The anticipation might just kill me.
And if that doesn’t, Hudson following through on his whispered words definitely will.
* * *
I shoulder my way through the kitchen entrance, carrying my plates over to my station and adding them to the teetering stacks piling up everywhere.
Mattias, another one of the servers, weaves around me, adding his own. We both watch warily as it totters, then stabilizes.
He whistles. “Don’t envy whoever’s doing that later.”
I bite my lip. Possibly me.
Eh, I’ll worry about it later. We both head back out, and I smooth down my apron, checking for any stains as I move over to where Veronica is frowning over a folder.
She glances up, her frazzled eyes landing on me.
“You’ve done well tonight. I’m giving you the ten in the corner – big group, great tips. You alright with that?”
I nod. Despite my fears, working out front has been fun. I’ve had the odd side glance, but mainly people have been nothing but polite. And turns out the clientele here are far, far tidier than they ever were at the diner.
“Great. Matt will help you when it’s time to serve. Off you go.”
I take off, weaving my way in between tables in a way that’s starting to feel more natural. I wonder briefly if Hudson would give me some more shifts out here. I enjoy my work, but it’s kind of nice to be away from my little corner for a bit.
I spot the group Veronica was talking about, and plaster on my best customer service smile, pulling my notepad from my pocket and poising to take their order.
“Good evening, and welcome toIl Piacere. Have you decided what you might like to drink?”
The group chatters amongst themselves, and a woman glances up at me with a smile. She’s beautiful, flaming red hair flowing down her back in loose curls and the prettiest amber eyes. I blink. Anomega.
She tugs on the sleeve of the man next to her. “Rogue? What shall we order?”
The man turns around, pushing dark hair away from his face as vivid, forest green eyes land on mine. Recognition steals my breath away, my vision tightening to a single point.
Iknowthose eyes.
I’ve had nightmares about those eyes.
The alpha –Rogue- gives me a cursory smile, glancing down at his companion with a much softer look. “Whatever you want. You choose.”
Another alpha chimes in from across the table, his tone teasing. “Little omega, you know Rogue doesn’t drink wine.”
I know thatvoice.
She laughs, a husky, happy sound that sets my teeth on edge. Rogue just smiles, his arm curled protectively around the back of the omega’s chair.
I’m frozen to the spot, my heart thundering inside my chest. My silence gets the omega’s attention, and she grins.
“I’m so sorry! We’re really bad at this. Could we have a few minutes?”
When I stay silent, her brow furrows, her eyes scanning me. Rogue picks up on the sudden atmosphere, turning his attention to me. I can’t breathe. A combination of thick, cloying fear is choking up my throat. But right underneath that is pure, unfiltered anger.
“Are you alright?” the omega asks anxiously, but I ignore her.
Rogue frowns. “Do I know you?”
God. This man sentenced me to endure the hell of the Omega Compound, and he doesn’t evenrememberme.
