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“Not necessary,” Boyd says with a congenial grin. “Always kinda figured you’d get snatched up by some cute little omega. That’s just the way of things, ain’t it?”
I’m sure Peaches would have something to say about that, given thatwe’rein fact the ones who snatchedher…but she keeps her mouth shut with Ephraim and Abel looking over our shoulder.
“Well, it’s been good working with you,” I say. “Thanks.”
“For what?” he scoffs, crossing his arms.
For saving my life.
“For the good company,” I say.
I reach out my hand to shake his and our palms meet. There’s a flash of recognition in that moment, his blue eyes narrowing slightly—but then it’s gone as he takes the note from me and slips it into his pocket.
“See you around, Javi,” he says.
“See ya, Boyd,” I reply.
The only friend I’ve ever had gets in the elevator, shooting me one last grin before it descends. I don’t let the pain reach anywhere deep, plain discomfort settling on my skin as Peaches and I are left alone on the platform.
“Well, now that that touching moment is over, the Prime wants to talk to you,” Ephraim says. “But you can’t bring your female.”
I glower at him. “Like I said, she comes with me.”
“Eh, let her,” Abel says with a shrug. “What is she gonna do? She’s too stupid to get anything out of our conversation.”
Peaches stiffens again, and I squeeze her shoulders. Let them think she’s stupid—I’ve overheard more than a few privileged conversations because people thought I was just a brute. I’ll try to tell her that when we’re alone again later, when she’sallowed to speak.
But for now, we have to go and meet with Gideon.
“Lead the way,” I say.
CHAPTER TWELVE
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PEACHES
Every second spent on the Rig is a reminder of why I left.
The fact that I haven’t been given clothes to wear and have to walk around barefoot on rusted steel.
That I’m not allowed to speak or go outside without permission.
And to top it all off, I’m forced to hang onto someone who doesn’t even like me.
Ephraim and Abel take us to a room above the mess hall, climbing the creaky stairs to a big, cluttered space full of chairs. I haven’t been here since the night before I decided to leave the Rig—the hardest night of my life.
The night my mother died.
I keep my eyes down as we enter, Javi never taking his hands off me. In other circumstances it might bother me, but I know that no one will touch me while he’s this close, and it’s the only thing that makes me feel safe surrounded by my father’s generals. Gideon grunts in frustration when we enter, the rest of the room going silent.
Everyone else in this space is an alpha, and my senses are going crazy telling me to run.
“She’s not supposed to be here,” Gideon says.
Agreed. I’m supposed to be in Austin.
“Like I told your lackeys, she goes where I go,” Javi says. “She’s my mate. That’s how it should be.”
