Page 44 of Omega Scarred

As I walk away, I can feel her eyes on me. It takes all my willpower to keep from turning around and pulling her into my arms. But I know it's not the time or the place.

I have a job to do. And I won't let anything--not even a beautiful omega's scent--get in the way of that.

24

Jade

Therearecertainperksto mating with the pirate king of the Enclave, and his boat is definitely one of them.

Rafe has the nicest boat in the Enclave, a speedboat that he uses to zip around from place to place. We load our stuff in early in the morning, the guys dressed in tactical gear that they'll use to disguise themselves as ACB agents. I'm not in costume yet--but I will be soon.

Because I have to pretend I'm still my father's daughter.

As we set off, the cool sea air whips through my hair, and I can't help the excitement that bubbles up inside of me. This is the moment I've been waiting for, when I'll truly be free from my father's grasp--the moment that will mark my debut as a true pirate of the Enclave.

I try to ignore the butterflies in my stomach as Rafe revs the engine, and we take off across the rolling waves. The sun is just beginning to rise, casting the sky in a riot of oranges and pinks, and I'm reminded of why I love being out on the water so much. It's pure freedom, a chance to escape the constraints of land and society.

Fallon comes up behind me as we approach the city, where we'll dock at one of the Enclave's many abandoned marinas. His arms go around my waist and his lips brush Rafe's bite mark on my neck, reminding me who I belong to...where I belong.

"I'm scared," I whisper.

Fallon squeezes me tighter, and I can feel his heartbeat through his chest. "It's natural to be scared, doll. But you have nothing to fear. We'll be with you every step of the way."

I nod, but the butterflies refuse to settle. This mission is unlike any other we've done before. We're not stealing cargo or taking out a low-level operative. We're going to break into my father's compound, and that won't be an easy feat.

"What if something goes wrong?" I ask, voicing my worst fear.

Fallon pulls back to look at me, his gaze unwavering. "Then we improvise. We're pirates, we know how to think on our feet."

I force a smile, even though my heart is still pounding in my chest. "Right. We're pirates."

With a determined nod, I turn away from Fallon and face the city ahead. Before I know it, the boat slows as we pull into the marina, then I hear footsteps behind us.

"Jade," Rafe says. "You should get ready. It's almost go time."

I nod and look up at Fallon, and he takes my face in his hands.

"Everything's gonna be fine," he murmurs. "We're professionals, doll. We've got this."

I don't respond, slipping past him to go inside the boat's cabin. My outfit is waiting--a classic rich girl get-up, complete with a short pink skirt and a silk blouse. I slip into it quickly, feeling the fabric brush against my skin, then I put on some pink lipstick and a bit of makeup. It's a strange feeling, to put on a costume like this, because this is what I used to wear all the time. It's like putting on an old skin...and I hate it. But it's necessary if I want to blend in with the crowd.

If I want to play the part of the omega ACB heiress.

I step outside onto the deck, where Rafe and Fallon are waiting for me. They're dressed in their tactical gear, ready to storm my father's compound with me. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

"Are we ready?" I ask.

They all turn around...and all three men's jaws drop.

"Holy shit, kitten," Rafe murmurs. "Wish I could undress you now instead of waiting till the mission's over."

I roll my eyes at Rafe's comment, more annoyed than flattered.

"Can we focus on the mission, please?" I say, trying to bring their attention back to the task at hand.

Rafe grins, his eyes scanning me up and down. "Of course, kitten. But damn, you look good."

"He's right," Fallon says. "You should dress like this more often."

---