Page 8 of Born to be Broken

It only took a moment to see the flaw on her citizenship registration. If Maryanne Cauley still lived, Claire knew where she’d gone to ground.

Corday had come back to find his apartment cold and empty, lifeless where there should have been a small Omega resting on the couch. Corday had hated leaving her, but she had sworn so faithfully, admitting that she could hardly walk on her feet, that he had believed her.

Claire had fooled him. Claire didn’t trust him. Claire had left him… again.

There was a note:

Dear Corday,

I can’t live a lie and stay hidden. Not the way things are now. I want you to know that no matter what happens, I chose – fully aware of the consequences.

Love,

Claire

She had signed ‘love’ but there was no apology. He knew where he stood and the position was painful and deeply upsetting. Knowing her obsession with the Omega situation, Corday folded up the letter and shoved it in his pocket. Zipping up his jacket, he went right out onto the causeways and fought through the snow to where Brigadier Dane secretly sheltered the leader of the resistance.

Banging on the door, Corday refused to let up until the woman answered.

Dane glared. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Corday did not wait for an invitation, pushing his superior officer aside as he growled, “Like hell I shouldn’t.”

“Have you lost your mind?” The door was swiftly locked, the invading cold air shut out. “Showing up here in broad daylight endangers us all.”

Looking back at the soldier, Corday deepened his scowl. “It’s dumping snow outside, no one’s on the street and my tracks are already being covered. Where is Senator Kantor?”

“I’m here,” a voice sounded from the dwelling’s back room.

Ignoring the snarling Brigadier Dane, Corday pulled the note out of his pocket and stomped over. “She left.”

Senator Kantor set down his COMscreen and took the note. One brief read over and the old Alpha shook his head. “I’m sorry, Corday. It’s not like we could have locked her up.”

“Claire is going to do something crazy!” Practically tearing out his hair, Corday snarled, “We’ve gotta stop her.”

Senator Kantor shook his head, his tired eyes bloodshot and sad. “We cannot risk exposing ourselves on a manhunt. We both know she recognized we couldn’t help her. Do you understand that, kid?”

“She’s going to get herself killed!”

Speaking in a low voice, the Alpha tried to convey sense and a much needed measure of calm. “The Omega is pregnant, she’s pair-bonded and mentally detached. She doesn’t have much time left, and she knows it.”

Rubbing his forehead as if he could wipe away his frustration, Corday demanded, “What are you saying?”

“I am saying that Claire is fighting what must be a nightmare inside her. Her timeline is short and she is making her choice.”

“I told you. The pair-bond was damaged.”

Senator Kantor dropped the fatherly tone in place for one far more authoritative. “She’s damaged. Her determination is the only thing keeping her together. You try to cage her, or stop her, she’ll fall apart. And that would only open her up to his influence again. It might be best to let her do what she needs to do while she can still do it.”

“We both know she’s going to try to get those Omegas out of the Undercroft,” Corday hissed. “It would take an army and she’s just one girl.”

Senator Kantor fully understood what was at stake. “She has an advantage, a hostage, and you don’t know where she is. Nothing can be done. Believe it or not, my bet’s on her.”

“He’ll KILL her.”

“Read the letter again.” Senator Kantor handed the crumpled page back. “No one can comprehend the consequences like she can. She’s a grown woman who’s made her choice, just like we ask our brothers and sisters in arms to make every day.”

“This is fucking insanity!” Corday stormed out of the room, the note crushed in his grip. “I’m going to find her. I’m going to bring her home.”