“He will have people out looking,” the detective warns.
“Yeah,” I scoff a laugh, “but everyone is running from something, aren’t they?”
Thankfully, Hill’s attention stays on the Rocco situation and not my flippant comment. He tips his head in question, looking a little shocked. “You’re still prepared to testify, knowing he’s connected to the Bratva?”
“I’m not going to be testifying about who he is associated with; I don’t know anything about that. I’m happy to file a complaint, so he doesn’t hurt anyone else. Hopefully, he makes it easy and admits he’s guilty of assault and attempted sexual assault.”
Gypsy’s refusal to look at me only confirms that, sadly, I’ve got little to no hope of Rocco admitting he is an asshole. By the weary look on her face and the familiarity she shares with the detective, it’s not hard to figure out there are plenty of assholes in this town.
“Did he give you anything while you were dating?”
“Not dating. You have whatever permission you need to get a team together and go through my apartment, top to bottom, in case he stashed something. He wasn’t a gift giver.”
“I’m finding it hard to understand how you’d be?—”
I raise my hand to stop him from going on. “So do I. I’ve been going over everything since this happened, wondering what I saw in him. But the truth is, I saw an Alpha who was available. I saw a companion when I was feeling like company and needed physical relief. I never saw a future.”
“I’m not passing judgment and never would. That’s not why I’m here. I’m here to make sure you are all right and to determine if you’re prepared for the headache that comes with testifying against someone like him.”
I keep my face straight, hiding behind words because, while I said I would file a complaint, I never said I would testify. If I can do anything to provide evidence against Rocco, I will, but I won’t ever take the stand against him on the chance it draws the media’s attention to me.
“If I don’t do it, who will? The woman he attacks after me? What about if she doesn’t have the same tenacity as me?”
Detective Hill’s eyebrows rise slightly, like he’s agreeing before he changes tactics. Maybe because I was adamant I wouldn’t be a star witness for anything other than an assault case. I actually think he’s relieved. He’s probably seen other people before me silenced.
Together, the three of us work through my statement before I sign as Allison Monet, and then we’re shaking hands, promising to keep in touch.
“Take my card, please.” Detective Hill pushes it across the table as we all stand, getting ready to leave. “If you need me for anything, just call, and obviously, I will contact you if I hear of him making threats against you on the street.”
“Like I said, my time here is done. I’m not sure where I’m going yet.”
“Okay. Let me grab my keys and a team, and we can accompany you to your apartment to collect your belongings before we circle back to the Omega Rescue Center.”
I turn around, and Gypsy is already next to me. “I’ll come with you, if you like. Many hands make light work,” she says quietly, all but confirming this is not her first battered Omega assist.
2
Instead of joining Gypsy and Hill’s conversation, I spend the time as we drive back to my place on Gypsy’s phone and become someone else. I roadblock everything associated with Allison Monet and activate the next alias in my stockpile of personas.
Layne Miller is the result of a random name generator. Allison Monet was, too, but it was a bad one. It always felt too meek. She’s gone now. As simple as that. Once I get settled somewhere new, I will reach out to my contact to arrange for the shitty forged IDs to be sent to me.
Adding a couple of out-of-state websites, after removing the history of my activities, I hand Gypsy’s phone back, then give myself the luxury of being overly nostalgic about the places we drive past. In the short time I spent here, some of these places gave me a sense of belonging. Even temporarily.
The reality is, this city, just like all the ones before it, is just a place on a map to hide. I knew it wasn’t going to be my home forever. Lots of people would suggest the way I’m living isn’t really a life—constantly looking over your shoulder, staying on the edge of everything—but those people didn’t wake up one day to see their own flesh and blood hiding a murder in a suicidewhile promising my hand in marriage, and my virginity, to an Alpha I’d never met.
My family, considered pillars of society, are assholes, and I know that now. Once upon a time, I really thought my father and brothers were the most honorable people on earth, which makes the taste of their deceit even more bitter.
I’ll need therapy to get over what happened, but until I’m safe and I know they can’t find me, I’ll stay focused on surviving. I’ll choose being alive and a little messed up in the head over belonging to that family any day of the week.
Closing my eyes, it doesn’t take long until the trust I have in myself outweighs the lack of faith I have in the world. When I open them again, we’re cruising past Grind It Baby. I silently wish my co-workers a good life and a pay increase. As Hill takes a left a few miles later, turning on to my street, it’s impossible to miss the red flashing lights glowing up ahead. Emergency lights are never a good sign, and as soon as I start to open the window, the unmistakable smell of smoke is like a slap against my face.
We get pulled to a stop by a police officer and a road barricade. And I’m already wiping the tears off my cheeks.
Detective Hill opens his window, asking the obvious, “Fire in Unit 4D?”
“Yes, sir. That unit is completely destroyed. Arson. By the sounds of it, whoever lit it left gasoline cans inside. We’ve got small explosions, hence the exclusion zone. We can’t do anything but let it burn. We’re focusing on the neighboring units. So far, one’s gone up, but they’re…”
I grab someone’s jacket off the back seat and fold in on myself, giving in to the cruelty of the world. Ignoring Gypsy’s concern and Hill’s questions if I’m okay, I stay folded forward until the car comes to a stop again a while later. I really was holding it together, up until I saw Rocco’s parting blow. Burningeverything I own—even though there wasn’t much of it—feels like he’s physically hurt me again.
