” I wrench out of his hold as he releases me and I stumble. Catching myself before I fall, I huff and straighten my dress.
Vette watches me like I’m prey. My lips curl back.
Silly man.
“I want our money, Bella.”
Feck. How does he know I’m Jackie?
“Sorry, no vampires here. My name is Jo.”
No sense in lying now. He sure as shit knows I’m an omega now that my mark is out for the world to see. My gaze slips down to his wrist. His suit jacket covers where his mark would be, but the tattoos inching up the sleeve probably do as well.
Vette chuckles. “You’re funny, huh?” He checks me out. “I like your hair better this way, Jackie. Pretty smart using the wig and nose.”
How the fuck did they find me? “My name is Jo.”
