Lucky toyed with the napkin beneath his glass.“That’s why he called me Lucky.My parents had already decided to stop trying the year before I was conceived, because he couldn’t bear another loss.I was their miracle baby.That’s why I’ve always wanted a big family.It can be lonely being the only child.”
“It can.”Chase nodded, eyes shrouded with worry as they darted to his phone.“Thank you for distracting Pip.Hana said he’s got a temperature and she had to bring him to a meeting.I imagine he’s having a tough day, but you made it better.”
“I went to the library with my papa when I was off school sick.I can’t imagine how boring it is to follow around a corporate lawyer.”
“I would have loved to have taken him for the rest of the day, but I have three classes this afternoon.”Chase must be in the advanced year, with optional classes, whereas Lucky had optional and mandatory classes, which was a more well-rounded schedule.
Latching onto the topic, Lucky hoped to distract Chase from his worry, at least until he heard back from his mother.If Wynna Walker’s reputation was even half true, she’d not only take care of Pip but have some choice words for Hana.“You didn’t happen to have Professor Juniper this morning?”
“No.Why?”
“She hates me.I was hoping she’d be in a good mood.”
Chase patted his hand.“Sorry.I can’t help you with that, but you can go into class knowing I find her just as insufferable as you do.”He lifted his coffee cup for a toast.
Lucky clinked with his milkshake and took a sip, glad someone agreed about the evil alpha professor who hated omegas.Chase was such a surprise, he almost wanted to thank Lincoln for being an ignorant shit who had completely forgotten about him.
* * * *
Ford
The spark from his lighter briefly blocked his vision and put a halo around a golden head across the street.He smiled around his cigarette, blew out smoke and dropped his hand to put the lighter in his pocket.
Ford let his eyes rake over every inch of Lucky, from the piercing green eyes, blond hair tied into a ponytail that fell down his spine, long-sleeved crop top, tight black jeans and chunky ankle boots.Lucky was uniquely attractive, in a world where omegas had become obsessed with social media’s idea of beauty.He was pale skinned, with curves it would be a joy to hold, and marks he rarely saw.Omha’s Sigils were a special type of tattoo given only to omegas, but few were traditional enough to mark themselves as loyal to Omha.
Lucky was shorter than he thought, maybe because Lincoln was short for an alpha, meaning that Lucky’s five-foot-six looked taller in comparison.
Lincoln was a useless alpha, but even Ford couldn’t believe that he’d let Lucky walk off with another alpha while he mingled with lowlifes.He recognised the alpha from the newspaper, and found it ironic that perfect Chase Walker would brazenly lead the omega astray.
That was a problem for later.
Ford took advantage of Lucky leaving and crossed the street.The tracker he’d slipped into his pocket while passing him on the street had a built-in microphone and he now knew more about the omega than anyone would expect.If Chase’s game of ten questions continued while Ford was with Lincoln, he’d have even more leverage.
Ford adjusted his gait, sinking lower into his knees, dropping his shoulders and adding a hint of swagger.He approached the group and tipped his chin at one of the new lot, who nodded like they had any idea who he was.
“Lincoln,” he called, stopping at a distance.
Aware that Lincoln was desperate to fit in with the big guys, Ford glanced around as though paranoid and waited.Curiosity should buy him a few minutes.
Lincoln exchanged an elaborate handshake with Jack, the hanger-on Chase had complained about, then sauntered over.“Who are you?”
“We have a mutual friend who asked me to drop by.From Club Madin.”He’d plucked the club from his surveillance, three days ago.Lincoln had been walking Lucky home and mentioned visiting the club for ‘business’.As usual, his hunch paid off.
Lincoln held out his right hand.“How much did you get?”
“Not so fast.”Ford didn’t even twitch.“I been hearin’ nought but complaints about how much you’re wantin’ and whatcha gonna pay.”
“Pay?”Lincoln laughed, then stopped when he realised Ford was serious.“Idon’tpay.”
Ford raised an eyebrow, stunned he’d be so brazen.“Everybody pays, kid.No matter what you want, whatcha needin’, you pay.Don’t matter whether it’s in blood, cash or kind.”He made that perfectly clear, because no one, especially in the criminal underworld, would give something for nothing.If Lincoln was getting drugs, like Ford suspected, he was definitely not getting them for free.“You need to borrow cash?”Ford guessed, surprised.Under normal circumstances, the arrogance that made him believe he’d get freebies would get him shot.“I ain’t got nothin’ to give ya till you pay.Ya go to Introductory College, don’tcha?”
Lincoln narrowed his gaze, like he was starting to suspect Ford wasn’t who he said.
“What days d’ya go, numb nuts?”
“Every day except weekends.Why?”
Ford removed a beat-up flip phone from his pocket, the kind that lasted forever but didn’t need any fancy shit.It made calls, took texts and did the job.“What times ya free?I can stop by this week, ’cause if you ain’t coughed up by end of the week, I got other ways I’m meant to get paid.”
