“What do you want to know?” he asked.
“Why is Marco being so careful right now?” I asked.
“He lost something,” the informant said. “He’s trying to get it back. Questioning everyone. Watching everything.”
“Lost what?” Silas pressed.
The informant shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“An omega?” I asked. “One of his 'wives' as he lovingly calls them?”
His eyes went wide.
That told me enough.
“You’re holding back,” I said, drawing my gun and pressing the barrel to his temple. “Bad choice.”
“Fuck,” he gasped. “Okay. Yes. One of them got loose. There’sa bounty out for any intel that leads to her whereabouts. Everyone from the top down has eyes out for her. Even unranked members.”
“Why does he care so much? Doesn't he have two dozen omegas?” Silas asked. His tone stayed casual, but I knew better. “We heard intel that the escaped one was his least favorite. That he tortured her... something to do with her heat…”
“Oh,that?” the lookout said with a short laugh. “Marco threatens all of them withthat.Only ever followed through with the one. He never had to with any others. The fear keeps most of them in line, so they don't end up like her. The other omegas are terrified he’ll do it to them too.”
“Threatens what?” I asked, eyes narrowing.
“Tying them up during their heat and locking them in the basement. Alone,” he said, shrugging and taking another drag. “That’s what he did to the missing one. Every heat. For years. No suppressants, no medical care, and no knot. I was told you used to be able to hear her screaming through the whole house."
He continued, oblivious to our rising rage, "She should have died from heat fever by now; no clue how she's lasted this long. That's why she's so fucking crazy. ”
Something in Silas snapped.
“What the fuck,” he growled, fist closing around the informant’s throat and slamming him back against the cold concrete wall. His composed mask shattered as violence poured in unchecked.
Normally, I would’ve pulled him off. Reeled it back in.
I couldn’t this time.
My own control was gone too.
Five years of heat cycles.Alone. Restrained. In a basement.
That wasn’t punishment. That wasn’t cruelty. That was torture worse than death.
So how the hell had the runt survived?
“Is the other omega you mentioned still at the house you told me about?” Silas asked, loosening his grip on the informant’s throat just enough for him to suck in air.
“I—I assume so, man,” the informant gasped. “I haven’t seen her leave, and I doubt he’s moving any of them right now. Marco comes and goes to give her a quick knot.”
“I want to know what security on that house looks like,” Silas said. “How many men? Cameras? Who’s watching them? Everything!” Silas barked.
“Okay. Okay,” the man rushed out. “I’ll find out.”
“Do it fast,” Silas said. “I’ll text you tomorrow. When I do, I want everything. Got it?”
“Yes,” he choked out, nodding frantically as Silas finally released him.
Then we left, both of us eager to get back to Lena now that we knew the truth.
