Page 128 of Pack Baby for the Silver Foxes

“He’ll take you, and then he’ll sell you again. You’d be handing him everything he ever wanted from you.” She glanced at my stomach. “And more.”

I turned on her, tears stinging my cheeks. “He never loved me.”

“I know how that feels. Don’t give him another chance to hurt you. You have two babies growing inside you and a future. He’ll make it dark again.”

“I need to face him. I need him to see how strong I am.”

“You can face him from here.”

Before I could argue, she reached toward the center console and pressed a button. A small panel lit up. Another opened the car’s speaker system with a faint crackle.

“Armored vehicle loudspeaker,” she said. “Less dramatic than stepping into a landing zone. More difficult to shoot.”

I stared at her. “He wouldn’t shoot me, Sienna.”

“Mary. Alphas like your father don’t lose.”

I gasped as my father’s voice came over the air again. It was smooth beneath the helicopter noise. “Daughter, there’s no need for this foolish display. I only want to talk. Come with me. Let me take you home. Your family misses you.”

My hand shook.

Sienna put her fingers over mine, steadying them near the button. “He can hear you when you press this.”

“I can’t. I feel like I’m going to explode. Family. What a bastard.”

“You can do it. Tell him everything you need to say.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Start with the truth.”

I pressed the button. “I don’t trust you so I’m staying here.” My voice came out through the speaker louder than I expected, thin with fear but there.

The helicopter settled on the gravel.

For a second my father said nothing. Then he laughed softly. I hated that laugh. “Mary, you’re frightened and emotional. You’re surrounded by strangers who don’t understand your family.”

“I have a family and it’s not you,” I said.

“I’m your father.”

My eyes burned.

Sienna’s hand stayed over mine as she whispered, “You’re brave. You’re an omega. You can do this.”

I pressed the button. “Then you should have acted like one, instead of an auctioneer.”

Silence held for one breath before his voice hardened by one careful degree. “Don’t humiliate me in front of Russians and your sister’s hired guards. I can finish you all anytime I want.”

“Who is in charge of you?” Sienna asked quietly.

I looked at her. “What?”

“Who owns you?”

I swallowed. “I don’t know.”

Her gaze held mine. Calm. Omega. Unowned.