Page 77 of Omega Tricked

Charles came out of the car throwing punches and swearing. I’d never seen Charles this angry. He was a terrifying sight, his eyes red-rimmed and his muscled shoulders bunched. He looked half out of it, but he was still trying to fight. I respected him even more, but I was afraid he was going to get himself killed. Hank seemed to enjoy hurting people, and he was smiling when he punched an already struggling Charles in the face. Charles landed in a heap on the dirt, and Gabriele surprised me when he moved in front of Charles, holding out a defensive hand.

“Hank, knock it off. We need him alive and conscious.” Gabriele’s blue eyes flashed a warning.

“Yeah, Jesus. Don’t kill him.” Lex shook his head, looking disgusted.

Hank spit on the dirt near Charles and stomped into the house. I moved forward, and Gabriele and I helped Charles to his feet. I was worried about Charles because his eyes were glassy. I knew the only reason he was even standing was pure stubbornness.

“Is there ice here?” I asked gruffly, giving Lex a cold look.

He didn’t seem to notice my angry glance. “I have no idea. I was with you, remember?”

“Oh, yeah. I remember,” I hissed.

His face was blank, but I didn’t think I imagined the pink flush that washed over his face. He turned to Gabriele. “Is there ice?”

“Yeah. I bought a bag to chill the beer.”

Shaking his head, Lex moved toward the house. “I’ve been working my ass off, and you two have been sitting around drinking beer. Perfect.”

“Hey, I got ice and beer in caseyouwanted that,” Gabriele grumbled. “I figured you could use a drink after being cooped up in that nuthouse.”

Lex grimaced. “Oh.”

Charles scowled at Gabriele. “Get your hands off me, scumbag.”

Gabriele rolled his eyes. “I let go of you and you’ll fall.”

Charles didn’t seem convinced, and he jerked his arm from Gabriele’s grasp. Gabriele scowled and watched the alpha, his hands on his hips. “Suit yourself, dumb-ass.”

Once Gabriele was no longer helping to support Charles, that left only me. I tipped sideways and just about went down with Charles. Moving swiftly, Lex grabbed Charles’s other arm just in time, or we’d have both hit the dirt. His reward was a string of obscenities from Charles.

It took a few minutes to get up the porch stairs because Charles was struggling against Lex, but eventually we had Charles inside the house. Hank tied him to a chair in the middle of the empty living room. I glanced around at the barnlike room, taking in cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling and peeling yellow wallpaper. I shivered, and stood near Charles, resting my hand on his broad shoulder. I didn’t want to leave him because I was afraid of what they’d do to him.

“It’s okay, Dylan. We’ll be fine,” Charles reassured me.

My eyes stung because he was trying to reassure me, but he was barely conscious. I gave Lex another hateful glance, and he looked away. I couldn’t believe he was the same man I’d trusted. It seemed inconceivable to me that he could have concealed this horrible side of himself. What was wrong with me that I couldn’t seem to see when an alpha was a piece of shit? Charles had tried to warn me, along with Dr. Peters. I hadn’t listened; instead I’d been completely fooled once again.

Gabriele walked over with a ragged towel filled with ice. He held it up to the egg-sized bump on Charles’s head, and the alpha grunted. Gabriele gave a funny smile as he watched Charles. “Does it hurt?” he asked with a smirk.

“No,” growled Charles.

Gabriele shook his head. “I knew you’d say that.”

“Takes more than some pussy hitting me with a gun to keep me down,” Charles snapped.

Gabriele said, “Yeah, I can see that. You’re a real tough guy.”

“Yeah,” Charles rumbled. “I am.”

Gabriele met Lex’s gaze. “Such a macho man. Whew, is it hot in here, or is it just me?”

Lex looked annoyed. “Knock it off, Gabriele. Stop yanking the guy’s chain.”

“Why?” Gabriele laughed. “It’s fun.”

“I wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole,” slurred Charles.

“Now you’re just bragging.” Gabriele snorted.