Page 41 of Flight of the Omega

XVII

One thing jp hadn’t calculatedinto his plan was Jack. That was unfortunate for JP, because Jack turned out to be a wrench, even if he didn’t realize it in the moment.

Jack was standing across the way, watching the final lap from under the shade of the bleachers. He’d be called in to help settle the birds after the checkered flag was taken and the ribbon cut. The cheering of the crowd and the roar of music, plus flowers and confetti being thrown everywhere, was often too much for the birds.

He was standing there with his arms folded, waiting for the birds to cross the finish line. They were neck in neck into the final corner; whoever had the fastest straight-away speed would be victorious.

At that moment, there was a commotion from the tower where William J. Crane and his cronies were watching the race, high above the peons who crowded the sun-drenched bleachers. It took Jack a moment or two to realize JP was causing the commotion. Burr leading JP down the stairs a moment later confirmed it.

Jack abandoned his post without a second thought. He pushed away from the metal scaffolding holding up the stands and jaunted out of the viewing arena, away from the dusty track. He saw Burr make a beeline for the house, JP in tow. Jack hesitated, then decided he’d follow them the back way.

He didn’t want to confront Burr, not if JP was right there. No, if he had to get into a cockfight with Burr, he wanted JP well away from it. He snuck in through one of the back doors, then crept through the silent house, wincing with every creaky floorboard, every squeaky stair, until finally he came to the bedrooms on the far side of the house, overlooking the yard. He watched Dr. Vogel rush up the stairs, her hair untied, her bag only half-closed, medicine and stethoscope trying to escape, like she’d been called away in a great hurry.

Jack’s heart rate picked up. Had something happened to JP? What about their eggs?

He crept a little closer, then paused when he heard the din of the crowd outside. He peered out one of the mullioned windows. There was confetti everywhere, the crowd going wild, and in the middle of it—Saffron, going berserk. She was jumping and leaping and squawking. She’d bucked her rider and was charging everyone and everything in sight.

Jack tensed, ready to turn and dash back. He needed to go to that bird. He shouldn’t have abandoned his post. Saffron was part of his flock, and if he’d been there, she would have been cool as a cucumber. He’d let her down.

The door to JP’s chambers banged open, and Burr charged out, yelling at one of the two ranch hands standing there at the door, “Get in there! The bitch is delivering those goddamn eggs!”

One of the hands—Falcon, if Jack wasn’t mistaken—startled, then rushed into the room.

Burr whirled on the other one, who jumped to attention. “Come on,” the lead hand huffed. “Go tell old man Crane his golden goose is laying—go on, get!”

“But, Burr—”

“Don’t but Burr me, just do what I tell ya to!”

“But one of the birds has gone berserk!”

Burr stared for a second. Then he swore and rolled up his sleeves, stomping off down the stairs. “Come on!” he squawked at the hand, who jumped and stumbled after him.

Jack glanced outside again. His heart broke for Saffron, but …

He turned back to the door, which had bounced open just a crack when Burr slammed it.

JP was more important. He rushed the door, slammed it open. “Birdie!” he cried, then stared at JP, who was dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed, a packed overnight bag beside him. Amanda was standing over the slumped body of the ranch hand Burr had ordered in, the incriminating needle flashing silver in her hand. The two of them stared up at him with wide eyes.

“The hell’s going on?” he asked, glancing at either of them in turn. “Burr said JP was laying.”

JP and the vet glanced at each other. JP shook his head. “Not—not yet,” he said.

Dr. Vogel glanced over her shoulder, then pocketed the needle. “Come on,” she said, “there’s no time to explain.”

She grabbed JP’s overnight bag, then helped the omega to his feet. She guided him to the door. She paused, glaring up at Jack. “You say nothing,” she growled.

Jack stared at her. Then he looked at JP, who grabbed his hand. “Come with me,” he said, turning those golden eyes on Jack.

Jack twined their fingers and stumbled along behind him as Amanda tugged them out of the room. “Where are we going?” he asked.

“Away,” JP replied.

“Away?” Jack asked, and the omega just nodded.

“There’ll be time to talk when we’re in the truck,” Dr. Vogel said sharply. Then they were lumbering down the carpeted stairs, the vet urging them to hurry, and JP panting and pausing, clearly unable to go much faster.

Amanda stuck her head out the front door. “Shit,” she hissed. “Burr’s got your father.”