Cheap fucking bastard.
It makes it easier though. Oscar steps forward, his eyes blazing. His swing hits Brett’s other side, losing several fingers and sending a crack up his arm. “That felt… surprisingly good.”
Jake grunts. “I think I brought a mountain for a molehill. Out of the way.”
We step back as he switches on the trimmer. It cuts through the plaster easily as Jake shears a line down the side, knocking off his right arm and moving on to his left.
It takes a few minutes between the three of us. To smash Brett’s statue to pieces, using our boots to crush the plaster down until there’s nothing left of him but dust.
Borrowing Oscar’s axe, I hack the plaque off the wooden bench, turning it over in my hands.
In memory of Brett Rivers.
I wonder if he’s watching.
I hope you’re screaming, I say silently.Wherever you are, brother, I hope it fucking hurts.
Turning, I toss the plaque into the trash. He deserves nothing less than to be forgotten.
My breathing is heavy as Jake grips my shoulder. “You good?”
I brush off my hands and pick the bat up. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
Day 365 – Theo
Oscartwistsinhisseat, frowning at me.
“What?” I glance down, following his gaze.
“Why do I smell – what the hell is that? Smells like incense.”
Jake inhales. “I can’t smell anything. But your senses have always been better than mine.”
I glance down at my black t-shirt with a sudden surge of revulsion. “I ran into Kristen at the diner. Well. She ran into me. With both arms and a grip like an octopus.”
Even the thought of it irritates me. “I’ll get changed.”
“Yes, you’ll change,” Oscar snaps. “Kenny can’t scent another omega on you.”
I pull my neckline up, breathing it in.Jesus. My eyes start to water. “Yeah. Sure, I’ll…,”
Or.The thought hits, and I consider it. Oscar’s eyes are narrowed when I look up. “I know that look.No.”
Jake pulls into a space outside the Center, turning to look at me. His brows draw together. “You can’t be serious. Are you actually thinking about walking in there smelling like Kristen fucking Edwards?”
Pressing my lips together, I think it over. “I think she’d lose her shit.”
“She’dshredyou,” Oscar’s voice tightens. “And none of us would stop her. Be serious, Theo. That’s not fucking happening.”
“She’s still in there.” I hold his gaze. “We all know it. Maybe we need to lean on the old Kenny. And if anything’s going to set her off, it’s scenting another omega on one of us.”
“She could rip your throat out,” Jake mutters. He scrubs a hand over his face. “You could set her back by doing this.”
“Or it could bring her out.” With full-blown Kennedy Traylor fire, and I’d kiss the fucking ground at her feet. “Let me try it.”
“I don’t know.” Oscar rubs at his temples. “You’re going to hurt her.”
“I’m going to make it very fucking clear that there’s only one omega for me.” I hold his gaze. “But she’s…comfortable, Oz. Out here? That’s scary, and real, and I don’t blame her for hiding away, not for a moment. But if she has locked herself inside her own fucking mind? If this pulls her out, I’ll walk in there plastered in someone else’s scent and pray that she rips me apart for it.”
