“There were some things that my dad wanted me to see and do, so maybe we can figure out a schedule, so if I’m not doing one of the session’s here, someone else can have my spot.” She got out her phone. “Also, I have so many bracelets. Someone at the Center suggested that I sell them online. I could create a little store and send Iris the money.”
“That sounds like a great idea. Though don’t think you have to send the money to Iris. Having a little extra money is always a good thing. You can always get a summer job. Your school does job placements.” With carefully screened omega-friendly places.
Her face lit up. “I want to work at CoCoCozy.”
Every omega wanted to work at CoCoCozy. I should take Grace there. Usually, I didn’t shop at the omega-only home store because I enjoyed going to the home storewithmy alphas. At CoCoCozy alphas weren’t allowed past the alpha waiting area. But Grace should get a chance to experience it.
I pulled up a calendar on my laptop, and we started going through everything.
“My dad says that I can move in with them permanently, but he’ll also support me wanting to stay here. I like Finchley,” she told me.
“You can always finish here and then attend university near them, if after you get to know them you still want contact,” I replied.
She thought for a moment. “I’ll have to see what sort of pre-med programs are near him. Having a place to go on weekends would be nice. Especially if they let me bring my laundry.”
“Yeah, that would be nice. Hey, those creepy alphas haven’t come back, have they?”
The look on her face said it all.
“Just one. I thought I saw him yesterday when we went for coffee. But they haven’t sent any more gifts.” Her bubblegum scent went worried.
We were almost done figuring everything out when my phone rang.
“Jett, what’s going on?” I frowned. He didn’t call me when he was at work unless something was wrong.
“Yeah, so those bad alphas that were interested in Rose? They just had her uncle killed in jail. Apparently, the uncle owed them a lot, and he didn’t make his payment deadline,” Jett told me.
“Fuck.” I eyed her as she added more dark green beads to the stretchy string. TheykilledRose’s uncle? That wasn’t good.
“Yeah. But we knew he probably owed them money.” Jett sighed.
“How much?” My stomach tightened. I had a feeling that it was a lot of money… enough that giving them a young omega in exchange might pay it off. My phone beeped with another call. “Hey. Detective Esposito is on the other line.”
“You’re at Finchley, right? Stay safe. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I… I have a bad feeling. Love you.” Jett ended the call.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Detective?” Taking the call, I stood and went to the other side of the lounge, lowering my voice.
“Rose’s uncle is dead,” she stated.
“I just heard. Is she in danger?” I looked over at her as another girl entered the lounge, and the two omegas chatted.
For a moment silence hung in the air. “What do you know?”
“Nothing. Just suspicions.” Worry coiled in my belly.
“She was supposed to be the payment for his debts, and they got tired of waiting. But they haven’t just taken her because she’s sixteen. That’s kidnapping. But they’re also not trafficking omegas,” she divulged.
“Maybe they want her for themselves. That’s way more common, at least in my experience,” I replied. “Also, if they were trafficking, they probably would have just snatched her, not caring about it being kidnapping. Instead, it feels like they’re trying to keep it legal–like mentioning matching with Rose to the headmistress.”
It all came together as I sucked in a breath.
“Oh, you’re right. The mom thinks giving Rose Mega-push and turning her into an omega is for the good of the family, and then realizes Rose isn’t being matched to rich alphas but given to gangsters. She drives Rose hours away to findbetteralphas, hoping to solve all of their problems while keeping Rose safe,” the detective breathed, echoing my own thoughts.
“It makes sense.” I’d half-suspected it, because as much as I’d like to think people wouldn’t be that horrible to their own relatives, I’d been doing this long enough to know that sometimes they did.
“It’s hard to prove and will be harder with the uncle dead. He admitted nothing. But for all we know, he was ordered by them to not speak of it. He’s been trying very hard to bring her home, not because his family needs the help, but because if you don’t pay your debts to people like this you end up dead. We need proof, but so far we have nothing concrete. Local police are rounding them up on suspicion of the death of Rose’s uncle, which hopefully will keep her safe for the moment,” she commented.
