by Jayce Carter
And it had burned Jackie. It had consumed her that night until nothing but ash was left. She’d called near midnight, tears in her voice, breathless and in pain.
‘Please help me,’ she’d cried into the phone when Claire had picked up.
‘Jackie? What’s wrong? Where are you?’
‘I was wrong. You were right. Come get me, please?’
Claire had thrown her keys into her purse, ready to go. ‘Where are you?’
A crash on the other side of the line, a gasp, a whimper. Shuffling and heavy breathing. ‘He found me.’
‘Who? Please, Jackie, tell me where you are.’ Claire had slammed her car door shut, willing to risk panic to get to her friend sooner.
‘I’m sorry,’ Jackie had sobbed into the phone before an all-too-familiar sound came in the background.
The vicious growl of a furious alpha had burned into her memory years ago, the sound that snapped her out of sleep, the sound that haunted her nightmares.
The line had clicked dead.
Claire dragged her fingers through her hair to push away the memory. She’d called back, but Jackie hadn’t answered. By morning, she’d found the articles online. Dead Omega Found in Alley. Each line had dug her anger deeper, each time they talked about Jackie as if she were nothing but an omega, as if the tragedy of her murder lay only with the alphas who couldn’t claim her anymore.
Nowhere did they talk about her sweetness, about the way she doodled on the sides of all her to-do lists because she’d said she needed happiness with her work. No one cared that Claire had taught her how to French-braid her hair, or that Jackie had made Claire a necklace she wore most days.
In short? No one cared that Jackie had been a young girl with a future, a plan, a personality and a life. When reading the articles, Claire had sworn she’d do something about it.
No one else cared, but damn it, Jackie deserved better. She deserved someone who gave a damn, who would do something. Since Jackie had run out on her family, she had no one but Claire.
She’d found the first lead with ease. With a key to Jackie’s place, Claire had gone in while the police still tracked down her information.
She’d known about Jackie dating an alpha. Jackie, as so many others, had believed this one was different. They always said the same thing—this one’s different. Jackie had told Claire nothing about him, had kept everything secret since she knew Claire would disapprove. Two hours of searching, and Claire had found only one thing.
A small business card had been tucked into her daily planner, its edges crinkled as if Jackie had touched it often. On the front sat the security firm name, Kale Security, and their phone number. When she’d flipped it over, she’d found the printed word ‘PIN’ and 153653 written in pen beside it, along with a date.
It had let her know the security company either handled the alpha’s business or home, and the date it had been installed or updated.
And now, after having looked in Bryce’s computer, she knew Graystone Enterprises had been set up that day. She’d have loved a look at the employees, to see if she could match that PIN to a specific person, but nothing had come up, hidden behind additional passwords.
Which was all fine. Claire had gotten what she really needed. She knew where the asshole worked, knew it because Jackie had gone to meet with him at his office, and the PIN would have gotten her through the front door.
Claire wasn’t sure how she’d narrow down the suspects, how she’d find out who inside that building had done it, but she’d figure something out.
Maybe only a few alphas worked there? She could only hope.
The complaining of Claire’s stomach reminded her she had things that needed doing. She couldn’t hide in the motel forever. She’d picked up the few items she needed from her home before checking in, taken the suppressants she needed to deliver, her emergency supplies.
She couldn’t ignore her responsibilities. People relied on her. She had a friend watching the store and forwarding any messages she received. The friend was an omega, but tough as nails, who wouldn’t have any issue dealing with any of the three who might stop in looking for her. Where Claire tried to give omegas a safe place, her friend, Tessa, created that safe place in ways that Claire didn’t ask.
But, more than any of those other things that needed dealing with was Graystone.
She’d pick up food, then go into the building.
She had promised Jackie her help, and nothing would stop her from it.
* * * *
The woman who stood before Joshua gave nothing away. No matter how Joshua flirted, how he complimented her, she didn’t swoon, didn’t soften.
In fact, the whole thing had grown into a battle of wills. Each smooth line he offered, each smile, each flirt she’d rebuff as if it hadn’t meant a thing. In fact, had he not been worried about Claire, he’d have enjoyed the challenge.
“I’m sure you can help me, dear.” He leaned his elbow on the counter, his lips pulled into a promising grin.
“And like I already told you, I can’t help you.”
“You can, just between us.”
Her eyebrow hiked up. “Fine. I can, but I won’t. I don’t release information about employees. I’ve taken down your number, and I’ll give Claire the message when she gets in.”
Joshua’s lip lifted, his fake smile fading away. He couldn’t shake the fear at Claire being out on her own. Clearly, whatever she’d gotten involved in wasn’t something she planned on letting go. No, instead she’d gone through their client files and schedule on Bryce’s computer then taken off.
She’d gone home, according to Kaidan. She’d packed a bag, but nothing said where she’d gone from there. Joshua’s contacts at the banks had checked her accounts to find no movement. If she was spending money, she’d done so in cash. At the very least, it told him she knew how to disappear when she wanted to.
What if she was hurt? In trouble? Afraid?
“I’m trying to help her,” Joshua said. If a lie and charm didn’t work, maybe the truth would. What did he have to lose?
The woman released a harsh laugh, then shook her head. “The only trouble she’s in has to do with you. I’ve known her a long time, and this is the first time she’s ever needed to hide. So you’re really going to walk in here and try to act like you’re her savior instead of the reason she’s on the run?”
Ah, the spine on this woman. Joshua considered trying to hire her. If she could stand up to his charm and not offer a lick of useful information, she was made for security work.
He stored the idea away for the future. He had more important things to worry about at the moment.
“If you know her so well, you know how hard-headed she can be. She’s stolen information from dangerous people, and I’m trying to stop her before she uses it, before she puts herself in a situation that could get her killed.”
The woman hesitated. There is was, uncertainty, that spark of worry. She ran her fingers across the top of the counter. “She seemed worried when she called me.”
Joshua forced down his reaction to that. He hated the idea that she was alone and afraid.
“Let me help her. Just tell me where she is so I can help her before it’s too late.”
The last push seemed to work. The woman grabbed a notepad from beneath the counter and a pen from the cup on top. She jotted down an address, her gaze down. Finally, she handed it over, but wouldn’t release it until he looked at her.
“She’s meeting someone here at two.”
Joshua nodded, pulling the paper even as she refused to let go. “You did the right thing.”
“If she gets hurt, if I think you did it, I will track you down.” The words came out low, a threat that had his body readying to respond. It was delivered with absolute certainty and Joshua didn’t doubt the woman would find a way to make good on the promise if he harmed Claire.
He forced himself to relax, reminded himself he liked it that she had friends who’d stand up for her. It
did make him realize she had an entire life, and that life included people willing to make threats on her behalf.
He’d considered how she might fit into his life, but he hadn’t yet thought about how he might fit into hers. How would he work with her friends? With the things she had? Would any of them accept him? Kaidan or Bryce?
None of it mattered until he found her.
So he nodded, offering the woman the truth, hoping she’d hear it in his voice. “I swear, I don’t intend to hurt her. I want to help her.”
The woman nodded and released the paper.
A quick thanks and Joshua had his cell out, calling Bryce to give him the information.
Their omega wouldn’t hide for long.
* * * *
The building was smaller than she’d expected, something that should have pleased Claire. The address had taken no time to find, the place an office building near the east side of the city. A two-story set up with only three businesses inside, and only one of which Kale Security handled.
Graystone Enterprises was a technology company according to what she’d found online. They set up networks for smaller companies across the country. They had, at most, thirty employees and many didn’t work out of the office.
The alpha who had killed Jackie had to work from there, since she’d dated him regularly for a few weeks prior to the end, and she’d seen him at least twice a week.
While Claire didn’t want to expose herself to the alpha, didn’t like the risk, her life there was already burned. The easiest way to get in any information would be to lie about wanting a network set up for her book store.
The receptionist smiled, a sweet woman who had pictures of her children on the desk. She apologized for the third time for the long wait, despite the fact Claire had only sat for fifteen minutes.
A door to the back opened, and a tall man stood there. Alpha. It was written in every fiber of him, in the way he stood, in his scent, in the stern look on his face. His gaze landed on Claire. “Ms. Jacobs? Come on in, please.”
For a moment, she froze. Was she really going to get this close to a man who might have killed her friend? Could she willingly shut herself in a room with the alpha?
Then Jackie’s smiling face flashed before her, and she rose. For her friend, she’d do anything.
Claire followed the man through a maze of hallways, past other offices and conference rooms, until they entered a large office. She sat in the chair he indicated across the desk from him.
“My name is Kieran Elliott,” he offered as he lowered into his seat. Silvered hair at his temples and dark eyes made him look wise, and the lines between his eyes said he frowned a lot.
“Sorry for the short notice.” Claire reached into her bag to pull out the business papers she’d gathered to support her story. “I heard good things about your company, and I like working with local businesses.”
Kieran leaned back, eyes narrowing, studying her. “I’ve heard of your store, Ms. Jacobs, but I fail to understand why you would have need for us. We set up networks for businesses that have need to connect multiple employees or offices. As I understand it, you have a single store and typically a single employee. Have I misunderstood your situation?”
She ran her tongue along her lips, nerves playing over her skin. His attention unnerved her, made her want to fidget beneath his gaze. “I’m hoping to expand,” she lied. “I’m looking at opening another shop, but I need a better inventory system, better ordering logs, better tracking. I can’t even imagine hiring people if I don’t have a system in place to do any of that.”
He made a soft sound, one that neither seemed to agree nor disagree. After a moment, he set his folded hands on the desk. “I see. Most businesses show up here when they are well past time to need us. I’m unused to owners who take any sort of initiative.”
His forearms caught her attention, his shirt rolled up to just beneath the elbows. The muscles there moved as his fingers moved, catching her attention. She pictured those hands on Jackie, tried to see if she could imagine this man having killed her friend.
“How many people do you have working here?”
“In this office? Only a few. Me, Mrs. Keller the receptionist, two techs who handle local installs and a liaison for our other offices and national techs.”
“How long do installs take, and how often should I expect to see a tech?”
He pulled a piece of paper from his desk drawer and slid it across the desk, pointing at information there. “For a business of your size, planning will take a few weeks. Once you’ve okayed the scope of the project, actual set-up would take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on what you want and how well your current building is wired. Our techs will come when needed, but can do most maintenance remotely after the initial set-up is completed.”
Claire nodded, skimming her finger over the paper as if it would answer the question she really had. However, what she needed to know wouldn’t be written there, and she had no way to know it other than to ask.
“Do you employ alpha techs?”
He said nothing at first, though he lifted an eyebrow. After a pause so long she was certain a drop of sweat had run down her back, he answered. “That is an odd question, and not one I would normally disclose. A person’s designation is private information.”
“I understand, and I don’t want to pry, but I have a few omega customers who are uneasy with alphas. It’s one reason I’m careful with who I hire. I don’t need to know any individual person’s designation, but I need to know if you have beta techs who can attend to the set-up and in-person maintenance, because I risk losing customers if you send alphas.”
Kieran’s fingers tapped against the desk, those shrewd eyes too careful. He seemed to wield silence as a weapon, one to unnerve her. Finally, he nodded. “We have no local alpha technicians. I am, but if you choose to hire us, I will ensure our meetings are elsewhere so I won’t personally enter your business.”
No other alphas? It meant Kieran was the alpha Jackie had dated, the one who had killed her. He certainly had the look of a killer, had the strength needed to kill Jackie.
“So, what do you think?”
Claire met his gaze. “I think it sounds good.”
He nodded, then stuck his hand toward her. “I will have an official plan set up and sent over for you to review.”
She took a deep breath, then shook his hand, ignoring how strong the grip was, how she suddenly had no idea how she was going to do a damn thing to help Jackie. How was she supposed to stand up against someone like that?
It didn’t matter. She’d figure it out.
Claire nodded. “I’ll see you again soon.”
* * * *
Tiffany smiled across the table, and it seemed Claire hadn’t seen the girl in a year. Only a few days had passed, yet she shouldn’t shake the sense it had been longer.
Tiffany sipped the tea she’d ordered, her legs folded on the chair. “I really like him.”
Claire ran her thumb along the rim of the cup, her latte inside. “You don’t understand.”
“I do. You think everyone is the same, but they aren’t. He’s sweet, and he worries about me, and he never pushes me.”
She’d heard it before so many times from so many omegas. It was like talking to Jackie all over again, like Claire when she’d been eighteen and foolish.
It wasn’t Claire’s job to control the omegas she helped, though. That would make her as bad as any alpha. Instead, Claire pulled the bag of suppressants from her purse and pushed it across the table.
Tiffany frowned before she stuffed the bag into her purse, out of view. “Are you leaving?”
“Yeah, pretty soon.”
“Was it because of those alphas?”
Claire gave herself a moment to sip her drink, to collect herself. Telling Tiffany felt wrong, like putting adult problems on a child. She deserved to not have to worry about such things.
But, that was selfish. That was Claire trying t
o give Tiffany the life she wanted, but it wasn’t what was best for the girl.
So, when Claire set down her cup, she answered honestly. “Partly. They know what I am, and they don’t seem interested in leaving me be. So, I’m going to need to leave.” She took a deep breath, then offered the rest. “I’m also going to deal with the alpha who killed Jackie. I’ve almost got him.”
“We can’t get along without you.”
“Of course, you can. I’ve spent years getting things in place. I could be gone tomorrow and the system would still work. You’ll all be fine.”
Tiffany shook her head, eyes wide. “No, we won’t. What will we do? Who will take care of us?”
Claire reached across the table and set her hand over Tiffany’s. She still remembered feeling the same when Penny had disappeared, when she’d had to stand on her own, when she’d had to learn to get along without help. It was a scary moment when there was no one to lean on anymore. She’d learned a person had no idea how much strength they had until they had no other choice.
“You’ll be fine, Tiffany.”
Tiffany opened her mouth to argue, but Claire’s attention went elsewhere.
Behind Tiffany, across the street, Bryce’s SUV parked. Sure enough, all three alphas left the car.
Tiffany’s swung her head around as if she could sense the danger, or perhaps she’d just read it on Claire’s face. Her body went still when she spotted them. “They’re here.”
“Yeah, they are. Go out the back, Tiffany.”
“I’m not leaving you again.”
“Yes, you are. I have to run, but you don’t. You have a life here, and the last thing you want is to get on the radar of them. I’m fine, Tiff. Go on.” Claire pulled Tiffany’s wrist, pressed a kiss to her forehead then pushed her toward the back of the shop.
Tiffany backed away, indecision on her features. Still, Claire was the leader between them and that won out. A quick nod and Tiffany disappeared through the back exit.