Page 24 of Omega Tricked

“I guess.”

I grabbed the towels off the towel rack and tossed them on the bottom of the tub. “Use those as a cushion. That will make you more comfortable.” I forced a smile. “Sleep.”

He looked ready to doze off just sitting there. “Okay. Maybe I will.”

I helped him back into the tub, since it was really the only halfway comfortable place to sleep. Once he was settled, I sat beside the tub, bracing my back against the wall.

“I feel bad that you’re on the floor,” he mumbled.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” I shrugged. “I’ve slept in far worse places.” As the words left my mouth, I realized that probably wasn’t a very normal thing to say. But I truly had slept in worse places. When I’d been younger, I’d wanted nothing more than to impress Dad. He’d had me sleep in rat-infested warehouses and grimy hotels, telling me it built character. As I’d gotten older, I’d realized he’d probably just found it funny to put me through that shit. Maybe a part of him had believed it would toughen me up, but it didn’t seem like something a loving father should put his son through. But then, Corbin Sabine had always been an enigma to me and everyone else.

He frowned. “You have?”

I laughed. “Depending on the city, Motel 6 can be pretty sketchy.”

He didn’t smile; he simply watched me in silence. I hated it when he went quiet because I had no idea what he was thinking. I relaxed a little when he slumped into the tub and closed his eyes.

“I’m so glad I’m not alone anymore,” he whispered.

My stomach clenched, and some strange instinct made me reach out to brush the hair off his forehead. He opened his eyes at my touch, looking surprised. I pulled my hand back. “Sorry.”

He blinked at me, but then the tension left his face. “It’s okay. It felt kind of nice. Reassuring.”

Reassuring. I’m the reassuring kidnapper. Fuck. I’m an asshole.

“I’m glad you feel better with me here.” Oddly enough, I wasn’t actually lying. Iwasgetting a sort of pleasure out of comforting him. Was this what people with Munchausen syndrome experienced? Was I some sick fuck who thought breaking someone down to their lowest point was fine, so long as I then brought them back to a happy place? I’d done many bad things in my life, but this was a new low, even for me.

He closed his eyes again, and soon his breathing became slow and even. I studied him, taking in the beauty of his relaxed features. His lashes were dark compared to the soft auburn hair on his head. His lips were full and his nose perfect. I found myself fascinated with staring at him, and it puzzled me. I almost felt…attractedto him. But that made no sense because I wasn’t into men. I was into women. Always had been.

I pulled my gaze away and shook my head. It was no doubt just my alpha instincts kicking in. I couldn’t help feeling protective of an omega in need. He was vulnerable, and I would have had to be a heartless bastard not to feel remorse for how I’d treated him.

I am a heartless bastard, so why do I care?

He’d be fine once we made our big break for freedom. There was no permanent damage done. Once we escaped, hopefully he’d take me to the compound. There, he could lick his wounds, and I could sniff out information about whether or not Dad had been inside those walls. People didn’t disappear into thin air, and Dad especially wasn’t someone who you could get the drop on easily. He was a mean, tough son of a bitch, and if he was missing for this long, something bad had happened. I didn’t want to think the worst, but I was a realist. I could see Dad walking away from me before he’d walk away from his beloved crooked empire.

But something told me Dad hadn’t walked away at all. Not willingly.

Chapter Nine

Dylan

I snapped my eyes open, panicked as I sensed someone else in the dark bathroom. I sat up and recognized the outline of Lex next to the tub. Relief flooded me as I remembered that Lex had been kidnapped too. There wasn’t a thug sneaking up on me; it was simply Lex. By some miracle, I wasn’t facing this nightmare alone anymore.

“You okay?” he asked softly.

“Yes.” I rubbed my face, wincing as the movement stretched the cuts on my wrists. “I forgot you were here.”

He didn’t respond. What could he say? That he was happy to be here? My bones ached, and I shifted my position. “We should switch off. You take the tub for a while.”

“No.” His voice was firm.

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not tired.”

I sighed and sat up cross-legged in the large tub. “How long did I sleep?”

“Not sure exactly, but it seemed like hours?”