Page 14 of Retribution

“Do you know who Oliver Carew is?” she asks.

I shake my head, unsure where this question is coming from. I know a lot of Olivers, but there’s only one that I don’t know his last name. I only have a phone number, and even that could be a burner. I get periodic messages from an unknown number that I would bet my life savings is him, but I never respond.

I don’t know how to tell him that I think about Makayla’s heat and them often.

“I don’t know anyone by that name,” I say honestly. “Did he do something to deserve your employer’s wrath?”

The girl walks closer to me, her dark eyes mesmerizing me.

“I need…more information I think,” she murmurs, her hand taking mine.

“Do you?” I ask, feeling a pinch between my thumb and forefinger. My gloves are in my pockets, and darkness begins to fill my vision. “Fuck…”

“No thank you,” the girl says, watching as my knees buckle. All the while, she continues to squeeze the pressure point that’s stealing my consciousness away.

I’m not going to be very happy when I wake up.

Isolde

I didn’t enjoy loading the huge alpha into the van I stole from the back alley, but it had to be done. I left before Lucas’ bodyguard could return. I’m not dumb, I know that the shop owner called him. I saw the look that they shared together. I honestly didn’t expect Lucas to be so well respected.

Picking up the phone, I call Nico as I drive to a warehouse to get some answers.

“Nico,” I purr, dropping all semblance of niceties. It’s very clear that he’s been lying to me. “You are on my shit list, sir.”

“Me?” he asks, swallowing hard.Tell. “What did you find out?”

“I have Lucas in a van, with enough duct tape wrapped around him that he’s not going to be very happy that he can’t move,” I explain. “You have me poking a very unhappy bull. He says he doesn’t know who Oliver Carew is.”

“Then why is he fucking people with him?” Nico yells. “I will admit that they don’t live together and they haven’t been seen hanging out since. Are you trying to tell me that this straightlaced CEO is fucking omegas with strangers?”

“I think he is,” I murmur. “I now have a possibly innocent alpha in the trunk of my stolen van, Nico. I am not pleased about this.”

“I know, fuck,” he groans. “Oliver is fucking up my life. He gives my enemies information if they’re willing to pay for it, and it’s fucking with my businesses.”

“With all due respect, unless he’s doing something nefarious, your businesses aren’t really my problem. Aren’t you in deep shit with the Minneapolis mafia?” I ask.

See, I can do my research. I just neglected to dig deep enough into the alphas Nico has me trailing. That was definitely my mistake.

“Yes, but I’ll figure it out,” Nico mumbles. God, he’s like a child who got his hand caught in the cookie jar.

“I can’t work like this,” I decide. “I quit, Nico. You will also give me severance for your stupidity. Effective immediately.”

“Wait, you can’t quit,” he says. It sounds as if the very breath is being pulled from his lungs, but I refuse to work with liars.

“I believe I just did. I also want clean up pay, because now I have to fix your fucking mess, Nico.”

“Fuck my life,” he complains. “Fine, I’ll send you all of that now. I’ve learned my lesson. Please don’t leave?—”

I hang up as I roll my eyes, because alphas who beg aren’t my kink. I rented a warehouse as soon as I saw that Lucas was in Indianapolis today. It’s much easier to kidnap a big, strong alpha from busy streets than a smaller town where everyone notices the new person who doesn’t belong.

Especially when that person looks like me. I stand out no matter where I am during the day, but blend well in the darkness.

“Mmmph,” Lucas grunts from the back of the van as I hit the button to open the garage of the warehouse. I’ll have to use a sedative on him, string him up, and then ditch the van.

“I hear ya,” I call out. It’s rude not to acknowledge him, right?

Pulling into the wide area, I pull out a syringe from my jacket. I keep one on me at all times. I’ll need to get the rest of mygear from my rental car, but this will work for now. Clicking the remote so the door will close behind us, I wait until it’s headed toward the ground before hopping out with the syringe in my hand. Opening the back door of the van, I duck as Lucas kicks out at me with his bound feet.