Page 24 of A Cobbled Conspiracy

I shook my head. “He didn’t do that sort of cooking. He booked reservations for the restaurant and worked as an apprentice pastry chef.”

Blake nodded thoughtfully. “If this person—whoever they are—is connected to organized crime, then their presence in our district could be related to the investigation. We already know criminal networks were operating here through Holloway and Cretch. The timing of this sighting seems suspicious.”

“That’s what I was thinking too.” I glanced again toward Jake’s room. “What if the criminal connections we exposed last year were just the beginning? Maybe Holloway and Cretch were small fish in a much larger operation? We know Holloway had ties to Jake’s boss.”

"I wish Dominic was here," I said quietly. "Jake confided in him. Trusted him. That’s how we got the proof of Holloway’s corruption."

"I recall," Blake said. When I looked at him, his lips curled into a broad grin. “Ol’ Dom was acting as a double-agent for me, remember?”

He winked deliberately, his lips still curved in that knowing smile.

Just how much had Dominic told him about our relationship?

“Should I check on Jake?” I cleared my throat, feeling my cheeks heat. “He looked like he might be sick when we got back.”

“Give him a little time,” Penny suggested, suddenly appearing at my side with a cup of ginger tea and a plate of crackers.

I managed to hide my startled reaction, taking the cup from Penny as I mumbled a quiet "Thanks."

“Maybe in an hour or so,” Penny continued, “we could bring him some tea? He might be ready to talk by then.”

I nodded, though part of me wanted to go to Jake’s room immediately. My omega instincts were still on high alert from his distress, and leaving him alone to deal with whatever memories had been triggered felt wrong.

But Penny was right. Jake needed space to rest and collect himself before we pushed for details about what he’d witnessed—or thought he’d witnessed.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The knock on my door came at seven in the morning, sharp and urgent enough to wake me from the first decent sleep I’d had in days.

“Leo, get dressed and come to the living room,” Blake’s voice carried through the door, tight with controlled excitement. “I have news.”

I burrowed deeper into my nest, still groggy from sleep and reluctant to leave the cocoon of soft fabrics that had become my sanctuary. The nest I’d built in Blake’s guest bed had started as a meager attempt—just blankets and pillows and Dominic’s sweater arranged around me when the nesting urges became too strong to ignore about a week ago.

Of course, Penny had discovered my pathetic nesting attempt within hours. And of course, he’d told Blake.

Which had prompted the alpha to walk through the door that evening carrying two bags of nesting supplies from a fancy omega boutique in Downtown Millcrest. I’d protested at first. I never would have bought such costly materials myself—silk-soft blankets and pillows, 600-thread count sheets, even a body pillow.

“The lady at the store said it’s everything an omega would need,” Blake had said, handing the packages to me with a sheepish grin. “If I missed anything, just let me know.”

Now, curled up in the nest of expensive fabrics, I felt something close to peace for the first time in two weeks.

The only thing missing was Dominic.

I’d seen him just two days ago, though that visit had been vastly different from our first reunion. Because of what had happened last time—Dominic disobeying protocol and putting his hands all over me instead of just the permitted scenting—there had been two guards this time, both much more watchful and neither falling prey to Blake’s charming attempts to lure them into conversation about sports or weather.

Still, it had been so nice to see him again, to hold his hand across that sterile table. He’d looked like he’d lost more weight, his cheekbones more pronounced. The five o’clock shadow covering his jaw made him look feral and dangerous in a way that sent heat shooting through me despite the circumstances.

When he’d leaned in to scent me—carefully, with the guards watching—his expression had shifted to confusion.

“You smell different somehow,” he’d said quietly, silver eyes studying my face with the kind of intensity that made me want to squirm.

“The doctor gave me medicine for nausea,” I’d explained, which wasn’t entirely a lie. “She said it might alter my scent somewhat. Plus, I’m living in Blake’s house.”

Dominic’s growl had been low and possessive. “Yeah, I can smell him on you. The fucker.”

“Hey!” I’d protested, squeezing his hand. “Blake has been great through all this. He’s letting me, and Penny, and Jake stay in his guest rooms, feeding us, helping get you out of here.”

Dominic’s expression had softened slightly. “I know. I’m grateful to him. It’s just… I don’t like smelling another alpha on my mate.”