Page 57 of Omega Inked

"We have to go after her," I say, desperation creeping into my voice. "We have to save her."

Phoenix puts his hand on my shoulder, calming me with a touch. "We will," he says, his voice firm. "But we need a plan. We can't just charge in there blindly."

I nod, knowing that he's right. We need to be smart about this. But the thought of Kendra, alone and scared, is too much for me to bear.

"I'll do whatever it takes," I say, looking at each of them in turn. "I won't let her be sold off like that."

The others start to nod in agreement, but then a huge man appears behind Mercer, his eyes blazing.

Rafe.

"We're not taking a risk like that again," he says. "This is about risk and reward...and the reward isn't big enough with the rest of those girls. We've got what we need here."

I feel my pack bristle at Rafe's words, their anger palpable. But I can see the logic in what he's saying, even if it makes me sick to my stomach.

"What are you saying?" Phoenix demands, his voice low and threatening.

Rafe steps closer, his expression hardening. "I'm saying that we cut our losses. We can't risk our entire operation for one omega. It's not worth it."

I feel my blood boil at his callousness. Kendra is worth everything to me. I can't just sit back and let her be sold off to the highest bidder.

"I'll do it myself," I say, stepping forward. "I'll go to the auction house and get her back."

Rafe laughs, a cruel sound that echoes through the empty dock. "You? You're just an omega. You wouldn't last two minutes in that kind of environment."

I clench my fists. "I'm tougher than you think I am."

"You think you have power just because your daddy is the head of the ACB," he scoffs. "Trust me...if that were the case, you wouldn't have had to go into hiding."

I can feel my anger boiling over, my omega instincts screaming at me to defend my honor. But I know that Rafe is right--my family's name won't help me in the auction house. I need another plan.

"Fine," I say, my voice low and steady. "If you won't help me get Kendra back, I'll do it on my own."

With that, I turn and walk away, my pack following me silently. I can feel their eyes on my back, their support and love making me feel stronger than ever. I won't let Rafe or anyone else tell me what I can or cannot do.

As we walk through the deserted streets of the Raft, I start to formulate a plan. And I don't even need that much stuff to carry this plan out.

All I need is a phone.

24

Mercer

"Yousureyouwannado this?" Phoenix asks.

We all sit in the houseboat, Olivia holding a phone and curled up in the corner. She chews on her lip, staring down at the phone like it's a ticking time bomb.

Then she nods.

"I have to," she says. "He's the only one who can stop this."

"Don't let him get anything out of you that doesn't feel safe," I tell her. "Eduardo Cruz isn't a good man."

Her eyes glimmer. "Trust me--I know my father."

Phoenix glances at me and I can read the question in his eyes.Are you sure about this?he seems to be asking. I meet his gaze and nod, my heart heavy with the weight of the situation. I know Eduardo Cruz too. He has a reputation for being ruthless. But Olivia is right.

He's the only one who can stop Kendra from being sold off to the highest bidding pack.

---