“Fuck, Smith. You’ve got to calm down,” Dom says, and I breathe heavily, looking down at Garth. He’s covered in bruises and blood, holding his side and crying.
“Tell them what you did, you piece of shit,” I shout down at him, and he flinches.
I look to my left and see Franklin on the phone, likely calling 911.
“Especially you. How fucking could you?” I point at Franklin. Cami and I trusted him so much, and the fact that he could betray her in this capacity makes me sick. He spends almost as much time with her as I do. He watched day in and out as she suffered and did nothing. He befriended me. I thought he was a good man. Clearly not good enough to not be bought out by a man like Garth. I don’t know what will hurt Cami more, Garth being the one to expose her photos, or Franklin being the one to cover it up.
I turn around, trying to calm myself. It’s taking everything not to change my mind and keep hitting Garth.
My breath escapes me as I see Cami standing at the door frame. Her large brown eyes search mine, I watch as she takes in the scene behind us and the state of my knuckles and shirt. She probably thinks I’m a fucking animal. Her small hand tries to touch me, and I flinch at the gentle contact.I didn’t think this through.The consequences of what I’ve done and what will happen to me will directly affect Cami. A newly bonded Omega whose Alpha is more than likely going to go to jail for aggravated assault.
“Fuck!” I shout as I walk away, angry at myself for reacting this way and how I’m no doubt disappointing and scaring my Omega. I can’t keep my thoughts straight, I’m tired and angry and the bond is confusing the fuck out of me.
She catches up to me; her eyes are wide, and I just know she’s afraid. I just can’t decipher if she fears me or what she is afraid of. “Smith,” she whispers. “What happened?”
I don’t have the words to tell her how Garth and Franklin betrayed her or how I lost my shit and almost killed the man. How can I be anything but a disappointment to her now? I should have done better. Kept my composure, called the police, asked for help. I did none of that. I just acted on impulse, and now I’m going to have to face the consequences.
There’s a loud banging at the front door, and I exhale, looking down at my bonded. I feel her fear down the bond, and the realization that my Omega might fear me nearly breaks me in half. I never deserved her. I should have known better. I should be better. I have to do better.
Grayson answers the door, and I watch as Franklin comes out and starts speaking rapidly to the police, pointing at me. I sigh and cover my face. How the fuck did this happen?
“I’m so fucking sorry, Cami. You don’t deserve this.” I look down at her small frame, her eyes watery and her arms wrapped around herself. I want to give her comfort, but I’m shaking from the adrenaline and my knuckles and shirt are covered in blood.
“Sir, were you the one to assault this man?” the officer asks.
“It was in defense of my bonded,” I say, knowing it won’t be a good enough excuse.
“Smith wouldn’t do this unless he had a reason. Franklin, what did you tell them?” she asks Franklin and my heart shatters for her.
“It’s still aggravated assault. The other gentlemen said the victim didn’t even touch you or your bonded.” I roll my eyes at the word victim and the officer glares at me.
“He didn’t.”
“We’re going to need to take you into the precinct.”
The officer comes behind me with cuffs. I stare at Franklin as the cuffs are put on me, wishing I would have hit him more than once.
“No, no, no. You can’t take him away like this,” Cami tries to intervene, and Dom places a gentle touch on her arm. As soon as he sees my glare, he removes his touch but stays nearby.
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” I reply.
“Wait,” Cami says and tries to get me to face her. I can’t, not when I feel everything she is feeling. “What happened?”
“It was Garth, and Franklin knew about it,” I say, letting her piece everything together. She deserves to know.
“What?”
“The photos, the countdown, it was Garth and he paid Franklin to be quiet.”
“Smith, wait.” Her voice is pleading and tears stream down her face. I have to steady my breathing to keep my composure.
“Sorry, ma’am. You can call in to the precinct when he’s given visiting hours.”
“What? Where is he going?”
My heart breaks for Cami as the officer escorts me out of the building and into the backseat of a cruiser. I place my forehead on the cool glass and wonder how long it’s going to take for me to see her. One of my biggest fears is that Cami would request bond removal. I know logically that it wouldn’t happen, but I’m just so disappointed in myself, I can’t imagine how she is feeling about her bonded being arrested.
