Hasn’t she been through enough? She doesn’t deserve this and all I feel is inadequate, I just want to be able to make this go away for her.
My sister and Liv both sit next to her on the couch comforting her, and it almost makes me smile. Everyone in our apartment is here, supporting her, and helping her get through this. I’m so tired I feel dead on my feet, my stomach grumbles and I know I should eat, but there’s too much to do.
Dom clasps a hand on my shoulder and I nod at him, grateful he could drive Kelsey here on such short notice.
“We’ll get it handled, man. I reached out to a few of my contacts in cyber security.”
“I just need to protect her,” I tell him.
“I get it. Maybe you’re getting a little too close to this. Do you want a new assignment after this?” he asks, arching a knowing eyebrow at me. I’m guessing my loud mouth sister wasn’t able to keep her mouth shut for the long drive from Virginia.
“We bonded,” I tell him, and he smirks.
“Kelsey called it. That definitely changes things, Smith. Do you still think you can be her security?”
“I think it makes me more than qualified.” I dare anyone to try and pull me away from her. Even if Dom fires me, I’m still going to be by Cami’s side, maybe she’d give me an allowance. The idea makes me smirk, even though I’m so tired.
“If you say so, I’m going to call the main office and let them know that I won’t be in today.”
“Thanks for coming, Dom.”
“Sure man, that’s what friends are for.” He smiles, and it makes me feel guilty. I haven’t been a great friend to Dom for the past few years. Everything has kept me too busy, too wrapped up in my own shit. I want to be better. He’s helped me so much with Kelsey since I took this job. I need to return the favor.
My head is pulsating from the lack of sleep and the stress. I turn to walk toward our bedroom and get some Tylenol. The door is slightly cracked, and I hear Garth and Franklin whispering.
“I can’t do this anymore. I didn’t even agree to this. You paid me to be quiet, and that’s what I did. You can’t do this to her,” Franklin says.
“How much will it cost to keep your fucking mouth quiet again? The bitch has plenty of money. I don’t know why you feel guilty,” Garth spews. My fists are clenched, and it’s taking every ounce of me to not act now.
“She’s a good person. I don’t feel right doing this.”
“But you felt fine taking fifty grand when I offered it to you last time,” Garth replies. Fifty grand, that’s what Cami was worth to Franklin? How much has Garth made from his deception?
“I’ll give it back. I can’t do this to Cami anymore.”
“We’re fucking doing this. Do you know how much I’m making from the website? I’ll double it. A hundred g’s.”
I open the door fully and stare at Garth. No doubt he can read the fury written all over my face as he pales and takes a step back.
“Smith, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know,” Franklin says, and I can’t help myself when I punch him in the face. I don’t put my full weight behind it. I know he isn’t the mastermind, but he was complicit. He takes a step back and puts his hand to his face, he doesn’t try to retaliate. It’s almost like he relished in me hitting him, like he knew he deserved it.
Garth holds out his hands in an act of surrender.
“Listen, big guy, what do you want? A cut of the profits? She doesn’t pay us enough, am I right? How much do you want?” Garth tries reasoning with me, clearly not knowing that Cami and I are bonded.
“Take down the site now and return the photos,” I tell him in an eerily calm voice.
“Come on, man, Omega pussy sells, she might as well be making us money off of it.”
I see red. All sane thoughts leave my head as I think about this man hurting my Omega. The pain he has caused her and how much she trusted him. My fists hit him relentlessly. I can’t stop myself. He needs to pay for what he did to Cami. I feel the crunch of his nose under my fist and it just makes me want to hit him more. To hit him so hard he feels a little bit of the pain he has caused Cami. He should feel nothing but agony. Traitorous piece of shit.
He sputters underneath me and I growl, continuing to hit him. He uses his arms to protect his face, and I hit any part of his body that isn’t guarded. I can hear shouting behind me, but it doesn’t register. My only focus is hurting the person who hurt Cami. Make Garth pay for his horrible words and acts against the sweetest person in the world. I put every ounce of my weight behind my punches as I feel him writhing in pain beneath me.
Strong hands wrap around my biceps, and I growl, trying to hit Garth again.
“How fucking could you?” I shout as the hands lose their grips around my arms.
“God dammit.” I hear someone groan.
