“If it’s not too much trouble.”
“Ah, nothing’s trouble for you, Joey.” He doesn’t even seem to realize he’s adopted a nickname for her, and I brace myself for her reaction.
Her expression freezes for a moment, and…fuck, she would’t kill him, would she?
No, of course she wouldn’t. But…still.
When her face lights up like someone just handed her a puppy, and a genuine smile fills her face, my shoulders relax a little.“That’s mighty sweet of you, Ozzy. I’ll take just a little bit of each, please.”
Dad arches a brow at her as he fixes the coffee how she asked. “Ozzy?”
“I’ve been workshoppin’ it, since you don’t like your full name, and that’s a subject I take very seriously.” She grins, sitting at the small round kitchen table before pointing at me. “I already got Sam, or Sammy-boy. So I figured Original Sam—O.S.. Os…Ozzy.”
His brows furrow as he thinks it over. Placing the coffee on the table in front of her, he seems to reach a decision, because he gives a small smile. “Most just call me Wright, but I think Ozzy suits me.”
An incredulous laugh escapes me as I shake my head. It’s like I’ve wandered into the Twilight Zone. The two people in the world who are the most touchy about their names have just assigned each other their own nicknames.
“What are you laughin’ at, Sammy-boy? You said your daddy would love me, and you were right.” She gives me a smug grin.
“Yeah, yeah, Trouble. Let’s informOzzywhy he should come with us, okay?”
Dad shakes his head, pointing a finger at Jo. “Onlyshegets to call me that.”
Jo suppresses a smirk. Then switches to all business as she turns to my dad. “Do you know much about the mafia families in New York?”
Dad grimaces. “A fair bit, yeah.”
“My biological father was Cian Gallagher. My brother is Declan Gallagher. Which means, I am directly tied to the Irish mafia. We’re stayin’ at his compound, and Xavier won’t go near it. This is both what’s protectin’ us, and what’s puttin’ us in danger.”
He tilts his head. “Explain.”
“When we escaped from Thornfield—because no, Xavier did not lie about that when he came to see you—we freed all the omegas they had kidnapped, but we also took a prisoner. A scientist who has exclusive knowledge regardin’ a drug Xavier is tryin’ to develop. A drug that has the potential to completely nullify designations. My brother has that scientist in his custody, and Xavier wants him back. Only, Xavier is a little bitch and thought that threatenin’ my mate’s daddy would be the surefire way to get me to comply.”
Dad is quiet for a moment. When he speaks, he doesn’t sound angry or upset, just curious. “And if you give the scientist back to him…?”
“If we give him back, Xavier will have everythin’ he needs to proceed with the development of the drug, and strip alphas and omegas of every instinct, every scent, and worst of all, every bond.”
Dad’s hand absentmindedly travels to his shoulder, where I know Mom’s bond mark still sits. She was an alpha as well, with a scent of coffee, chocolate, and raspberry that still brings me a sense of comfort to this day.
“You did the right thing, not complying.” He nods with approval.
Jo chuckles before taking a sip of her coffee, a smirk tilting at her lips. “I know.”
I sigh, running a hand over my face. “Trouble…”
Dad waves me off. “Leave her alone. You know I admire a woman who doesn’t need a man to validate her actions.”
Jo’s head falls back as she laughs. “I think I’m gonna like havin’ you around, Ozzy.”
“At least until you head back to your brother’s house, right?” He crosses his arms defensively.
“No,” she shakes her head, “You gotta come with us. I know you can handle yourself against Xavier’s men, but…weneed you.”
My brows shoot up. We do?
“Declan…he recently found out that one of his men is a rat. He needs help weedin’ out who it is, and he’d like you to come whip his guards into shape, if you’re up for it.”
I wonder if Declan really needs my dad for that, or if Jo has figured out the best way to get him to listen is to make him feel needed. Either way, his brow furrows as he considers it.
