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“Can I ask?” Riley’s voice is careful. “What did you mean when you said that they recognised you? From where?”
Mathew runs his tongue piercing along his teeth for a long moment, the sound cold and sharp, as he stares down the street, not looking at anything in particular, lost in his mind. Then his eyes go to Vera and Caleb, resting on the large Alpha, before they meet mine.
He lets out a long breath and my heart breaks as I wish I could stop him from saying the words. As I wish I could avoid the pain he’ll have to reveal. Even though I know that he’ll tell her, no matter how much it hurts.
“Before I was Mathew Page, I was Michael, King of Hearts. That was more than a decade ago. I was the top performer at one of their brothels. The person who recognised me was apparently one of the ‘clients’ I met at the time.” He keeps his voice level.
Angry pheromones roll off Riley as she realises what he just told her. The implications of his words.
“And, another thing. There’s something I should clear up before we go any further.” Mathew’s voice doesn’t change, though he’s moving tensely now. “Unlike what you may have heard, I’m not an Alpha, or a Beta, I’m an Omega.” He undoes the top buttons of his dress shirt and then pulls the back down, revealing his marks.
He slides his hand into mine, his palm sweaty, his grip slightly shaking. “I’mthe Omega Jorge has been waiting for for years.”
My mouth drops open as I stare at him. Did he really just?!
He glances my way, his face red from blushing as he gives me a shy smile. “Could you not bethatsurprised about something you’ve known for years? I thought you wanted me to tell her.”
With a grin, I wrap my arms around his shoulders, pulling him close.
I might have known for years, but this is the first time I’ve heard him tell anyone about us, and the confident and cool way he did it simply fried my brain.
Fucking hell.
I had no idea he could make me feel this proud.
13
Riley
Mathew Page is an Omega.MathewfuckingPage, a man feared for his ruthlessness, is anOmega.
I stare at the two men in front of me, not sure how to react as they’re somehow being very awkward and cute together.
It does clear up a lot of the confusion I’ve had all evening. Why I felt so attracted to Mathew. Why I kept wanting to touch him. Why Jorge looked so happy. It all makes a lot more sense.
But there’s one thing that doesn’t make sense. “Why can’t I smell your pheromones?” Even the strongest suppressants usually leave some trace, but I didn’t notice anything all evening.
Mathew eyes me, tugging on one of his lip rings with his teeth before he answers. “I barely have any. And I use products to make sure they stay hidden.”
Then he looks at Jorge’s arm, the one with the cut, which is still around his waist and the comfortable ease —from years of being together— is so clear. “Let’s go home so you can get stitched up.” He leans to Jorge and kisses his cheek, making Jorge smile goofily.
Then I realise why Mathew got so angry with Jorge at the start of the evening, when I told them I’d known Jorge for years. Of course, if we’re all scent matches, then Jorge has been hiding us from each other for years.
I guess I’m going to have a chat with Jorge later…
“Are you still here?” A gruff voice comes from the hallway and one of the people from what I assume is Mathew’s security team comes over to us.
“We’re just about to leave.” Jorge grins, going over to Vera and Caleb.
“Get your arm checked out before you lose so much blood you need to go to the hospital,” the security guy calls after Jorge, before sighing and looking at Mathew. “What’s the plan?”
“I think Riley is coming with us?” Mathew eyes me, a slight nervousness in his gaze.
“Yeah.” There’s no way I’m going to the hotel right now. I’m pretty sure there’s a target on my back and I’m not getting myself killed all alone in some hotel room.
The security guy holds up his hand to me. “If you give me your keys, we’ll get your car to the house. You can go with them in the van.”
Ooookay? Bossy much?