“I’d been planning to use you to get closer to Lincoln, but those assholes knew your name.”Ford made it clear the plans had changed.“Maybe all they heard was ‘Lucky’, but how many omegas got that name, go to class with Lincoln, and live on his street?Weren’t gonna take them five minutes to find out who ya were, where ya lived, then who your friends were.That’s why I kept up the charade of being his dealer.”
Chase ran a hand over his face, lifting one foot onto the seat to rest his arm on.
Ford took a drag of his cigarette, then handed it to Chase, who didn’t hesitate to accept.Blowing out smoke, Ford focused on Lucky.“That’s why, when this is over, your papa says you’re on a leash.”The implication that Lucky was at fault was physically painful and made him bristle, until Ford brushed a strand of hair from his eyes.“You go to campus, where Chase will be with you every minute.I’ll pick you up at the end of the day and drive you home.If you want to go out, Chase or I gotta be with you.It’s for your own safety, until we find out where Lincoln got the OX.”
Ford was right.The fact they couldn’t be sure where he got the OX meant there was a distinct possibility there was more of the drug out there.
“I understand.”Lucky hated knowing that his movements and freedoms would be confined, but it was for a good reason, for his own safety.“Can I finish college?”He had a feeling that, if the threat continued, removing him from a public campus was the next step.
Ford grazed the back of his finger over Lucky’s cheek.“If things get hairy, I’d rather give you an ORTa escort for every step you take than ask you to leave college.”
Lucky was grateful that Ford understood there were few things in life more important to Lucky than finishing Introductory College.Many omegas gave up when they found their true mate, because their alpha told them to, or because of an unexpected pregnancy.Even if Lucky had to complete his courses while heavily pregnant, with an ORTa chaperone and two unhappy alphas, he’d get his qualifications.Even if they hated him for it.
“But you can’t tell no one about your bond,” Ford said, stern and in command, like they would buy the attitude after how sweet he’d been.“Who knows already?”
“Grant.”Chase didn’t hesitate.
“Caroline and Kain, Phoenix, Neko.”Both alphas stared at Lucky, but he wasn’t born yesterday.They were talking about a true mate bond—once Grant knew, everyone who had been at Club Madin would.“You said you dragged Chase from the club, threatening to fuck his omega mate if he didn’t move.”
Ford had the grace to blush, realisinghe’dspilled the secret.
“Grant would have gone into protective mode, getting my friends home safely, which meant he had to tell Caroline, Kain and Phoenix that we were mates.He’d also have told Neko, who was there with you guys, right?”
Chase smirked at Ford, to rub in the fact his plan to keep their bond quiet would never work.
Ford didn’t question his reasoning.After a sip of coffee, he frowned.“I have a tech team ID-ing Lincoln’s dealer friends.If we find out who they are, we can close off that contact.”
“What about the OX?”Lucky was concerned his safety was being put above and beyond the bigger picture.“Don’t you need to find out how they’re getting it?”
Ford tutted and took his smoke from Chase.“You get that outta your head.That’s a problem we’ll deal withafterwe have Lincoln tied up.Your safety is our first priority.”
Lucky nodded, even though it was reckless.It wasn’t like he wanted to experience OX again, but he had an ORTa mate and Chase.Surely having two mates meant he was a safer target than any number of innocent omegas on the street, who would never see it coming.
“Let’s decide how we’re spending the next few days of freedom!”Ford said, grinning with childish excitement.
Lucky laughed, not surprised that he was eager for time off.It must have been stressful and upsetting being an ORTa, but Ford was right.If he was on leave, they should use the opportunity to strengthen the bond.
* * * *
Chase
“What’s this?”
Ford’s voice made Chase turn from typing out a text to Grant, to update him about Lucky’s recovery.
Ford walked over to where Lucky was lying on the sofa, resting, and tossed a notebook onto his chest.“Why the fuck you writing notes about OX?”
Chase froze, just as confused as Ford.He didn’t know much about OX but he’d read the updated laws about Omega Market drugs while studying what was required to become an ORTa.He’d even contemplated skipping Introductory College to head straight into law school, which would have been the biggest mistake of his life.
After everything Lucky had been through, why would he take notes about the drug that had almost sent him into an early heat?
“Jesi said the trial wasn’t finished,” Lucky said, like it was normal to catalogue his experience.“The medical team might benefit from a first-hand account of OX, during their first human trial.”
Ford grabbed the cigarette nestled at the top of his ear.“You and your fucking research,” he muttered, planting the smoke between his lips.
“What research?”Chase grabbed the lighter and tossed it.
Ford caught it and lit the cigarette.“The minute he was involved I knew everything ‘bout our flower, even what he called his imaginary friend when he was six,” Ford insisted, while Lucky folded his hands over his chest, the picture of innocence.“There are searches on his computer that would have ordinary folk arrested.”
