Page 116 of Retribution

I want to wrap our house in bubble wrap and tell the world to fuck off, yet I can’t. There’s clients to tend to and accounts to launder. The difference is that now I do it while playing with an omega’s hair while she works next to me or snuggling a baby.

I fucking love this.

I can’t fall back asleep because my skin feels too tight. It feels as if something is about to change, and my lungs can’t get enough air.

“Alesso,” Oliver murmurs, reaching out to squeeze my leg in his sleep.

Keeping a hand on thebambina, I reach out with the other to run my fingers through his red hair. I’m sure he can feel the tangle of knots that I’m working myself up into, but as someone who tends to hole up, going out into the world feels wrong.

I’m antisocial unless I have to brave social entanglements. I was always surrounded by family in Italy, but it wasn’t the same. I was at people’s homes and safe. There were also more firearms between them all than in most families.

I came by my criminal background honestly.

“I’m okay,” I reply softly.

Lucas jerks in his sleep, and I blink as he sits up as if he’s waking up from a bad dream. Apparently, we’re having difficulties tonight.

It’s currently three in the morning, but I refuse to think of this as an acceptable time to be awake.

“Fuck,” he gasps, looking around. “I figured it out, I think.”

“Lucas, are you sleepwalking?” I ask, confused.

“What?” He twists to look over at me, his hair wild and his eyes wide.

“What are you talking about?” I ask. “What did you figure out?”

“The permanent blocker to keep someone from forcing a heat,” he grunts. “I keep dreaming about being in the lab, trying out different compounds to see what will work. I think I’ve got it, I just need to see if it translates to the real world.”

Well shit. Lucas Reid is scary smart, and he even looks the part of the mad scientist as he gets up and drags on clothes over his naked body. It’s a great ass and it distracts me until I force myself to respond to his words.

“I think you broke me with that,” I admit. “Your brain is even sexy. The world is so lucky that you’re not an evil person.”

“The world wouldn’t be able to handle it,” he winks, looking a bit more awake. “Basically, I’ve been working on the different possible solutions for Isolde’s problem. I want her with me today, but not at her expense.”

“Do you have this knot in the pit of your stomach too?” I ask, wincing. “I can’t sleep.”

“I do. A part of me wants to tell her to just forget it,” Lucas says. “The other, says fuck that. There’s no real danger that we know of. It’s just this odd feeling. I refuse to let that dictate my actions. We’ll have a security detail and Grant.”

“What about me?” Grant asks.

“Why is everyone awake?” I sigh.

“I’m going for a run so I can go back to sleep,” he admits. “I got up to take a piss and now I’m unable to go back to sleep. I’d just steal our girl, but she looks really fucking comfortable. Not even I’m that much of an asshole.”

“Good to know,” I smirk.

“What’s your excuse, Lucas?” Grant asks, watching as he pulls on his boots.

“The lab is calling,” he says urgently, grabbing his coat. “If you feel the need to walk me the five feet there, get your ass moving.”

“Damn. Yes, sir,” Grant mutters. “We are in the presence of greatness, Alesso. I haven’t seen him this worked up in a while.”

“It’s been too long since I’ve had a chance to dig into something. Corporate culture has a way of sucking the fun out of things, even when you know you’re making an impact,” Lucas says.

“So find a way to balance it,” I suggest. “I don’t know how that would work, but this excitement looks good on you.”

Lucas grins at me before leaving the room and Grant follows closely behind, already dressed. It takes a while, but I’m finally able to doze for a bit before it’s time to get up.