Page 86 of Retribution

“Well, it is. I want you to decorate your mini house when it’s finished being put together.”

“A three bedroom house with a loft isn’t exactly mini,” I tease him, getting into bed with him.

Lucas covers our legs with a blanket and shrugs.

“I mean, compared to the main house it is,” he says. “What do you think about Oliver submitting paperwork to the Healthy Pack Organization? It could be added security for Leila.”

“You’re a dirty negotiator,” I accuse, leaning against him.

“I’m willing to let you fly as far as you need to, but another part of me wants to bind you as well so you have to,” he winces.

“I think you should own it,” I tease him. “I have a lot of feelings about this, but I also know that I want to be with you. I missed you while you and Grant were gone, and I disliked being away from you for work. Even though this kill was amazing and Iloved every second of making that asshole realize how badly he’d fucked up in his betrayal.”

“So it’s complicated,” he says, pressing his lips together.

Oh my god, the man is trying not to laugh at me.

“Very cute,” I mutter. “I think the word complicated should have a photo of me beside it in the dictionary.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being multifaceted…”

My raised brow makes him bark out a laugh, startling Leila. Pulling off the bottle she begins to wail, and Lucas looks as if he may join her.

“You’re okay,” I croon, laughter threading my voice as I take her from Lucas.

I rub her back and bounce her slightly until she’s reduced to little sniffles.

“All good,” I murmur. “I want to know where I stand with the pack. You all have been so careful, and I’ve loved that. Except, now I think I need more.”

“So paperwork, a name change, and maybe that ring?” he asks.

“Rings have too many places for blood to get stuck in,” I sigh. “I don’t think I’ll ever be a ring girl.”

“How do you feel about bites?” he asks soberly. “We can work up to them, but I know that I want you forever.”

“Yes,” I breathe. “It’s so fucked up. I want the bites, but I’m scared of the rest of what it means to be an omega. Slick, heats, wanting knots.”

“That’s because it was twisted against you,” Lucas says. “I swear, it’s not like that.”

“You’ve helped an omega through her heat?” I ask, not knowing if I should be jealous yet.

“That’s also complicated, but I did. She is happily packed up with her alphas in Minnesota now. It made me realize what I’m missing. You know Oliver, Alesso, and I met through very oddcircumstances. Slick Dreams is where that happened, and we all helped an omega through her heat. It’s why I know how terrible their living conditions can be,” he confesses. “If you want to end the bitch who sold you, I have no problems helping.”

“Even if it means hanging out with Leila so I can go?” I ask softly. Not all heroes wear capes, and sometimes they wear burp cloths and a baby.

“Yes,” he says. “I’d prefer if you take at least Grant though. I don’t want you to go alone.”

“I’ve been thinking about how I’d want to do this, and I’m still working through it. I don’t want Jefferson City Auctions to be functional by the time I’m done,” I admit.

This is more than I’ve ever been able to tell him, but I know Lucas is trustworthy.

“I hear you like fire,” he smirks. “Let’s try to get this little girl to finish her bottle before she falls asleep.”

Glancing down, I smile. “Too late,” I say.

She’s completely passed out again. Oh well.

“Then, she’ll finish later,” he says, putting the bottle on the nightstand. “As you said, we don’t wake sleeping babies.”