Then he scratches his chin and adds, "There’s just one thing. Keep in mind that Salt might be pretty… off. He felt insulted that you didn’t accept the contract right away. He likely got hit with a bit of what’s called True Mate Rejection energy. That shit can hurt badly and linger in the system for a good week, so keep that in mind."
Oh, well, I shrug.
"Sorry, but I still don’t really buy the whole True Mates story. I’m doing this because it suits me at this point in my life. I need to disappear from Rocco’s radar, and an isolated island sounds perfect."
"Is this really all there is for you?"
"Pretty much, yes. At least for now."
"Fair. But I have to tell you one more thing. After you left the building, I found a True Mate for my last client. Four out of four. Think about that. Seems I’m not wrong," Storm says, taking a sip from his coffee cup and grinning again, with open arrogance.
"Hate to break it to you, but nothing has been confirmed in our case yet," I say with a sour smile. "And our situation is different. A beta-alpha pair, so if I were you, I’d dial back that arrogant attitude." I cut him a half-amused look.
"Arrogance is my middle name," Storm replies, crossing his arms over his massive chest.
With his face flushed, Damien walks into the kitchen, looking positively radiant. Again, hardly surprising. He spent half the night eagerly taking dick, and apparently it does wonders for his complexion.
They immediately pull each other into an embrace, exchanging wet, smacking kisses, tongues pushing into mouths, lips making obscene sounds, hands wandering all over their bodies.
Gosh, I hate public displays of affection so much, so I look away. That kind of future feels impossibly distant to me anyway, and I see no point in torturing myself.
But this is their house, and I’m just a guest here, a stranger they invited, someone they bought a whole fucking backpack of stuff for, so I wouldn’t dare complain.
Eventually, Storm pulls away from Damien’s mouth and looks at me.
"I’m lending you a car. I’ve got this old beater thanks to my cousin Nate. Total junk, but it runs. I doubt he’ll mind if you borrow it. You can leave it at the port, and we’ll have it transported back."
"Thanks so much. I appreciate it."
"I’ll call the center now and check that there won’t be a problem with you driving there."
"Sounds good."
Fifteen minutes later, I say goodbye to Damien and we head out. Storm drives his new car, and I take his beat-up car that rattles the moment I turn the key.
It feels strange driving alone. In the past, whenever I was behind the wheel, I was always accompanied bysoldati. Being completely alone in a car is almost liberating, but also stressful, so I’m relieved when we finally arrive.
I immediately spot the prison bus parked and waiting outside the facility.
Storm and I get out and walk into the office to check in. The employee on duty already knows about my case, and a moment later Mr. Gessler appears with his usual sour expression.
"The warden wasn’t thrilled, but I convinced him it might be better if you arrive at the port together. Mr. Gomez will be waiting for you there. No point in dragging this out," he adds, looking like he’s made some grand personal sacrifice.
Storm shakes his hand. "Thanks for the help. And you, Eliano, good luck. Here’s a phone, a burner, a pretty good one. Call me if you need anything. I’ll save my contact for you right now, but I have to get going, I’ve got a pile of formalities to wrap up at Fate’s Choice."
I take the burner and shake his hand. Mr. Gessler stays behind to oversee Salt being transferred into the custody of the convoy.
I wait for a moment near the entrance to the building and watch as three alpha guards step out from behind the guard booth and head toward the bus.
Mr. Gessler is already there, talking to the driver, an older beta.
I am close enough to hear them when the tallest of the alphas speaks up.
"Why did you agree to let that alpha accompany the convoy? You know this is a violation of security protocol."
"At this point it no longer matters, because their marriage contract has already been finalized. Salt is transferred into Mr. Gomez’s custody the moment he leaves the detention center.Beta Activation operates under its own procedures. I called and made sure this would not be an issue."
"Prisoner transport should not involve civilians," the tall alpha repeats, frowning and folding his arms across his chest. "If anything goes wrong, the responsibility will fall on you."
