The name must have meant something, because Ford instantly turned his attention to Lucky.“We’ll ask Lucky,” he said, which was the first sensible thing he’d said since they met.
“Right answer.”Jesi winked at Chase, then left the private room.
Chase didn’t know what to say, but he knew what to do.“Let’s get Lucky comfortable.”
It was time to grow up fast and accept that he’d found his mate and his omega needed him to step up or back the fuck away from the bond.Chase wasn’t ready to lose Lucky yet.Not even to Ford.
Chapter Eight
Ford
Chase was a good alpha, despite his age and upbringing.Ford had been worried that he’d take more after his prissy father than the strong omega mother who raised him, but every word and instinct he had proved the opposite was true.Wynna Walker had raised a damn good alpha.
“You okay, baby?”Chase sat by Lucky’s hip and ran a hand over his hair.“Does it still hurt?”
“Yes.”Lucky reached out a hand that Chase didn’t hesitate to take.
Ford stood on the other side of the bed, not sure whether to get involved.Lucky had said they were mates?which was the mind fuck of the century?but he was intruding on a bond that Chase had already partially started.
Chase kissed Lucky’s temple.“Can you sit up?We’ll get you a drink, if you can manage?”
Lucky nodded, clinging to Chase’s hand.Lucky sat up slowly, with Chase supporting his weight until he was propped against the pillows.
Chase lifted the cover from the bottom of the bed over Lucky’s legs, instead of asking him to move, and wrapped Lucky’s legs like a burrito.“Water or juice?”
“Anything.”
Chase crossed to the side table, where multiple refreshments had been placed.He grabbed a bottle of juice, two bottles of water and placed them on the bedside table, then left the room.
Ford arched an eyebrow at Lucky, who blushed adorably.“He’s awfully efficient, ain’t he?”
“He’s good in a crisis.”Lucky used the words Jesi hadn’t wanted to and pressed a hand into his stomach so hard that Ford’s guts twisted.He was clearly in pain, but holding it at bay.“Could you?” He paused, swallowed and wetted his lips.“Hold my hand?”
His feet moved before he’d decided what to do, crossing to the bed where he perched on the edge.Lucky took his hand, holding on tight.“Squeeze as hard as you like.I’ve been at my fair share of shock labours, in the ORT.Held a few omegas while they rode out the contractions, and all through the birth.”
Lucky rested his head against the pillows.“Why does that make me happy?”
Ford laughed, stunned that it did.“’Cause you’re omega?”he guessed, figuring that was the only answer that made sense.He was about to say more, to give him a story that would distract from the pain, when the door opened and Chase walked in with a half dozen snacks.
“I wasn’t sure what you fancied, and since my mother is paying, I brought everything.”Chase smiled innocently while Lucky practically melted.With Lucky smitten and Chase attentive, Ford kept his cynical mouth shut.
Chase helped Lucky pick something light to eat, held the bottle for him to drink from, and fussed over his mate as a good alpha should.
Ford cleared his throat, instantly gaining Lucky’s full focus.“I didn’t get the chance to tell you, but Jesi?the one who took charge,” he waited for Lucky to nod and admit he remembered that much, “he’s the only omega in history to become an ORTa, an Omega Rescue Taskforce Agent.He’s here with something that will help you, but he also brought someone who wanted to see you, if you’re willing.You can say no.”
Lucky frowned and sipped from the straw Chase had put in the bottle of juice.
“Rafe is an ORTa, deep undercover in the Market, about to make contact with Tomlinson, who is?” Ford laughed at his own runaway mouth.“Doesn’t matter.Rafe is ORT.He’s been worried about you.”
“Why?”Chase asked, before Ford could get there.He wanted to ease Lucky in gently.
“Because Rafe is Scout.The trader who brought me to appraise Lucky.”
The weight of that information hung heavily in the room, with not even Chase speaking.It took a moment, no more than a minute, before Lucky passed Chase the bottle of juice and pressed both hands to his stomach.“I’m okay, if he wants to see me.”
Ford nodded, intrigued by the careful phrasing.Lucky could be literal, meaning that all Rafe would be allowed was to step in and see he was safe before being asked to leave, but that might be enough.Rafe wouldn’t be fit to continue working if he kept beating himself up about what had happened to Lucky.
Selfishly, he couldn’t afford to lose Rafe.Tomlinson was one of the biggest fish in the Omega Market, the head trader and the one who delivered omegas between teams and province borders.If Rafe could get close, they were halfway to ending the Market.
