Jesi froze, the hand reaching for Ford’s shoulder pausing mid-air.“You’re jumpy tonight.”
Ford leaned on his car door.“Didn’t you go home hours ago?”
Jesi tucked his hands into his oversized jacket.“I stopped by the gym.I’ll be working right up until the bonfire, so I’m getting in extra training.”
It couldn’t be easy being the only omega in the ORT, always expected to be weak and incapable.Jesi did a good job reminding them all to leave their prejudices at the door, but that was a heavy burden to carry alone.
Ford had almost forgotten about the bonfire.Maybe if they could get this Lincoln thing out of the way, he could bring Lucky and Chase as a chance to get away from the bad shit and let them mingle with his workmates.The annual get-together was usually for those who were currently on break from active undercover work, the tech department and all administration crew.The bonfire gave them an outlet, a chance to mingle outside of work, to talk with people who understood the toll the job took.
“I feel like I haven’t seen you outside work in ages,” Jesi said with sad eyes.
Seeing that look made him crave one of Jesi’s healing hugs.No matter what he was going through, how hard it had been, or how long he had to endure, one of Jesi’s hugs always made him feel better.He supposed it was how Lucky felt when he hugged his papa.
Jesi wasn’t someone he forced contact on though, so it was a relief when he stepped into Ford’s space for a hug Ford wouldn’t refuse.The second Jesi was close, he wrapped his arms around him and buried his nose into his hair.
Jesi had been one of the first omegas he’d rescued.Jesi had been young and uneducated about the truth of the Market and omegas.He hadn’t even understood what Heatwave was, had never had a heat, and had lived a horrific life of abuse and confinement.Ford wished he’d never seen the dark side of omega life.After years in the clutches of the Market, Jesi had taken matters into his own hands to free himself, with the full intention and expectation of dying soon after.Ford had arrived just minutes before he got his wits together enough to end his own life.He’d never had a closer call in his entire career, until Lucky came into his life.
Tipping his head up, because he was a five-foot-four shortie, Jesi smiled.“Do you have time for coffee?”
“For you?I have time for coffeeanddessert,” he promised, since he had no other plans tonight.Just a lonely night at home, waiting for tomorrow morning when Lucky and Chase would brighten his life.“Barry’s?”Barry’s Bar-n-Grill was the go-to hang-out for ORT guys, the place closest to work.“Did you bring your car?”
“I took the bus.”Jesi stepped back to release him from the hug.
Holding out his hand, Ford felt his heart flutter when Jesi accepted, trusting him with that contact.“You can tell me over coffee.”He lifted an arm around his shoulders to lead the way to Barry’s.They were long overdue a catch-up, and he felt like celebrating Jesi’s victory of surviving public transport.
Jesi was a good reminder that they needed more younger agents—ORTa who weren’t tied into bonds, with mates and responsibilities outside the ORT, who didn’t have kids to leave behind.Wynna was actively recruiting younger agents, as there was a team of guys in their forties who wanted to step back from the rescue team.After losing four guys to an explosion at a Euphoria factory a couple of years ago, they were running low on agents young enough to last in the job for more than a few years.
Hell, if it wasn’t for Lucky, he’d have recommended Chase, because he had everything they were looking for.But if he recommended Chase, where did that leave Lucky?Waiting at home, never knowing if either of his two alpha mates would come home from work?Spending two years alone while they were undercover, or having them come back from two years of duty different men than they’d left?
It had never bothered Ford, but he’d been in the job eight years, and there was no way he’d last much longer.He’d already put in his transfer from undercover work to a retrieval team, who were only called in once the undercover crew had done their work.Now he’d found his mate, he was glad he’d taken that important step, because he’d only be gone days, if not hours.If the transfer had any chance of being approved, he needed more new guys to come in and take his place.
Ford had served his time.
“How d’you feel ‘bout me being around more?”
Jesi beamed up at him as they approached the front steps of Barry’s.“I’d love it.I imagine that feisty omega mate of yours would love it more.”
Ford smiled, hoping his transfer would come through.Jesi wasn’t an omega for claiming, but he was all the family Ford had, if he didn’t count Lucky and Chase.No matter what happened between them, Ford held onto the hope and stability they promised.
Chapter Thirteen
Two days later
Lucky
Lucky had no choice but to return to class.He’d already missed enough time because of Lincoln, and couldn’t afford to miss more.Although his parents had been welcoming and accepting of both Chase and Ford over dinner two nights before, he hadn’t missed the relief and temporary flash of fear in their eyes when he’d walked into the kitchen each morning.The way they’d both hugged him before he left the house reminded him that they’d had to wake up, every day since Friday morning, unable to be near him, not knowing what he was going through.
Realising all they’d suffered in silence, the fear of losing their only child, was heartbreaking.
Ford had been waiting outside the house, as promised.He’d reassured them that Lucky wouldn’t be alone until he’d found and arrested the men Lincoln had talked to.That helped his papa relax, but he’d still decided to take time off from his clubs and volunteering to be home in case Lucky found it too much.
Ford dropped Lucky at the front gates with a reminder that he’d pick him up at the end of the day, kissed him so long that he didn’t want to get out of the car, then left Lucky to walk in alone.That wasn’t normally a problem, except everyone was looking at him.Did they not know that Ford was his mate?Or were the rumours already circulating aboutwhyhe’d been absent?
Halfway to Caroline and Phoenix, Lucky raised his hand to wave.
Caroline rushed over.“What happened?”
Lucky had been so emotionally and mentally tired he’d settled for a loose ponytail tied at his neck, a black jumper with long sleeves, and jeans.Lucky frowned at Phoenix, who wrapped him in a hug.“Is there something wrong with how I look?”
