“You could…let us talk to the omegas?” Illya offers.
Of course.
“Fine.” I sigh. “But I’m comin’ with you. Give me one sec.” Stepping back inside the house, I close the door and slip my shoes on.
West watches me, arching a brow. “You sure about this, Siren?”
Shrugging, I grab a jacket off the hook by the door. “The omegas deserve to make their own decisions. I trust Illya and Luka to make the right choices. Even more so with someone like Alexei watchin’ their every move.”
“Where are you going?” Kole asks, coming down the stairs, his hair wet from the shower.
“Your brothers have a proposition for the omegas, and I’m gonna…supervise.” I slip my jacket on, pulling my hair out from the collar.
“Would you like me to come with you?” He walks over to me, his brow furrowed in concern.
“Thanks, Sugar Bear,” I grin, standing on my tip-toes to press a kiss against his jaw, “but I can handle it. I’ll be back in a little bit, yeah?”
Kole nods, and I don’t miss the glare of warning he gives his brothers when I open the door and step back outside.
“Do not worry, we will take good care of her,bratishka,” Luka laughs as I shut the door.
“Don’t poke the bear,” I mutter as we fall into step side-by-side on our way to the omega housing.
“Don’t you mean don’t poke the ‘Sugar Bear’?” Illya quips dryly.
I can’t help but laugh. Kole’s daddy may have been a prick, but at least his brothers are decent.
“Let me do the talkin’,” I insist, pulling ahead. “Then if they have any questions, they can ask you.”
When we reach the house with the omegas, it’s Maeve who answers the door. Her eyes light up when she sees me, though they do dim slightly at the sight of the twins. “Jo,” her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes, “what a surprise.”
“Sorry for intrudin’,” I grimace, “but Illya and Luka have an…opportunity they want to share with the omegas.”
She frowns, glancing at the guys. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” I nod, giving her a reassuring smile. “That’s all it is. Would you mind gatherin’ the girls in the livin’ room?”
Maeve gives me one last searching look before nodding, and disappearing into the house.
Five minutes later, we have nine omegas, Helaena, and Maeve sitting in the living room. Helaena has one of the smallest omegas tucked under her arm protectively. Mabel sits by herself in an armchair—I want to tell her that she doesn’t need to be here, but I’m trying to be better at not being such a mother hen. The omegas eye the twins with distrust, and before they open their mouths, I clear my throat, drawing their eyes to me.
“Hey, guys.” I give a small smile. “I know I haven’t been around much, and I wanted to thank y’all for all the effort you put into paintin’ my nest.” They relax a little at the sound of my voice, nodding and murmuring things like “it was no trouble” and “we were happy to help”.
“I’m sure you’re wonderin’ why you’re down here, and why it’s these two men who are with me. I’m gonna be completely honest with you—their names are Luka and Illya Vasiliev, and they have recently taken over the Vasiliev crime family as leaders of the Russian Mafia.”
Eyes go wide, and gasps travel across the room. Nina’s eyes narrow. “The same Vasiliev family who originally tried to steal Gemma?”
Gemma, lip wobbling, nods.
“The same Vasiliev family who took the truck to the police instead of its intended destination,” Illya says gently. “We have finally overthrown our father—he was the one who saw omegas as livestock, not us.”
I cringe internally at the term “livestock,” but ignore the hushed whispers going around the room as I keep talking. “It’s true. I trust them implicitly, and wouldn’t be here with them right now if I thought even for a moment that they wouldn’t keep their word.”
“Word about what?” It’s Mabel who speaks up this time, and my gut turns. I do not want her working for them.
Gritting my teeth at her interest, I try to sound unaffected. “Historically speakin’, the Vasiliev Family specializes in all manners of…pleasure. Strip clubs, sex clubs, sex work…but they’re lookin’ to expand.” Some eyes widen with interest while others start to shut down. “The twins are openin’ up a club that will also serve as a front for…contract killers.”
The eyes that had been shining with interest go dark. All except for Nina, who actually leans forward in anticipation.
