“We did, and it’s done. Well, my part is. I’m here because you have a therapy appointment, and I’m your ride. Remember?”
“Why do I need to keep going to these sessions, Torin? I haven’t even thought about cutting in a little over a year.”
He just glares at me, his eyebrow raised.
“I know,” Torin says. “You’ve come so far in your recovery. When you first started seeing Doctor Halley, you were seeing her three times a week, sometimes more, and still cut at times. You’ve slowly been decreasing how often you go, and it’s not frequent now. You’re seeing her more now as more of a support so you don’t go back to that dark place. Therapy has taught you how to cope and recognize your triggers, so if you do have those thoughts, you can handle it.”
“I know, I know. It’s something I will always carry with me, and therapy is one of my tools to cope and ensure I don’t backpedal and revert back to doing it. But sometimes I wish I could talk about the other stuff. Maybe it would help me.” My voice lowers on the last part.
Torin crosses the room, going down into a half kneeling position in front of me and takes my hands in his. With his other one, he brushes the hair away from my face, tucking it behind my ear, before swiping away the lone tear sliding down my cheek.
“I promise you we will find someone to talk about that with. Someone we trust. Until then you have me, your brother and those hot ass men of mine. Now give me a smile.”
The corners of my lips turn up, giving him what he wants. “I talked to Storm; he says things are going well.”
“That was crazy shit, an omega the whole time. Held captive by that fucking freak Joey.”
“I know, it just fuels my fire.” It’s my goal in life now, to rid the world of corruption from the Omega Foundation and people like my father and the Hartman Pack. Knowing that other omegas are out there going through what I did or worse makes me sick.
The application on my computer that I use to text information chooses that moment to go off. It’s a secured network, jumping from IP address to IP address across the world, making sure no one can track anything back to me.
“Look at you. I knew you had a gift for this. Hell, I bet your hacking skills have far surpassed mine. We might need to bring you on to the payroll permanently instead of here and there when I’m needed in the field as well.”
I swivel back around in my chair, facing the multiple computer screens I have running.
“Well I did learn from the best.” I glance over at him, giving him a wink as he moves around me, placing a hand on the back of my chair gazing at the screen, his reflection staring back at me.
“Who is this Stone?”
“Ex-cop, helped him find his sister. Just a little too late, she was already dead.”
“Oh, River.” Torin’s voice is full of sympathy. He understands how bad it is to lose a sister.
“I was helping him find his Kismet omega and a pack. So, good did come from it.” I focus my gaze back on the screen to see what it is that Stone wants.
“Surprised you’re helping a cop.” His hot breath dances along my skin.
“I vetted him. He’s a good guy. I knew I could trust him.” My eyes drift back to the screen. After two years Torin knows if I help someone, it’s because I feel I can trust them. To some degree anyway. Never with knowing who I am or where I live.
Stone: I need a favor.
A favor. What could he want?
Me: SMH, for an alpha you’re very needy. What can I do for you? I should start charging for all my help. I’d be rich and wouldn’t have to worry about anything.
Torin bursts out laughing. “God I love you, River. Put that alpha in his place.”
Stone: Funny. I’d gladly pay you for your help. You’ve been a blessing in disguise. Maybe one day you’ll tell me who you are. Let me return the favor and help you, if needed.
Unlikely. No way will anyone ever know who I am and what I’m doing. But just to humor him and to see what Torin’s response will be I decide to play along.
Me: I’ll think about it. So this favor…
“What the fuck, River? I know you didn’t just tell this man, I’m assuming he’s a man, that you’ll reveal who you are.” He stands up and begins to pace the room, his normally sweet chocolate scent now more burnt.
“No, I was just fucking with you. I know I can never tell anyone who I really am. But it’s been two years. Don’t you think it’s time I start going by my real name?” I spin around in my chair so I can see him.
“You do. River is your name.”
