Page 17 of Coyote Underground (Monsters of New York #9)
The Plan
L orenzo
I wake to an empty bed, realizing I slept harder than I expected.
I stretch a hand across the wrinkled sheets and find them cold.
Wondering how late it is, I sit up and stretch my arms over my head.
Sunlight streams through the curtains, washing the room in a soft glow. I cock my head, listening for my pack.
I don’t hear anything, but that doesn’t surprise me.
It’s going to be a busy day. Which pushes me to get up and move.
I pad down the hall to my room, not seeing anyone.
Opting for a quick shower, I grab what I’ll need and head into my bathroom.
While I shower and prepare for what’s coming, I let my mind wander.
Everything has changed so much in such a short time. It’s not like Ana Sofia is a stranger to us, but in a way, we don’t know her very well. And we’ve claimed her already. Being officially mated is a strange sensation. I can feel her along the mate bond.
I wish we had the fabled connection from our childhood stories.
In those tales, fated mates could communicate telepathically.
As far as I know, there’s no such ability in modern day, but wouldn’t that be fantastic?
Then there’d be no reason for my hands to shake when I consider my Omega is about to walk into danger without me by her side.
My breath hitches, and I let the tears fall, the warm water masking them.
I step under the spray with my eyes closed.
After a few minutes, I have a strange sensation, as if I’m being watched.
I turn the water off and reach for my towel to dry my face.
It’s not there. I wipe the water from my eyes the best I can, then open them to find Ana Sofia staring at me, holding my towel.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, suddenly worried that something has happened.
“You’re upset,” she answers quietly. “Worried about today. It’s okay, Lorenzo, we all are.” She hands me the towel and I dry myself off before stepping out. Before I have a chance to get dressed, Ana Sofia wraps her arms around me, holding me tightly.
I don’t know how she figured out what I’m feeling, but her arms around me help to ease the anxiety. By the time she lets me go, I feel better about everything. We can do this. We will save Valerie. And then, our family will be safe.
“Thank you. I have no idea how you knew I needed you, but I did. I do,” I say with a smile.
“I can’t explain it. I felt your worry and sadness. It practically dragged me up here to you.” The look she gives me is part confusion, part relief. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt. I would have been so pissed at you.”
I laugh at her statement, because I believe her. “You would have hurt me worse, huh?”
Her laughter is answer enough, and I pull her into my arms again for a hug. When I release her, I reach for my clothes and start getting dressed. As much as I want her, I know this isn’t the time. I won’t do anything to mess this plan up.
****
A na Sofia
Feeling other people’s emotions is a new thing for me. I’ve heard of packs being that close, but never expected it to happen to me. Finding Lorenzo crying in the shower because he’s worried about protecting me and saving my sister touched me in a way I didn’t think was possible.
I’m concerned that my pack will decide I’m crazy if I tell them I can feel their emotions.
Hell, I wonder if I’m crazy. But Lorenzo seems thrilled that I managed to comfort him without him asking.
Honestly, I kinda like that too. Having a deep, meaningful connection with my pack is something I’ve always craved as an Omega.
As strange as it is, I decide to embrace the feeling, enjoying that I can tell how each of them is feeling. Once I figure out whose feelings are whose, that is.
With Lorenzo calmed down, I head down to the basement apartment and start unpacking some of Val’s things that Isaac had brought over. I want to give my pack time to go over the plan and contact whoever they need to in order to make sure of the exact time the shipment is leaving.
I need some time to myself with purpose, so I don’t start freaking out about everything. I have to distract my mind so I’ll stop asking why these people took my sister and what they could possibly be doing with her. The possibilities are all horrendous.
What if she’s being forced to do unspeakable sex acts to some disgusting Alpha? I can’t stand that thought. I shake my head and try to focus on unpacking the boxes that line the walls of her new space. This will be a fresh start for both of us, and I don’t want to waste it.
As I unpack her clothes, I decide to wash them. What’s a fresh start without clean clothes? Getting laundry started is a good distraction. By the time anyone comes to find me, I have three loads washed, dried, folded, and I’m in the middle of putting them all away.
“You should come have some lunch,” Diego says from the doorway. I think it’s sweet how he doesn’t walk into my sister’s bedroom, even though it’s his house.
“Is it lunchtime already? Wow, I must have been focused.” I reach over and grab the remote, turning off the music I’d been playing while I worked.
“It is. We didn’t want to bother you, since it looked like you were occupied and not worrying about things for a bit. Zac came down to check on you. Zo went to get pizza, he’s on his way back now,” Diego says, holding a hand out for me.
I walk over and thread my fingers through his. “I hope he didn’t get anything weird on it, like pepperoni or peppers,” I manage with a straight face.
Diego’s eyes go wide. “But I thought—” he starts before I hold up a hand to stop him.
I can’t hold back my laughter at his terrified expression. “I was kidding. He knows exactly what I like on my pizza. I haven’t figured out how, but he seems to know everything I like to eat.”
****
D iego
After lunch, we go over the plan again. I’m sick of rehashing it, but we have to be sure we know exactly what to do and when. The ship is leaving at seven this evening, so we only have a few hours to finish our preparations.
Going over the route again, I let myself get distracted staring at Ana Sofia. I wish there was some guarantee that I’m doing the right thing. I don’t realize I’ve trailed off mid-sentence until a few minutes later.
“Diego? Are you okay?” she asks.
I shake myself to snap out of the fog. “I’m fine. Sorry, I don’t know exactly what happened there. Where was I?” I prepare to pick up the route, but she grabs my arm.
“We’ve already finished going over the route and the plan for the millionth time. Just sit down and relax for a few minutes. We have time,” she insists, nudging me toward the couch.
Glancing at Zac and Zo, they wear matching expressions of concern. I can’t tell if it’s for me or the plan. When I drop onto the couch, the three of them surround me.
“I’ll get you a snack and a drink,” Ana Sofia says, darting off to the kitchen.
“D, I don’t know what happened there, but our girl was on it. She picked up the route from where you stopped, then insisted we go over the entire plan again to give you a minute,” Zo explains.
“Really?” I ask, my voice barely louder than a whisper.
“Yeah, D, and she even made a couple of tweaks to the plan that might make it work better,” Zac says.
Zo looks at me, furrows his brow, then looks at the door. I can tell he wants to talk about something, but doesn’t want Ana Sofia to hear. “What is it?” I ask.
“Do you think we could give her a job? I know it’s my fault she got fired, but maybe it was for the best. She’s really good at the planning part, once she gets comfortable,” he explains his idea.
I nod. “You know she doesn’t have to work.”
“But I think she wants to. Besides, it could be like a consultant thing. She could pick and choose which jobs she helps on. I think she’ll be really good at these types of rescues,” he continues. I completely agree with him, but I won’t force her into anything.
“When this is over and Valerie is safe here at home, we can talk to her about it,” I agree. Zo throws his arms around me, barely managing to slide away before Ana Sofia comes back into the room.
She carries a bowl of fruit and a glass of water. “I didn’t want to overdo it with the sugars, so this is a nice compromise.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking the bowl from her as she sets the water in front of me on the table.
****
A na Sofia
I can tell I’ve interrupted something when I come back with Diego’s snack. I decide to let it go. If it’s important, one of them will tell me about it later. While Diego eats, the other guys and I explain the changes I suggested.
When I finish, I expect him to explain why it won’t work. Instead, he takes my hand and stares at me. “I’m sorry,” he says. Here it comes, I think when he continues. “I never should have underestimated you. Those changes will actually tighten up the route and the timeline. Thank you.”
My eyes go wide. He likes my ideas! I barely contain my surprise as a huge grin spreads across my face. Now all we have to do is go find my sister. Then I’ll have everything I’ve ever wanted.