Page 58 of Omega Tricked

“Focus, Gabriele.” The irony of me lecturing him about keeping his mind on the job was not lost on me. I’d have been lying if I didn’t admit all I could think about was spending my last day here with Dylan. I’d never see him again after tomorrow, and oddly enough that bothered me.

“I’ll fill Hank in on the plan.”

“How’s he been behaving?”

Gabriele’s voice lowered. “He’s gone out a few times at night. I have no idea what he’s doing, and I don’t even want to know.”

“The guy’s a pig,” I hissed.

I still needed to deal with Hank when we got back to our home base in the city of Turbin. He wasn’t the kind of person I wanted around. I’d probably have to give him a nice chunk of change to make him go away. Hopefully he’d take it. I didn’t want him around anymore. Not after how he’d treated Dylan. If I hadn’t stumbled on him that day in the parking lot of the Purple Pooch, God knew what he’d have done to Dylan. My blood boiled just thinking about that.

“How’s the kid?” Gabriele asked. “Recovered from his ordeal?”

“He’s good.”

Maybe there was something in my tone because he laughed. “You have a soft spot for him. I can tell.”

“He’s a nice kid.”

“Yeah, but it’s more than that.”

I hardened my jaw. “He’s a means to an end.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, boss.”

My face warmed. “I have to go.”

“Sure you do. The conversation is just getting interesting.”

“You have an overactive imagination.”

He chuffed. “I’m not surprised you’re in denial. You don’t want to care about anyone. You think that makes you weak.”

“Thanks for the psychoanalysis, but I’m not really in the mood.”

He sighed. “Your dad really did a number on you, Lex.”

“I suggest you focus on what we need to do the day after tomorrow. You’re the one who told me the men needed closure. Once Charles admits to killing Dad and he pays the price, we can all move on.”

“Have you given any more thought to taking over for your dad?”

“My thoughts on that haven’t changed.”

He sighed. “I wish you’d rethink that.”

“I said I’d step in and find out what happened to Dad. If anything, this has just reminded me how much I hate this world. I don’t like the deceit.”

“This is because of Dylan, isn’t it?”

I hesitated. “He’s a part of it of course. He’s the main person I’ve had to lie to. I don’t like it. He doesn’t deserve to be used like I’m doing. I’m hoping I can leave here and do what we need to do without him ever realizing the extent of my deceit.”

“How’s that work?

“I’m telling Charles the truth right before we take him. It’s not like he’ll have a chance to tell Dylan anything I say. Dylan never has to know the kidnapping was faked.”

“True.”

“Dylan has had some terrible things happen to him. I’d prefer not to be one of those things.”