"Done," Perrin says.
"Adam, Elowen, and I are going to head home." Cliff looks at Odette. "Any chance we can get a ride?"
"Of course." Odette waves a hand like he's asked to borrow a cup of sugar. "You can take Sal's old Caddy."
Raff pushes off the counter. "I'll bring it back tonight, Ma."
"Rafferty, that car is yours. Your father left it to you."
"It belongs here." he says like he’s said it a hundred times. "With you."
Odette's mouth opens, then closes. Something moves behind her gray eyes. “Alright,” she sighs hard.
Cliff stands. “Thank you, Odette.” He looks at Raff, then Perrin. “I'm expecting a visit from Angelica today. Maybe tomorrow, but it's coming. She's going to want to know what happened at the market.”
He continues to talk, but all I can focus on is the guilt sitting on my chest.
These people took me in, protected me, fought for me, and now they're about to lie to a dangerous woman to keep me hidden.
My eyes drift to the back door again.
The morning light is brighter now, slipping through the glass along the top of the door. The urge to open it and run grips me.
This is my mess. Not theirs.
"When Angelica does show up, here's what happened." Cliff looks down at me, making sure I’m listening. "You are a beta,” he says firmly before looking around the kitchen at everyone else. “She was working at the pharmacy and felt sick. I was in the area and brought her somewhere to sit down. The guards overreacted and jumped to conclusions because they smelled me on her. That's it. No omega. No heat. A beta with heatstroke and a bunch of trigger-happy assholes who panicked."
His hand presses flat against my back. It’s warm and broad, settling between my shoulder blades like it belongs there. I lean into it before I can stop myself, my body tilting toward him, my forehead almost touching his arm.
Every instinct I have is screaming at me to crawl into his arms and press my face into his neck and let him wrap around me until the world goes away.
He's my mate.
My body knows it.
The bite on my neck knows it.
But it feels wrong to take comfort from a man I stole.
I straighten up, keeping my hands on my mug.
"We’re going to cover your scent again,” Cliff continues. “Fresh blockers, patches. Whatever you need to smell like nothing. And when Angelica asks questions, that's the story."
Unless Anton or Angelica go to my apartment,I silently say in my head.
All my notes and stolen meds would blow a hole right through any story Cliff told them.
“I need to go home,” I blurt out, and everyone goes quiet. "I need to collect a few things," I say, keeping my voice light. "Clothes, mostly. I don't have anything here and I need?—”
"No," Cliff’s voice is soft, almost like he feels bad for saying it.
"I only need a few minutes. I could be in and out before?—"
"Elowen." His dark eyes lock onto mine. "It's not safe. If anyone from the Morder knows where you live, they could be watching your apartment right now."
I don’t care as long as they aren’tinsidemy apartment,I think to myself.
"Right," I say with a smile, despite feeling completely defeated.
