Page 63 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Twelve

Viktor

I've never been one to hold back. What you see is what you get, but as I watch Anastasia fidget everything in me wants to lie to spare her feelings.

I'm also old enough to know nothing good can come from hiding the truth, even if you're trying to protect someone you love.

Anastasia isn't weak. She's dealt with more pain than most omegas have to face during their entire life—both physically and emotionally.

I know some have it worse, but a whole lot have it better. I fucking hate that she had to live through the shit she did.

Her eyes drop to her lap as she picks at her thumbnail.

I don't want to hurt her any more deeply than she's already been damaged by the events that took Katarina Androff's life.

Anastasia is goddamn lucky she survived. If Soren hadn't hunted down and murdered the bastards, then I would have.

However, they've been dead for three years.

It's hard to tell if Androff planned his wife and daughter's murders specifically to cover up his betrayal to the Ivanov Family, or if he always planned to murder them and it was a happy coincidence that it covered his true reason for defecting.

Honestly, I couldn't care less.

That part is Soren's problem. Similar to Keeley, Androff's new wife.

The poor thing is barely nineteen, but she'll be a widow before she's twenty. Before the week is out, otherwise I'll have to make another trip to New York.

I know Anastasia doesn't realize she has a new stepmother—a gift from the Barrett Family via Byron Frasier. I never spoke to the woman, but it's pretty clear that she wasn't there by choice.

Which is something Ivanov doesn't abide. Androff may have gotten away with his deception and crimes for the better part of four years, but retribution is coming.

"Vik?" Anastasia whispers. "He did, didn't he?"

"Yeah, princess. He did," I agree.

Fuck, how I wish I didn't have to tell her that. She was pretty incoherent when she confessed her fears that her father tried to have her murdered, and I don't know any alpha who could hear that and not skirt the line of going feral.

Sure, I didn't take her with me because of the risk of her being hurt, but an even bigger part of me needed to ensure she wasn't around if my monster came out. I'd do a lot of heinous things in defense of the people I love.

I pull her closer to my chest, running my hand over her back.

"And you're sure he's going to die?" Anastasia asks.

"I believe justice will catch up to your father rather swiftly. You gave me all the pieces of the puzzle and, as we've already discussed, I grew up very similarly to you. I reached out to my cousin. You may know the name. Soren Nikolov?"

Ana sucks in a sharp breath, pushing against my chest.

"You're related to Soren? Ivanov's enforcer? They call him 'The Slow Death'. He's a monster."

"I'm aware that's what your father told you, but as you know, he can't be trusted. Why would you believe his word on this?" I ask, pulling her back into my chest.

"He kills indiscriminately," she hisses, slamming her palms into my pecs.

"No more of that, princess," I bark, swatting her ass. She struggles for a few more seconds and finally shakes her head.

Anastasia blinks up at me, chewing away at her lower lip. "My father said Ivanov was to blame for my mother's death."

I hate that she doesn't mention her attack. The events are synonymous, but she tends to shy away from recalling what happened to her.

"He said that my mom was collateral in their war; if Ivanov protected his people she'd still be alive."

"I believe your father had already sold out prior to her murder.

However, it was a convenient excuse. To be fair I'm surprised Ivanov didn't have him taken out years ago, right after he defected.

I suppose that speaks to some level of friendship or guilt.

Or maybe it's pure luck your father survived for as long as he has.

But I can assure you, his luck is running out. "

"What's in the box, Vik?" Ana asks, linking her fingers with mine. She's so damn tender as she runs her thumb over my pulse.

"It wouldn't be a very good surprise if I told you." I stretch to grab it, placing the heavy thing in Anastasia's lap.

She takes the box and opens it like it's truly a treasure. There's a black and silver ribbon around it and she carefully pulls it then sets it to the side. She rips open the top and frowns at the tissue paper.

"Open it carefully," I recommend.

Anastasia's hands dip inside, pulling out the tissue-paper-wrapped gift.

I put the box aside as she opens the paper.

Her hands tremble violently as she runs her hand over the top of the dark wooden jewelry box.

The edges are wavy and it's heavy as hell despite only being about a foot wide by eighteen inches.

"How?" she whispers. Her eyes are huge as she chews at her lower lip. "Vik, how did you get this?"

I run my fingers over her cheek.

"I'll tell you the details if you truly want to know, but that's another issue where I'd prefer to keep the details sparse."

Anastasia blinks and fat tears trail from her eyes. "My mom gave this to me for my thirteenth birthday." She pops the hinge lid and digs under one of the jewelry cushions. She pulls out a small key and opens the bottom drawer.

My jaw falls.

Anastasia ignores the left side completely and pulls a tiny heart-shaped box out of the back corner.

"My part of my mom's ashes," Ana sobs. "Ohmigod, Vik. Thank you!"

The jewelry box settles on the nest mattress as she twists, wrapping her arms around my neck and crying into my throat. I'm still a little fucking shocked by what's in the other side of the box. No goddamn wonder it was so heavy.

"Shh, you're okay, princess," I murmur as she wraps her legs around my back.

"I never expected…" Ana whimpers. "How? I know my father wouldn't give it willingly."

No, he most certainly would not. Markov Androff is a vile son of a bitch.

"I met with your father to discuss a few things," I say truthfully. "While he and his minions were busy with me, I had some old friends drop by your house."

Anastasia leans back and pulls the heart-shaped jewelry-box between us. She pops it open and there's a miniature urn inside. It has a hummingbird and a flower etched into the design. Ana runs her finger over it carefully.

"Thank you," she says softly. "I can't explain how much this means to me."

My forearm wraps around her head, pulling her back into my chest. Her warm breath puffs out against my throat, making my cock throb. Now isn't the time for that, but holy fucking shit, I missed the hell out of her.

"Did you know about the gold bars?" I ask because, yeah, my mind is still stuck on the fact the heavy-ass box has mini gold bars in different sizes filling the bottom drawer.

Anastasia didn't blink twice at them meaning it's highly likely she knew of their existence. Which is fucking nuts. I've seen powerful people horde riches, but Ana went for her mother's ashes not the thousands of dollars of gold.

"Yeah. They were birthday gifts from my mom. Some were gifts from her family pack that she passed down to me," Anastasia says, putting her mother's ashes back in the jewelry box and closing it up. "Thank you, did I even say that?"

"You did," I assure her.

I wrap my arms around her, holding her tightly to my chest. She sounds a little dazed and out of it.

"I can't really believe that you got me that box," Ana says. She stretches up and marks my cheek with her scent. "You're so fluffy I feel like I'm barely touching any skin."

My hands land on her hips as I stare into her eyes. "Do you forgive me for leaving?"

Anastasia blinks up at me. Her hand rubs over my chest and then she's pinching the ever-loving hell out of my nipple.

"Damn, princess," I grumble, swatting her hand away.

Anastasia laughs. "Sorry, I had to get that last bit of anger out. Do you know how badly I hurt, wondering why you left like that?"

"I'm sorry," I murmur, nuzzling my cheek to the top of her head. "I thought I was clear that I would be back as fast as possible and that…" I swallow.

The words are right on the tip of my tongue, but I chicken out.

I say, "I care about you, Ana."

Anastasia nods, licking her lips.

"Sorry to interrupt," Cas says, holding my phone out. He climbs up the stairs to the nest. "Your phone has been going off non-stop for the last fifteen minutes."

"Shit," I grumble. My lips brush hers and I gently lift her, placing her back on the nest mattress. "Stay with her. Let me see what's up."

Cas nods his agreement as I head down the stairs and out of the nest.

It takes about three seconds to realize the shit just hit the fan in a big way.