Page 38 of The Omega’s Nest

He doesn’t give Benji a second to regroup, he just swings again with his other hand, driving into Benji’s stomach.

“Addie, run,” Leo shouts over his shoulder. He squares back up in front of Benji, who’s wiping the blood from his face with the back of his hand.

“Run, Adrian, and I will torture your alpha before I kill him,” he says.

I’m frozen.

“Actually,” Benji says conversationally as blood pours out of his nose, “I think I’ll tie this baby alpha up and fuck you while he watches.”

He’s taunting Leo, trying to make him lose control.

It works.

Leo lunges, nothing but alpha rage and erratic fists. Benji seizes on it—his hand shoots out, clasping Leo’s throat and slamming him back against the wall. Leo thrashes in his hold. Benji pulls a handgun from his waistband and presses it against Leo’s temple.

I scream. Leo’s eyes dart to mine, the first inkling of fear in the hazel depths; it’s not fear for himself, it’s for me.

Benji spares me a glance. “Back, now. I won’t say it again.”

My eyes are fixed on Leo. He mouths, “Run.”

I’m torn. Adrenaline and fear course through me. I can’t process what to do.

“Don’t hurt him,” I say to Benji, my voice a husk.

Benji smiles at me, his teeth bloody.

“What will you give me not to hurt him?” he asks, his hand tightening around Leo’s throat.

“Anything,” I reply immediately.

Benji’s expression turns thoughtful, a parody because I have no reason to trust what’s about to come out of his mouth and I know that he knows it.

“Did you know it costs double to fuck bonded omegas?” Benji says in a way that chills me. He’s thought about this. He fucking planned this.

Leo growls, pushing against the hold on his throat.

“Yeah, that’s right. I figured you two might find a work around and I’d get myself a nice payday. Adrian,” he says and stares me down. “You’ll be working for me from now on. Anything you make, it’s mine. And in exchange, I’ll give this piece of shit to the cops instead of putting a bullet through his temple.”

“Addie, no,” Leo says, his eyes flashing with anger and real fear for the first time.

“Or I’ll shoot him right now,” Benji says easily.

“Addie,” Leo says, alpha steel entering his tone. He doesn’t get the next word out—an alpha command on the tip of his tongue—because Benji clocks him in the temple with the butt of the gun and Leo doubles over, gripping his head.

“Don’t hurt him! Please! I’ll do it! Just please! Don’t hurt him!”

“Addie, no,” Leo whimpers, but before he can say anything further, Benji hauls him back up, presses the gun under his chin until his head is forced back at a shocking angle.

“I won’t ask again, Adrian.”

“I’m not going until he’s safe,” I whisper. “Please, don’t hurt him.”

Benji rolls his eyes, but he pulls out his phone with the hand that isn’t jammed under Leo’s jaw with a gun, and I listen in horror as he calls the police.

Blood pours down the side of Leo’s face, dripping into his eye. His scent and the feel of him in the bond is a jumble of anger and pain. Of failure.

“Happy?” Benji asks when he ends the call. “Now go before I change my mind.”