Page 21 of Billy and Cord (Omega Hearts #1)

Cord’s phone buzzed against the nightstand, the secure ringtone cutting through the peaceful morning. He groaned softly, careful not to wake Billy, who was curled against his side, one arm thrown possessively across Cord’s chest.

“This better be important,” he muttered, reaching for the device. The encrypted message app showed a priority notification from headquarters.

“Shit.” Cord scrubbed his hand over his face.

He’d known this was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier.

The organization didn’t take kindly to operatives going rogue, even when they had damn good reasons.

Cord’s behavior toward Rapid, despite the provocation, wasn’t going to sit well on his record.

I didn’t kill him. That has to count for something.

Billy stirred against him, those big brown eyes blinking open like a sleepy owl. Cord immediately handed him his glasses. “Everything okay?”

“We’ve been summoned.” Cord showed him the message. “They want to debrief us about the mission. Both of us.”

“Both?” Billy sat up, his hair sticking up in adorable tufts. “But I’m not… I mean, I don’t work for them.”

“You’re listed as a civilian consultant for now.” Cord pulled him back down, needing the omega’s warmth for just a few more minutes. “Probably because you helped identify the signal blocker. Plus, you’re my mate. They’ll probably want to assess whether you’re a security risk.”

“A security risk?” Billy’s voice rose. “I write code for online retailers, not state secrets.”

“I know, baby.” Cord nuzzled into his neck, breathing in that sweet scent that never failed to calm him. “It’s just protocol. They’ll ask you some questions, probably make you sign about seventeen different NDAs, and then we’ll grab dinner somewhere nice.”

“You’re awfully calm about this.”

“One of us has to be.” The truth was that Cord’s wolf was already pacing restlessly.

The organization had proven they were willing to test him with no regard to his feelings, and that was without that business with Rapid not being reassigned the way Cord had been promised.

What other tricks might they pull? “Besides, I’ve got you with me this time. That changes everything.”

Billy’s fingers found his, interlacing them. “What should I wear to a super-secret spy meeting?”

“Not spy,” Cord corrected automatically. “Shifter rescue and protection services.”

“Right. Because that sounds so much less intimidating.”

Despite everything, Cord found himself smiling. “Just be yourself. They already know everything about you anyway, I imagine. There’s probably a file somewhere noting your favorite brand of coffee and what music you listen to when you work.”

“That’s not creepy at all.” Billy’s sarcasm was softened by the way he snuggled closer. “Will Rapid be there?”

“No.” Cord’s voice hardened. “Bullet messaged me yesterday and said there was a rumor going around that he was being permanently reassigned to a different region. And my boss already knows I won’t be held responsible for any damage I do to Rapid if I have to see his face again.”

“That’s something, I suppose.”

They lay in comfortable silence for a moment before Billy spoke again. “Do you think they’ll try to break us up? Try and say I’m a distraction to you or something?”

“They can try.” Cord’s arm tightened around his mate.

“But I can’t see how they can do that. Alpha/omega pairings are like the holy grail.

It’s our right to have the bond that me and my team fight for – especially as it relates to omegas.

You give me a home to come back to, a reason to keep fighting.

They can’t forbid or break up our mating.

It’s just how they want to handle my missions going forward that could be discussed.

But if they want me, they will accept you’re a huge part of my life too. We’re a package deal.”

“My hero,” Billy teased, but Cord could smell the genuine relief underneath the humor.

“Damn right.” He pressed a kiss to Billy’s temple. “Come on. If we’re going to face the bureaucratic firing squad, we might as well get some decent coffee first.”

“And pancakes?”

“Whatever you want, babe.”

As Billy headed for the shower, chattering about whether his good jeans counted as business casual, Cord allowed himself a moment of quiet pride. His omega might be nervous, but he wasn’t backing down. I’m so damn lucky.

/~/~/~/~/

Cord’s hand found Billy’s as they walked through the nondescript office building that served as headquarters.

The place looked like any other corporate office from the outside - beige walls, generic art, potted plants that probably needed watering.

Nobody would guess it housed one of the most elite omega rescue organizations in the country.

“You okay?” Billy asked softly, his fingers squeezing Cord’s.

“I should be asking you that.” Cord glanced down at his mate, noting how Billy had dressed up.

He was wearing khakis instead of his usual worn jeans and a button-down shirt that brought out the gold flecks in his eyes.

Suddenly Cord didn’t want his precious mate anywhere near his boss.

He was still having serious trust issues with Brandon in particular.

“You didn’t have to come. As you pointed out, you don’t draw a paycheck from these people. ”

“But you do, and this concerns me, too.” Billy’s chin lifted with that stubborn tilt Cord was learning meant his omega wouldn’t budge. “That asshole tried to break us up. I’m not letting him get away with it.”

Pride and something fiercer bloomed in Cord’s chest. His omega might be overlooked by many, but Billy had steel in his spine when it counted.

They stopped outside Brandon’s office. Through the frosted glass door, Cord could see his team leader’s silhouette pacing back and forth.

“He’s nervous,” Billy observed. “Good. He should be. I’m plenty mad about this.”

Cord knocked once before opening the door. Brandon stopped mid-pace, his expression shifting from worried to resigned when he saw them both.

“Cord, and you must be Billy.” Brandon gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. “Thanks for coming in.”

“Like we had a choice?” Cord kept his voice level as he and Billy sat down, but his wolf stirred restlessly. The alpha in him still wanted blood for what they’d put Billy through.

Brandon winced as he sat down. “Look, I know you’re pissed…”

“Pissed?” Billy interrupted, which surprised everyone, including himself, judging by the pink flush on his cheeks. But he pressed on. “You let someone actively try to destroy Cord’s mating bond. You changed mission parameters without telling him. That’s not just unprofessional, it’s…”

“Criminal,” Cord finished for him. “And if Billy hadn’t helped me figure out what was happening, Rapid might have succeeded.”

Brandon rubbed his face. “I know. Believe me, I know. The whole thing was a clusterfuck from start to finish.”

“Then why?” Cord leaned forward. “I’ve worked for you for over a decade, Brandon. I’ve bled for this organization. Why would you sign off on testing my loyalty like that?”

“I didn’t.” Brandon’s shoulders slumped.

“Not the way it played out, at least. The higher-ups wanted to run a security drill - test our communication protocols to see how field agents handled compromised intel.

When you filed your mating papers, listing Billy as next of kin, they suggested it was also a good time to test out how long a mated wolf could be out on a mission.

“Previous team members have all left when they’ve found their mates, usually because the mates think the work is too dangerous.

It causes problems every time it happens.

You know how cohesive our teams need to be to work effectively.

When someone leaves, that’s a big issue.

The thinking in head office was that if we could find a way to keep those skills within the organization…

we needed to know how you would cope. Rapid volunteered to mess with the communications side of things and keep us updated on your mental state and team interactions. ”

“Of course he did,” Billy muttered. “He was probably monitoring how many times you went to the bathroom.”

“I admit he went off-script,” Brandon continued. “The personal messages, trying to undermine your bond - none of that was authorized. You have to believe me. Matings are sacred and we, as an organization, recognize that. We had no idea what Rapid was doing until you burst into his room that day.”

Cord felt Billy’s hand tighten on his. His mate was practically vibrating with indignation.

“So fire him,” Billy said simply. “He abused his position for personal gain. In the corporate world, that gets you blacklisted.”

Brandon’s laugh held no humor. “If only it were that simple. Rapid’s got connections, a stellar field record despite his many personal issues, and he knows where too many bodies are buried - figuratively speaking.”

“Then what?” Cord demanded. “He gets a slap on the wrist after my omega mate spent days thinking I’d abandoned him and worse, was busy screwing someone else when I told him I was on a mission?”

“No.” Brandon’s voice went hard. “Rapid’s been suspended pending a full investigation. He’ll undergo a psychological evaluation, and he’s banned from any missions involving you or the team. But...”

“But?” Billy prompted when Brandon trailed off.

“But the organization wants to keep this in-house. No formal charges, no paper trail that could compromise our operations.”

Cord’s wolf snarled. But before he could speak, Billy shot to his feet.

“Unacceptable.” His omega’s voice shook, but not with fear – he was furious. “How can you even think about sweeping this under the rug? Rapid works on an omega rescue team , and who was he abusing with his messages? Me. An omega. Make that make sense.”