“The longer you hold this off, the worse it’s going to get.”
22
CILLIAN
I still haven’t seenElena.
I’m a pathetic piece of shit.
The only silver lining is that I’m able to get around with a cane versus those fucking crutches now. There’s still a lingering pain in my thigh, but each day it gets a little more tolerable.
My phone vibrates in my pocket from an unknown number, and I groan as I answer it.
“Mr. O’Brien.”
“Yes?”
“This is Kristi with American Express. We wanted to call to make sure the recent charges on your card are not fraudulent. Do you know the last retailer you used your card at?”
I didn’t, because I gave Elena—well, Declan—the card. She hadn’t used it, until today, apparently.
“How much was spent?”
“Around eighty thousand dollars, sir.”
“Where are the charges from?” I ask calmly.
“Nest & Knots, Neiman Marcus, Cozy Earth, Jimmy Cho, Armani. Should I continue, sir?”
“No, my Omega is just having a bit of a tantrum. All transactions are approved.”
“We do offer an exclusive card for packs if that would be something you would like to upgrade to, Mr. O’Brien.”
“Not at this time, thank you.”
I hang up the phone with a smile on my face. Her spending my money has to be some sort of step in the right direction, right? I know I should go up and talk to her, that I should make amends and explain myself. That was my whole plan when I left the hospital after being shot by her worthless brother.
But after that dinner, the way she broke down and cried, I just don’t know what I can say to make her look at me the way she used to.
In retrospect, my idea was stupid. If I knew what I know now, I would have just taken her that night, and figured out a way to get in her good graces from there. She did like me when we were at the High Roller, but now she’s a mixture of pissed and devastated, and there’s nothing I can do to fix it.
My daunting thoughts of what to do with my Omega are put on hold as my brother walks into the room. He’s wearing a suit, which we both know won’t stay on for long, not with what he has planned for the evening. I don’t understand why he insists on continuing to fight in the ring.
“Glad you finally look human. It would be embarrassing to have my brother cheering me on in stained sweatpants and a shirt with mysterious stains.”
“You’re sure Anthony doesn’t have any of his men coming tonight?”
“He’d have to have a death wish to show his face,” my brother replies with a smile, one that I know all too well. He’s up to something.
“He’s been quiet, Finn.”
Finn smiles, and I sigh, wondering what the fuck he did.
“What did you do?”
“Anthony isn’t as gracious as his father. Less money, more danger, makes a man want to quit his job, you know?”
I blink at my brother.
