He hesitates.
“Like my parents threw Bird and me away.” I glance at Zoe.
Like her dad threw her away.
He nods.
“We shouldn’t be scared all the time,” I whisper. “All of us caged by these hotel rules.By the Frosts’. Bird is being overworked. Hatton is going to be matched at the Christmas Ball. What if his pack is as cruel as mine was? Now, Piper could be suffering by himself with Ellington. And that’s it. I’ve reached my limit. I’m no longer scared of flying too close to the sun because even if I crash into the sea, at least I will have tried.”
Icarus’ piercing blue gaze meets mine. “That was impassioned.”
“Hell, yeah.”
“I’m a little in awe right now.”
“As it should be.”
“Also, agent of chaos, how precisely do you intend to start this rebellion?”
I smirk, but my heart is beating fast. “Not a rebellion.A heist.”
Icarus looks startled. “Then you will crash into the Institute and me into a cozy jail cell. No robbing banks. That’s my rule.”
I lick my dry lips. “What if I told you that I am an Omega safe cracker?”
Icarus stares at me. “I know that I am both overworked and sleep deprived, but did I just imagine you say that you break into safes?”
“As a hobby.”
“Obviously.”
“I’m serious. Dad secretly trained me on the vault in the penthouse. Maya has everything of his, even his priceless bond rings from Ryan locked up there. When she took over the pack, she took over everything and kept it from him. Omegas have the skills to be the best safe crackers. It became an obsession to me to steal it back. Then I could use that theft to ruin Maya, whiletaking over the hotel and saving the staff. It’s my lifelong dream. You know, it’ll be afamilyheist.”
I need to trust Icarus.
Hatton and Bird have a scheme going with their shares and the board. Yet it won’t be enough. I need more money to help them out.
I uniquely have the skills to make this happen.
My stomach twists with nerves, as Icarus pushes back his chair and stands. He balances Zoe on his hip, walking around the desk to face me.
“Cooper risked training you to break into the safe...?” Icarus’ expression is shuttered. “Why?”
“Dad isn’t the weak Omega everyone takes him for. He knew that I may need the skill one day, and I’m the one who took the interest.” I puff out my chest, proudly. “I’m talented.”
“Do you really think that you can do it?”
“I know that I can. The problem is that now I no longer live in the penthouse, I don’t have access. Plus, recently a load of other high-tech security features have been added. It’s tough, but we could?—”
“Absolutely not.” Icarus’ dominant pheromones flood the room. “It’s too dangerous. No matter how much you want to fly, I want you tolive.”
Icarus’ chest is rising and falling; he looks stripped back and raw in a way that he rarely allows to show.
We’re standing close together with Zoe held between us.
Icarus’ gaze is frighteningly earnest. It makes something flip in my stomach.
With Zoe held like this, it feels like we’re a true couple with the child that we’re raising between us.
