“What happened? Of course, you don’t need to tell me,” I rush out.
“She died of cancer nearly ten years ago. And, yeah, I blame him for that too.”
Our conversation lulls as I reverse into the parking space. But it doesn’t feel intentional, like he doesn’t want me to know orhe’s hiding anything; it’s just a natural place for that discussion to end. It helps me realize I’m looking forward to taking our time as we share secrets. Our marriage might have been rushed, but getting to know each other doesn’t have to be.
Matteo hops out of the car and makes it obvious, his brown eyes pinning me to my seat, that I have to wait for him to open my door.
“Thank you,” I gush, enjoying this sweet attention of his.
“Always.”
“Bella, Edward, come.” I lean in the car and take back control of my dogs. Because I booked them, they are my responsibility.
Even though I’ve made some pretty big decisions today, I’m more tentative and less trusting since meeting them. But I have a growing belief that Pack De Luca will work hard to prove themselves. For the time being, until I have enough money and a better idea as to who my family sold me to, I’m not about to ignore the opportunity in front of me. Of course, it helps that Matteo, Valentine, and Dante are so scent compatible, they make my tummy twist. Learning to lean in to that is going to take time, but I don’t think it’s something I need to run from anymore.
Popping the trunk, I grab my bags and the gun case I bought at the shooting range after I decided I wanted to keep the gun as my own. Unless, of course, I change my mind and the ones I ordered from Protection feel better. At the same time, I know even if they do, I’m not giving Dante his back. For the simple fact he gave it to me.
There’s a part of me that thrills at maybe having a place I can call home, while my Omega side gushes at having somewhere safe to hide gifts from sneaky, good-looking Alphas.
Matteo holds the elevator doors open. “If you’re staying, I’ll set up your access. So you can come and go as you please.”
“Okay.”
The ride up seems to take longer than it should, and the time makes nerves sizzle in all directions—excitement, trepidation, worry—as I willingly go back to them, with my eyes wide open this time.
When the doors slide open, my knees wobble under the weight of the twins’ scents—Amaretto and espresso—in so much balance and synchronization, it’s nearly impossible to tell where one stops and the other starts. Not that it matters, because the message is the same. Their combined scent accosts me, screaming this is what I need to focus on the most. I need to let everything else go and lean in to the fact these men picked me because we’re as compatible as can be.
Matteo’s scent is different. It’s not as overpowering, but it is as necessary as a sprinkle of salt on fries or cinnamon on a warm donut.
The hours away cleared my thoughts, but it also let me desensitize from them completely. The fresh air let me sort through fact from fiction. It gave me the opportunity to make sure I wasn’t getting lost in a romanticized idea of finding my pack, as opposed to actually finding my pack.
The way their scents have my thoughts swimming and my body aching is a pretty clear indicator of the truth; now I just have to trust the concept, which is another matter entirely.
On trembling knees, I make my way into the penthouse, stopping when I catch sight of the twins standing shoulder to shoulder. Valentine is dressed in a dramatic black suit with a ridiculously oversized bunch of white lilies in his arms, while Dante wears only a pair of sweats, his chest glossy with perspiration, his eyes black with longing.
“Thank fuck, wife. We’ve been waiting for you a long time.” Dante curls his finger, dragging me to him like he’s got the power of telekinesis.
“I was only gone for the day.” I laugh as I freeze in my tracks, breaking his mental hold.
“Way too long in my book,” he purrs as he starts prowling closer. The look in his eyes has all the hairs on the back of my neck standing up, my flight response activating.
I drop my bags and run.
It’s a terrible idea to turn your back on an Alpha. It’s one of the first things you’re taught as an Omega. But I know when he catches me, he won’t intentionally harm me.
Behind me, I can hear Valentine yelling at his brother to stop, Matteo barking demands at the dogs to stay, and Dante’s breathing as he races after me…and it all feels like a serenade.
I also see the small things he did before I arrived back. It’s like he knew exactly how I would react and respond. He anticipated my moves before I even dared to think of returning because that is Dante. Lights are on, furniture shifted ever so subtly, and all the doors are closed, except one. I race through it, shutting it behind me to get a head start on the stairs. I’m so glad I wore my workout gear and the new shoes someone bought for me.
I miss a step and stumble halfway up the stairwell, but the door crashing open behind me makes my feet fly faster.
21
Dante
The elevator doors open, and my brain short-circuits.
There’s a lie in that. My brain started short-circuiting when she walked out this morning.
