“That’s the thing,” I cut in, tapping my fingers on the kitchen island, “she’s an adult. We have to trust that if she needs help, she’ll tell us. What if these guys are just rich assholes? It’s her choice whether or not she stays with him.”
“It’s not that simple,” West nearly snaps. “Her father is the one who put her in Thornfield to begin with, her mother left when she was fifteen, this is the only place she has. She can’t leave, even if she wanted to.”
“We need to come up with an exit plan for after she gives birth,” Kole says darkly, frowning.
“If she wants it,” Hayden adds. “She seemed pretty dead set on not wanting our help.”
“Plus, the matter of the custody of the baby,” I rub my eyes, “if these guys are as powerful as Adela says, she won’t be able to just cut and run. He’ll come after her and the baby. She needs to completely disappear.”
“I feel like you’re gettin’ ahead of yourselves there, boys.” Jo’s sexy, sleepy voice comes from the now-open doorway. Her hair is rumpled, and she yawns, walking past the rest of the guys and surprising me by tucking herself under my arm. She wraps her arms around my waist and leans her head on my chest, her fucking delicious apple cinnamon scent making my dick inappropriately hard. “We need to talk to her somewhere there won’t be any influence on her answers. See what’s really goin’ on.”
“How much of that did you hear?” I ask, pressing a kiss to her head.
“I started listenin’ behind the door when I heard Kole say I wouldn’t stand for somethin’.” She yawns adorably, before blinking up at me and pressing a kiss to my chin. My heart just about skips ten beats at the casual show of affection.
A knock on the door has us all tensing, and it’s probably best that West is the one who answers it, since he seems to be the least on edge.
“Ellen,” he says warmly, all trepidation gone from his tone. “How can we help you?”
There’s a little sniff from the other side of the door. “Ms. Olivier informed me that you are in need of…heat suppressants?”
“Yes,” he answers easily, his stance casual. “Jo’s were in her suitcase, and as you know…”
“The airline lost your luggage. Right.”
“Right.” A pause. An awkward shift of feet as Ellen stays silent. “Was there something you needed?”
“Oh. No, I just wanted to confirm…the…type of suppressants.”
I arch a brow. The type? As far as I’m aware there’s only one type—a pill that omegas take every day.
West leans back, looking at Jo. “Just a regular thirty-day supply, right? Even two weeks would be better than nothing.”
“Sounds good to me,” Jo agrees, nuzzling into my chest.
“Right.” Ellen sounds unsure. “I’ll reach out to our on-call doctor and see if he can prescribe some.”
Jo stiffens in my hold. “That ain’t gonna work,” she leaves my side, walking to the door and standing next to West. Before I realize what I’m doing, I’m standing behind her and West, eyeing the beta woman suspiciously.
She swallows nervously when she sees me, but her mask of superiority falls back into place almost instantly.
“Why…why not?” Ellen asks, raising her chin like we’re all beneath her.
“My doc doesn’t want me on them anymore…somethin’ stupid about my kidneys.” The lie falls easily from Jo’s lips. “There’s a note in my file to not fill a prescription for me. But…” She looks around with wide eyes before letting out a self-deprecating laugh. “I mean, I doubt you want me goin’ into heathere, right? I’d feel sorry for your cleanin’ staff.”
Ellen’s nose scrunches in distaste. “That would be…unfortunate.”
The uptight beta looks like she might say something else, but Jo takes a step forward, leaning towards her like she’s sharing a secret. “You can’t imagine the smell. The pure amount offluids.” Jo lets out a little shiver. “I mean, it’s comin’ outtameand I’m still a little grossed out. Not to mention the noise. I’ve been told I’m a screamer. Are these walls sound-proof?” She frowns looking at the walls of the house.
“I…don’t think so.” Ellen’s lips are a tight line as she looks at my omega with barely concealed disgust.
“So…” Jo tilts her head. “I think it might be in the best interest of everyone on this property if we get those suppressants…even if we have to go…offthe record.”
Ellen huffs, her eyes darting from Jo to me, then from West to Kole and Hayden, who are still sitting on the couch, watching the exchange with amusement. “I’ll…see what I can do.”
Without another word, she turns on her heel and walks off, and West sighs as he shuts the door.
“I have a bad feeling about her,” West sighs, running a hand over his face.
