“I..yeah,” he said softly. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“Sorry about that.” There was genuine regret in my friend’s voice.
“It was really my fault,” I started to explain. “You heard me talking to that asshat in the parking lot a couple of hours ago?”
Jeremy nodded, his tangled hair tickling my chin.
“When we walked out of the hospital, there was a bounty hunter leaning against my truck.”
“Which is why you told me to hide.”
“Exactly. I’m not sure how he figured out where you were, but, if a dimwit like Jones could, I had to assume he wasn’t the only one. Then, when I figured he’d have gotten bored and wandered off, I came back for you and found him still staking out the parking lot.” I snarled at the memory. “He asked me to team up with him to find you, split the payment between us.” I dropped a light kiss on my Omega's hair. “That’s the conversation that you heard before I tossed you the emergency supplies that I’d brought for the trip out of town.”
“Out of town?” Jeremy repeated hesitantly, his eyes darting to the lawman in the driver’s seat.
“Unless you object,” I said softly. “I think the best way to protect you and the baby is going to be to take you somewhere where you won’t stand out.” Jeremy didn’t respond, so I continued. “There’s a group in Texas called Omega Destiny International that helps Omegas take control of their lives and gain their independence. Even if you aren’t interested in staying long term, it will give you a safe place to be until you have the baby.”
“Texas?” Jeremy looked up with wide eyes. “But..isn’t it illegal for you to take me across state lines?”
I shrugged. “Depends on how you look at it.”
Jeremy’s body tensed against me. “Kade, I appreciate the offer, but I can’t let you throw your future away for me.” He glanced down at his tummy, barely visible under the over-sized coat he wore. “For us.”
“It’s my future,” I pointed out. “And I’m pretty sure that protecting my family is exactly what I’m supposed to do with it.”
My words hung heavy between us for a long moment. Then, Jeremy drew in a deep breath, throwing another glance at the front seat where Sonny was actively ignoring the private conversation behind him.
“It’s okay to talk in front of him,” I assured my Omega. “He’s on our side.”
Jeremy heaved a sigh so deep that it had to have come from his very soul.
“The baby isn’t yours,” Jeremy whispered, the words catching in his throat. “I was telling you the truth. That’s why I can’t let you commit a crime to protect a baby that isn’t even your blood.”
“Is that your only objection to my plan?” I asked curiously. I mean, if he was only worried about me, that was sweet, but not his problem. If, on the other hand, Jeremy actually didn’t want to leave the state with me, I certainly didn’t want to commit an actual felony by kidnapping him.
My Omega nodded hesitantly.
“So you’re okay with going to Texas?” I pressed.
He nodded again.
“Good.” I hugged him tighter and kissed his cheek. “Then here’s what you need to know. I was already pretty sure that the baby isn’t biologically mine before you told me. I figured that out within a few hours of dragging you out of that root cellar.” I tipped his chin up, bringing his eyes to meet mine as the truck rolled to a stop inside the security fence of the county impound yard. “But I’m in love with you and, until you tell me otherwise, I’ve decided that you’re mine.” I pressed a kiss to his lips. “And that definitely makes the two of you my family.”
Jeremy’s jaw dropped and I used the finger under his chin to gently close his mouth.
“Now, we need to get a move on before the other hunters realize we gave them the slip.” I slid from the truck, offering my Omega my hand.
He never hesitated, grasping it firmly and waiting for me to help him down.
“Yes, Alpha.”
ChapterSixteen
Jeremy
Once Kade helped me out of the sheriff’s truck hidden deep in the recesses of what appeared to be a junkyard, our escape plan kicked into high gear.
“Your chariot awaits,” Kade teased me, bending into a sweeping bow and gesturing toward a rusted camper that I would have sworn was older than I was by twice.
