“I like you too.” She leans against the stall wall, a smile spreading across her face. “For what it’s worth, I don’t know much about the pack mistreating Omegas. I’m independent myself, and they’ve always been super kind to me. Helpful to the whole town, really. If anything, you should figure out how to take down that asshole Reed instead.”
“God, that would be amazing, right?” I laugh, but it’s strained. “Yet, I have no idea how to start without it being a full-out radio war, and I feel like he has more resources than I do. More listeners, more backing, more money.”
“You might be surprised,” Nina says thoughtfully.
I breathe heavily. “Anyway, I’m sorry for being untruthful. I honestly thought I could pull this off, but I took on too much tonight. The Alphas are getting suspicious, and?—”
“I’m so happy you told me,” Nina interrupts. “And I’m going to help you.”
“You are?”
“I love your cause. If they are discriminating, it needs to come out. And if they’re not…” She grins. “Well, I saw the way they stared at you while you were chatting with them. All four of them looked ready to propose on the spot. Maybe this is an opportunity for you. I assume you don’t have a secret pack stashed at home?”
I laugh. “No, no secret pack.”
“Good. Because those four are single, and they were practically drooling.”
“I highly doubt?—”
“Trust me. I know what Alphas look like when they’re interested, and those four are very into you.”
Just then, the bathroom door opens. We both freeze, going completely silent, and peer through the tiny gap in the stall door.
Another woman walks in, heading straight for the mirror to check her makeup.
We wait, holding our breath, until she leaves.
“Now get changed,” Nina whispers urgently. “You can say Ash left with me because I had too much to drink and he’s taking me home safely. Give me his jacket.”
“Wait, but he’s here for work. Ash needs to stay. You can pretend I went home with you instead?—”
She shakes her head firmly. “Trust me. They don’t want to talk business tonight. If you really want to get to know who theseAlphas are, they’re not going to show their real selves to Ash. But you? You, they’ll open up to. They’ll be putty in your hands.”
“I highly doubt that. Especially Slater. That man is a brick wall covered in barbed wire.”
“Then get him a few drinks,” Nina says practically. “When Alphas loosen up, they tell you things. At least you’ll get a feel for who they really are and how they treat Omegas when they’re not trying to maintain a professional image.”
“I don’t know…”
“Look, I somehow doubt they’re bad guys, but you need to see that without a mask on. Without pretending to be someone else. See how they treat you when you’re just you.”
I’m wavering. It makes sense. It actually makes a lot of sense. I bite my lip, considering.
“And then tomorrow,” she keeps going, “you can get back to the investigation side. But tonight? Just be Anita. See what happens.”
I pull her into a hug suddenly. “Thank you for not hating me. I’m risking so much with this investigation, and?—”
“Hey, I’m on your side. You’ve got a friend now. Someone in your corner.” She hugs me back tightly. “And if you find anything to take that asshole Reed down a few pegs? Even better.”
The relief is overwhelming. Having someone know the truth, having an ally, makes this all feel slightly less impossible.
“You’re the best.”
“Oh, I know.” She grins. “Now here’s the plan. I’ll be at the front door with Ash’s jacket on. When you see me wave, you call out something like ‘See you later, Ash,’ and I’ll handle the rest. Make it look like I’m meeting him outside. Then I want a full report at the café super early tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. Deal.”
“And give me your bag. I’ll take it so you don’t have to explain why Anita suddenly has a mysterious backpack. You can pick it up tomorrow.”
