“Okay, what can I do?”
“I think you keeping her occupied is the best action at the minute. I need Santiago to stop his family reunion and make some calls. Victor is a priority. I could call the Italians, but I’m not sure yet they would take my call.”
I leave Aleksei grinning like a lunatic at his poor joke and go back to check on Marco; he’s sitting on the floor of the shower. I pull back so he can’t see me and hit the lights before popping my head in.
“Are you ready to hop out? We’ve got chores to do!”
The kid steps out of the shower, and as soon as he grabs the towel and wraps himself up, I walk past him and shut the shower off. I help him dress, turning around when he needs his privacy,and he’s racing up, scaring the crap out of Quinny within a few minutes.
“Roshka, Nalla.” I call the dogs to the back, and they take off, doing their business and also a check of the property.
Since I’m out back, I do a once-over of the house, checking the window locks and door locks, but everything is in order. And so it should. Last night, the people who attacked Deena caught her by surprise at the front door.
“Kade, can you please set the table with Marco?” Quinny calls out just as I’m walking back in.
And it works out that it’s also the same time Santiago is helping Deena back in. She’s obviously sore, but Deena has the same stubborn streak in her that Quinny has.
Aleksei joins us just as Deena takes a seat. I leave them and stick close to Quinny.
“What can I do?”
She’s staring at the plate of food in her hands. I go to take it from her, but she doesn’t let it go. “Kade, I can’t go into heat.”
“Yes, you can. I promise you, everything will be okay.”
SANTIAGO
Kade catches Quinn right as she starts to crest another wave of her impending heat. He holds out the plate for me to grab, then steers her into a quiet corner of the kitchen. He turns her around so she can see us, his arms looped around her waist, and he whispers in her ear, chasing away the latest round of worries.
I get it—our Omega is a control freak, just like I am. Just like Aleksei is. Kade too.
Handing Aleksei the plate, I ask him, “Can you serve? I’ll grab my phone and also some medication for Isabella.”
He recoils, like I slapped him. “Who the fuck is Isabella?”
“Language!” Isabella hisses under her breath. “And apparently that's me. Now, Marco, do you want one or two pieces of French toast?”
She answers Aleksei, then diverts his focus in a handful of words, and I know in her doing that everything is going to be fine. When I check on my Omega, she’s clearly come to the same conclusion I have because she joins us and eats without additional fretting.
Quinn is nesting. I doubt she’s recognized the signs yet, but all the food she’s prepared for us, the stacks of food containers on the counter for later, and the neat piles of washing are proof enough. Just because her nesting isn’t presenting typically doesn’t make it any less impactful or important in her cycle.
Now we just need her a little distracted.
My phone lights up with a text, and I interrupt the light conversation. “Marco, do you want to come with Aleksei and I to get something special for Quinn?”
Quinn’s fork clatters to her plate, and Isabella reaches over and places it to the side before she shifts to Marco. Her fingers move with a fluidity that is beautiful to watch as she asks Marco.
The fact he gets up and races away isn’t missed by any of us.
“Bebe, you’re in charge here.” I stress that point unnecessarily, but Quinn needs to feel in control. And she needs to know the people she loves are protected. “Kade will be with you and Isabella, Roshka’s here too. Nalla, Aleksei, and I will watch over Marco like a hawk. And while he’s not here, I want you to both know I'm very proud of what you have done with him, and also in how you’ve protected each other. I’m not being patronizing, I hope you know that. Marco is proof of how successful you guys have been.
“He is well-rounded and understands boundaries. He’s a very headstrong boy, and he’s already displaying the hallmarks of being a strong Alpha. He’s also a Cabal, when you both areready, and when he is too, he will have to be introduced to his family. I’ve spoken with Isabella, and in time, we’ll travel together to reintroduce her and her son to her Cabal family. Once your heat is done, we will work out our next move, but as part of that next move, all this comes to an end.”
“What?” Quinn growls, sudden irritation bringing a flush to her already pink cheeks.
“Bebe, don’t misinterpret my words. I’m simply saying you are a part of a pack now, and caring for Marco and Isabella is a responsibility our pack shoulders. You have a pack, you’re not alone, and you are all a part of something bigger now. Aside from being mine, Quinn, Isabella is the sister of Alejandro Cabal, making her Cartel royalty.”
“My wife is Bratva royalty before she is Cartel royalty.” Aleksei thumps the table, unnecessarily.
