I barely have time to consider answering him before Heidi starts towards us, leaving her Alpha behind with a few hurried, whispered words. As she approaches, her steps slow the closer she gets.
“Come walk with me, Sim. Allan’s roses are blooming. They’re gorgeous. You have to see them for yourself.” She takes command, in an Omega way not an Alpha one, but it’s Heidi too, so in a lot of ways I don’t feel like I can say no. I mean, I did also come here to talk with her. Walking by ourselves will give me the space to do that.
My eyes search Dominic’s. Not for reassurance or encouragement, but because I’m a sponge for this man. I want everything he offers. He catches on, winking knowingly, and I turn, accepting Heidi’s hand as she passes.
That should strike me as odd. Heidi is not normally a touchy-feely girl but like with Dom, I’m drawn to her magic.
We’re quiet as we walk. Both of us are naturally the more reserved out of the Scorned Girls but I think we also need the chance to get figure out what’s going on. Each step, I feel the ribbons of our friendship binding us back together.
“Ho, I need to tell you something,” I offer as we come to a stop in front of a manicured rose garden. The space is stunning, and deserves more of my focus, but I turn to her instead.
Heidi cuts me off, her words clipped, fast, and low. “Is that the Alpha I need to save you from? We can run. There’s adoor back into Verdune around the corner. The guards would be able to stop him from reaching us. We’d be safe in three, maybe four, seconds.”
I suck in a shocked gasp. Oh wow. She grabs my hand, and we start walking toward the door she mentioned. My heels dig in and she walks past me. “No. Wait. No. That’s not Brody. No, no, no. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I have a pack and they’re keeping me safe from Brody.”
She staggers as if I’ve slapped her, staring into my eyes, searching for any signs that I’m not telling the truth.
Then it’s my turn not to give her the chance to think. I rush closer, wrapping my arms around her and squeezing with all my might, causing her to squeak. “Heidi, I’ve missed you so much.” I put some space between us so she can see me. Hopefully helping her in the sense she can see the truth on my face, as I tell her what’s been going on. “I can’t tell you everything, only because I’m having a bit of trouble knowing where to start. But I am one hundred, probably two hundred percent safe with Dominic. One day I’d love to tell you everything about how we met, but for now, all I’ve got is I am sorry for not telling you sooner. Please forgive me for being an awful friend and keeping secrets.” I take another big breath, purging everything I’ve been holding on to. “Heidi, I’m packed. I’ve changed my name. I had to be careful with what I told people because Brody, the Alpha you were going to save me from, is still out there.”
“Jesus, Sim, give me a photo of him. Right now. I have contacts with some of the best people in security, the Phoenix Group included. I’ll keep you safe.”
I bite my lip before my smile moves from a grimace then back to a smile again. “Um, I can tell you some Brody stuff, and one thing is I sort of already have the Phoenix Group watching over me. And the Fallen, if you can believe that.”
Her eyebrows flick up and stay there in her shock. “Jesus, does Raney know?”
“About me being packed?”
“That too. I meant her Dad’s club being your security though.”
“You’re not worried about the Phoenix Group?”
“Pffft, they’re a bunch of pussies.” She smirks, laughing under her breath to a joke I don’t get. She waves me on.
“I don’t think Raney and King have spoken much.”
“Okay. Anyway, back to you. So you’re packed, and you’ve got security following you everywhere because this Brody is an asshole. What aren’t you telling me?”
I shrug, blowing out a breath, watching her watch me. “All the details, I guess.”
“Why, Sim?” she presses gently. With concern, with compassion. Being a good friend.
It’s like a switch flips inside me, the lights shutting off as everything bottled up punches outwards in a blast that hurts. I wish I wasn’t so overly emotional, but there’s no holding it back. I burst into tears.
But it’s Heidi who turns my world upside down. Because she starts crying too, right there with me.
“Fuck, Sim, come here. Oh my god, I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry. I’m working on being more open with my emotions. Freaking Kai and his pack keep pushing me to feel safe, making me softer, and I love it. But it’s a little overwhelming.”
I snuggle in her arms, crying on her shoulder, feeling happier than I have since I told Tristan my secrets but sad I’m still an emotional trainwreck.
Heidi matches me tear for tear. She sniffs when I do, hiccups through her sobs just like me. But then my beautiful bestie lets out a howl that sets me off again, making the tears stream down my face even faster.
“DOMINIC! DOM!! Get your ass here, Simona needs you! And bring some fucking tissues, Kairo.” She stops yelling and presses her head against mine. “Shit, Sim, we can’t let anyone at Verdune see me like this, they’ll be in my office asking for pay raises, and I’ll be saying ‘yes, have a vacation on me too’.”
She’s joking. I know she is. Her being light and easy is entirely appropriate and perfect.
We’re an hour from home when Tristan texts, letting me know she’s alive and relatively okay. I get another message straight after telling me she’ll call in the morning.
I’m so relieved. On top of my own issues, Tristan and Raney have been on my mind all day. “I think I should call Raney. I feel bad she’s the last to know, Dom.”
