Page 21 of Spark (Damselverse #2)

Chapter twenty-one

Xavier

I hold Zara close to my purring chest just as Nolan comes through the door.

“What happened? Zara, I got your call. Why…?”

His eyes burn violet when they settle on me. No doubt he has finally caught up.

“You told her…” he growls. “After I—”

“No. Don’t you get angry with him. I’m glad he told me. And you should have told me, too! My grandma is alive!”

Well, she might be. That's the keyword here. But even might can offer a little hope.

A deadly silence settles over the room as Zara's words echo. Dacre comes in from behind Nolan next, his eyes wide when they find Zara. “What’s going on?”

I sigh, “She knows, D.”

His eyes simmer like the fires he puts out. “Why?”

I meet his flaming glare. “Because I told her, that's why. I thought she had a right to know that her grandma is still out there.”

“What exactly did you see?” Zara marches up to Dacre, gripping his shirt. “Tell me what you saw!”

The Omega is desperate, her sclera wide and visible as she holds on to Dacre, and every Alpha in the room purrs for her. And not to brag, but mine's the loudest.

Dacre closes his eyes. “Zara…”

“Tell me!” she cries, squeezing his shirt even tighter.

Dacre glances at Nolan. Thelatter is rubbing at an oncoming headache, and he's at a complete loss. He screwed up, and he knows it.

Dacre peers back down at Zara. “I spied on the Wolf’s hideout. The Pigs came out, and… they had an old lady with them. A feisty old lady… She called them… cunts .”

Zara’s eyes widen. Then she staggers back, losing her footing. Luckily, I capture her in my arms.

“That’s Grandma…” she whispers.

Nolan starts, “Zara, you don’t know that.”

She whirls on him. “But I do! I know my grandma, Nolan, and if I say it is her, then it is her. Besides, who else would she be? It’s me the Wolf wants to torture after all.”

Nolan sighs. “We will think this through first. No need to do anything rash.”

But Zara barely hears him as she wriggles out of my grip and paces the room. That’s when an idea comes to me.

It may just work… My twin has been trying to recruit me for the past few years after all. He wants to make his organization a family -run business, but I turned down every one of his offers.

Zara's face turns beet red as she makes her final stand. “I can’t just sit back while my grandma is out there alone and frightened. We need to get her away from the Wolf!”

“And we will, love. If you can just trust us… Trust me . I have a plan,” I say.

Nolan eyes me suspiciously. “ What plan?"

“I call one of the Pigs. The smallest one. What’s his name again?” I look at Zara.

She crosses her arms, shivering at the memory of that Beta. My Alpha growls when he sees his Omega's reaction.

He hurt her. And for that injustice, I will hurt him even more…

“George,” she replies.

A smirk crosses my lips. “Well, I will get in contact with George. I will tell him I am interested in joining my brother’s organization. Then I will fucking kidnap him and ransom him for your grandma.”

Her face pales, but then she hugs herself further, closing her eyes with a nod. "Do whatever it takes. I… just want her back…"

A soft purr escapes me when I reply, "I know you do, love. Which is why I vow to use myself as bait."

Her answering smile makes my heart quiver, and I know I am making the right choice. Anything to keep my love smiling…

“That won’t work," Dacre chimes in next. "What makes you so sure the Wolf even gives a shit about this George?”

I shrug. “Well, only one way to find out. Perhaps the Wolf values his goons.”

Even if he doesn’t take the bait, it’s a risk I’m willing to take. There’s a chance that the Pig’s brothers will break protocol just to get him back.

Maybe they will go so far as to go behind their boss’s back.

“What are the other Pigs called?” I ask Zara.

She shudders again, and the more she recoils, the more I am eager to see this plan through.

“Napoleon and Will.”

“Then it’s decided. I will call George and set up a meeting in secret. If he thinks he can get in his boss’s good graces by luring his twin into the organization, then let us proceed.”

The others regard me with a mixture of confusion and apprehension. Zara sucks in a breath, coming up to stand before me. “Good luck. George can be quite twisted.”

An actual snort escapes me, and maybe they should call me a pig. “Are you serious, love? I’d fucking roast that Pig on a pit before I let him get his hands on you again. But trust me, I am willing to get my hands dirty if it gets your grandmother back.”

A tear tracks down Zara's cheek, and then she steps closer, wrapping her arms around my waist. She presses her head to my chest to listen to my purr, closing her eyes.

Now we all wait for Nolan's response. In the end, he concedes, giving me the go-ahead. Not that I needed his permission, anyway.

I was going to go after George whether he liked it or not.

“Fine," Nolan sighs. "But keep him away from the house.”

A dark chuckle escapes me. “Oh, don’t worry. I know the perfect location to keep our guest.”

Did they think the gallery in our house was my only one? I have a secret hideout myself, and it’s about time I paid it another visit.

Before I leave the house, I grab my Omega, pressing her flush to my chest. Then I plant a passionate kiss on her lips. “Don’t worry, love. I will get your grandmother back. And by Christmas, we will all be snapping wishbones together.”

She bows her head, and tears drip down her cheeks. I kiss them away, and then with one last kiss on her head, I depart.

I turn to my pack brothers. I came to America to find my twin, yet I found these two sorry saps instead.

Whether they like it or not, they’re stuck with me.

“Well, good luck,” Nolan says.

I smile and then look at Dacre. He sighs. “Fuck, you really are full of surprises.”

“Likewise," I reply. "Sneaking around my twin’s hideout. Never knew you had it in you, D.”

Dacre grins. “Don’t die now.”

With a roll of my eyes, I exit the house, but not before giving my Omega one last glance.

She waves, and I return the gesture, then start on my way.

It’s time to call George.

***

I drag the unconscious little piggy toward the abandoned shed, and once inside, I strap him up to a chair, stepping back to admire my work.

Georgie put up quite the fight. I see why my brother recruited him in the end, but he was still no match for me.

How easily he had taken the bait. George didn't even tell his older brothers about our 'secret' meeting. No doubt he wanted to get ahead in the organization and become my brother's favorite Pig.

I suppose I should call Nolan and Dacre. I have the Pig in my custody. It took less than twenty-four hours to set my plan in motion.

But I have decided that I am going to have my fun with him first.

A memory of Zara shuddering flashes up before me. This swine hurt her. My Alpha can sense it.

George stirs at last, opening his swollen right eye. His mouth is gagged, so he can't make a sound, but he still tries regardless.

Yet no one hears his muffled pig squeals out here.

We're alone.

Now a dark chuckle leaks from my lungs as I step closer, yanking back his greasy hair. Tears stream from his eyes as I tug too hard on the roots of his hair.

"It's time you and I got acquainted, little Georgie…"

The hate spilling from his eyes is almost palpable; I can taste it on my tongue. But I know I am going to enjoy every second of this.

This is for you, love.