He hung up. I raised a suspicious eyebrow.
“Positive press?” I echoed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Gage slipped his phone into the pocket of his tailored trousers and met my gaze evenly. “I do want to be clear about this, kitten. Part of agreeing to let Knox fix your I.D. problem is going to be letting yourself be seen with us in public.”
I frowned. “Well... yes. Isn’t that what we’re doing today?”
“It is,” he agreed. “But I don’t think you understand what that’s actually going to mean. I’m not the main attraction of Knox’s pack. He is. But people still know who I am... and they’re going to be interested in any omega I’m wining and dining and buying jewelry for.” His earnest hazel eyes moved to Tony. “That’ll be the case for you, too—to an extent. But you’ll have the freedom to shape that narrative more than Jez will. You can be the beta moving up in Knox’s organization. Or you can be more.”
Tony took a physical step backward, even as I tried to digest everything he’d just said.
“I’m just an employee,” Tony said quickly.
Gage nodded as though it wasn’t a big deal. “That works. If that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll go with.”
I bit my tongue to keep from pointing out that after everything Tony and I had talked about, it clearlywasn’twhat he wanted. How hadIbecome the love interest in this romance movie, when Tony was the one who’d actually caught feelings for Heath?
“Fine,” Tony said. “Good.”
“Yes, fine,” I agreed. “Can we go now?”
“Sure,” Gage said. “I’ll drive.”
Gage’s SUV was exactly the kind of vehicle I’d have expected him to drive. It was big and silver and angular—taking up space on the road without being overly flashy. He was a relaxed and confident driver, so I quickly found myself sightseeing as we headed toward the part of the city where rich people hung out.
I’d been to Navy Pier a couple of times, and I’d sniffed around the edges of the Magnificent Mile to see if it was a good target for panhandling. After a couple of attempts, I’d set my sights lower, in places where Chicago’s finest weren’t quite as concerned with keeping things postcard-perfect for the tourists.
I’d thought Gage might head for one of the big department store buildings like North Bridge or Water Tower Place, but instead we ended up walking on the side streets just off Michigan Avenue. Tony whistled, looking at the store names like Hermes and Prada, and several others I’d never heard of.
“Shoes first,” Gage said, leading us into a Christian Louboutin store.
Tony blanched. “Are you sure it’s okay to spend this kind of money on, y’know,footwear?”
Gage turned and came to a halt, placing a big hand on Tony’s shoulder. Tony’s cheeks, which had gone pale at the prospect of spending a thousand dollars on a pair of loafers, went bright pink beneath the alpha’s touch.
“Yes, I’m sure it’s okay to spend this kind of money on shoes,” Gage told him solemnly.
Tony gulped as the big alpha gestured a pair of associates toward us and exchanged a few low words with them. Moments later, we were whisked off in different directions. I disappeared into a wonderland of slings, sandals, pumps, and platform boots.
“What sort of occasions will you be needing shoes for?” asked the stylish male omega who’d taken charge of me.
“Um...” I hesitated, remembering what Gage had said about being seen with members of the pack. “Just... nice dinners, and maybe... parties? Or clubs?”
“Perfect!” the omega enthused. “Yes, I have several options that would suit you wonderfully. Let me bring some out in your size.”
What followed was a whirlwind of trying on fairytale footwear with flashy red soles. I ended up with a pair of low-heeled slingback pumps in a pretty ivory color with little crystals embedded in the shape of flowers, and a pair of dramatic red stilettos with a strap at the ankles.
Tony emerged from a different section of the store, looking like a tornado had just spit him out and carrying a pair of leather loafers in black patent leather, with the toes tapering to an elegant point.
Gage ran an assessing eye over our prizes and gave an approving nod. “Nice. We’ll take them.”
The process continued at different stores catering to different things—handbags, jewelry, menswear, dresses, coats. Gage whistled when I emerged from a changing room wearing a tailored cream cocktail dress with an adorable matching pillbox hat, and a tiny mesh veil that covered one eye and cheekbone.
Both Gage and I blinked rapidly in surprise when Tony emerged in a different store—a perfectly fitted charcoal suitaccentuating the lean lines of his body that he usually hid under baggy jeans and shapeless shirts.
“Tony,” Gage said. “Mydude. Don’t take this the wrong way, but whoever taught you to hide all that under hoodies needs to be taken out to the woodshed andwhipped.”
I froze for a moment, because I could tell Gageexactlywho’d taught Tony to hide himself away. I should know. I’d been the one to bash the asshole’s skull in with a table lamp.
