Page 41 of The Violence of Love (The Black Market Omega #2)

Charlie

Thank goodness, dinner is over.

The second I step outside, I breathe in like I’ve been underwater for hours.

The cool spring air hits my face, but it doesn’t do a damn thing to cool me down.

My skin still burns. My shirt is sticking to my back with sweat, and I’m positive I aged ten years trying to remember which wine glass was which.

And everything hurts.

My back’s tight from sitting up straight for two hours. My stomach aches from the way I kept holding it in. Even my eyes hurt—from all the polite smiling, maybe. Or maybe from not blinking enough while trying not to make direct eye contact with anyone who looked important.

I lean against the stone column outside the entryway and roll my shoulders back, wincing. "Thank god, we survived," I mutter under my breath.

That had to be the tensest meal of my life. And if I had to do it again tomorrow, I’d fake my own death .

I run a hand through my hair and let my head fall back against the stone.

I need one minute of quiet.

Maybe two.

And then I can pretend like I wasn’t two seconds away from a full-blown panic attack over soup spoons.

Slowly, the rest of my pack filters out of the giant mansion, finally catching up.

Myrick’s already laughing about something, probably making fun of someone’s tie.

Rhett’s got his hand on Autry’s back again, gentle but constant, and she’s leaning into it like she’s just as relieved as I am.

She glances around, expression calm, but I can tell by the way she holds herself that her nerves are still jangling beneath the surface.

And Oli…

I spot him a few feet behind me, his body stiff like he's still waiting for something to go wrong. His eyes scan the parking circle like we’re still in enemy territory, and not standing outside a castle-shaped mansion full of drunk CEOs and overpriced chandeliers.

He catches me looking and lifts his brows. Not quite a smile, but almost.

I nod once subtly. He nods back.

I’m so glad he came tonight. There’s something about the alpha that just feels good.

His presence is calming—which I never thought I’d say about an alpha.

Maybe it’s his scent. That cool minty aroma is kind of intoxicating and relaxing at the same time.

It’s not as good as Autry's, just different. And maybe even a little familiar.

“Thanks for helping me back there,” Oli says, and I glance over my shoulder to see who he’s talking to.

To my surprise, Rhett nods as he smooths his hand down his silk tie. “Don’t mention it. I remember how nervous I was when I attended my first black-tie party.”

I’m not totally sure what the relationship is between the two alphas, but I feel like there’s a lot about them I don’t know.

“Hey.” Autry reaches for my hand as we head toward the car. “How are you feeling? You look pale.”

“Good,” I lie. “Just tired.”

“Me too.” She leans into my side, snuggling close as we walk. She feels so good next to me. Warm and soft.

I press my nose to her hair and inhale deeply—but the second her sugar-lemon scent hits my lungs, I choke. It’s too sweet, too thick. It burns.

“Are you okay?” Autry stops us, concern etched across her face.

I stagger away, choking hard as I try to breathe through it. “Fine.” I cough, throat raw and skin prickling. She smells so strong.

Rhett’s at my side in an instant. “Get away from him,” he says sharply, pulling Autry back. Relief hits me hard as I suck in a clean, ragged breath.

“What?” Autry snaps, trying to twist out of his grasp. “No! He’s sick.”

“I know ,” Rhett says firmly. “And omegas have weak immune systems.”

When I finally manage to lift my head, I find Rhett towering between us, protective and tense, while Autry looks furious.

“We need to get you home.” Rhett turns to me and leans down, looking at my face like he might be able to read what’s wrong with me across my forehead. “Do you want me to take you to the hospital?” He cups my cheek, his hand so cool against my burning skin .

“No.” I shake my head but immediately regret it. Everything around me spins, and my stomach lurches. “I’m fine,” I croak out, blinking repeatedly. “I just need to lie down.”

“Alright.” Rhett frowns, but the deep lines between his brows tells me that he’s not happy about it. That he’d rather take me to a doctor. “Tell me if you change your mind,” he whispers so no one else can hear. “I can take you after everyone goes to bed.” He looks deep into my eyes. “Okay?”

I can’t help but love the alpha a little bit more right now. He’s giving me an out, letting me look strong in front of Autry and everyone else, but that’s not why I don’t want to go to the hospital. I really am just tired.

“Thank you,” I whisper and Rhett caresses my cheek before releasing me.

“Let’s get home.” Rhett holds out his arms, pushing a very angry Autry back.

I look at her, hoping she’s not too angry with the alpha. “Rhett’s right,” I tell her. “Just keep your distance, okay?” I pull in a breath of fresh air and try to steady myself, but my whole body aches and my head is pounding.

I really hope I don’t have the flu.

“Come here.” Myrick steps up beside me, his usual light expression shadowed with concern. He presses the back of his hand to my forehead, and his brows knit together. “Charlie, you’re burning up.”

Rhett glances over his shoulder, jaw tight. “We’ll drop Oli off, then get Charlie home.”

“No,” Myrick says with a shake of his head. “We need to get Charlie home now. Oli should stay at our apartment.” He looks up at the alpha with deep concern in his blue eyes. “It’s really late, and we’ve got the space.”

Rhett hesitates, jaw working like he wants to argue. But he looks back at me, then over at Autry, and finally nods. “Alright.”

The elevator ride is quiet, just like the car ride was. Autry was furious when Rhett forced her to sit up and then commanded me into the third row, but I was honestly thankful. I ripped off my jacket and cracked the back window, sucking in fresh air the whole way home.

“Charlie?” Autry reaches for me when the elevator opens, but I rush out, escaping her.

“I’ve got you.” Myrick catches up to me, keys already out of his pocket.

The second we step into the apartment, I make a beeline for the couch. Every part of me hurts—my back, my stomach, even my eyes. The cool spring air from earlier did nothing to help. Being inside is better, but barely.

The door clicks shut behind me, but I don’t really register it. All I can think about is getting to my room and curling up in my own bed where everything’s quiet and it smells like me. Not a sweet omega scent. Not sharp alpha musk. Just me.

Wanting desperately to go to bed, I push off the couch and stagger, falling against the nearest wall. My legs are like lead.

“No, Autry!” Rhett’s voice cuts through the fog in my head, deep and commanding. I flinch and turn, shocked to see Autry right at my back. “Go to our room.”

She turns sharply. “No?—”

“Now.”

He doesn’t yell. He doesn’t have to. His voice dips just enough—alpha-deep and absolute.

I see it hit her like a punch to the gut.

Her lips part in disbelief, and then they press together, trembling with rage.

She wants to argue. I know she does. But she sucks in a deep breath, then she walks past me, Rhett quietly following.

I catch the flash of something in the omega’s eyes before she disappears down the hall. Hurt, maybe. Or guilt.

Myrick hovers beside me, one hand on my back. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you to bed.”

I nod but don’t move. I can’t. The second I try to push away from the wall, my knees buckle. Myrick lunges forward, catching me halfway—but I’m deadweight.

“Shit,” he hisses, trying to support me. Dolly barks somewhere nearby, making me wince. “Oli?—”

“I got him,” Oli says, already moving.

I feel the alpha’s arms slide under me like it’s nothing. One behind my knees, the other at my back. I’m lifted off the ground, pressed against his chest, and every part of me tenses. Not from fear. Not even from pain.

Just...something else.

He smells like cool mint and wet earth. His body is firm, but warm, like he’s radiating heat from the inside out. It sinks through me and my brain’s spinning. I should say something, make a joke, tell him I’m fine—but I’m not fine. I feel awful.

Still, the worst part isn’t the ache in my bones or the dizziness in my head. It’s the weird, restless heat crawling under my skin from touching him. And the way he’s looking at me…

Like I’m prey.

I squeeze my eyes shut, but it doesn’t help. I can still feel it. That stare. Like teeth grazing my throat.

I need a shower. A long one.

And then I need my bed. My blankets. My pillows. My space. Something familiar to hold onto while everything inside me feels off-kilter and wrong.

Oli carries me down the hall like I weigh nothing. I can hear Myrick’s soft steps behind us. Rhett, somewhere deeper in the apartment, saying something low to Autry behind their door.

But I can’t focus on that.

Right now, it’s just the alpha holding me.

And the way I can feel every beat of his heart, like it’s trying to sync up with mine.

Myrick leads the way, flicking on the hallway lights as he goes. “Guest bath,” he murmurs, opening the door wide. “C'mon, let’s get you cleaned up before you crash. You’ll feel better.”

Oli’s still holding me—still solid and silent. I’m too tired to argue, but when we step into the bathroom, a flush of dread creeps up the back of my neck.

Myrick turns on the light. It’s too bright. The mirror’s too big. Everything in here is too much.

“Alright,” Myrick says as Oli sets me on my feet. I sway, scared I’m going to fall over again. “Let’s get this off.” Myrick pulls my shirt, trying to free it from my waistband.

I flinch, trying to twist away from him. “Wait—can I—can I go to bed?”

Myrick pauses. “Charlie, you’re burning up. You need to rinse off at least. Cool your skin.”

I know he’s right. But Oli’s standing behind me, silent as a shadow, his jaw tight, his nostrils flaring with every breath like he’s trying to keep something inside. He hasn’t said a word, and that silence feels too heavy.

My stomach churns.

“I—I’m fine. Really.” I push at the hem of my shirt, tucking it back in. “I just wanna sleep. Please. I can shower later.”

Myrick’s brow furrows. “Charlie?—”

“I’m not dying. Just tired. Please, Myrick.

” I can’t bring myself to look at Oli, but I can feel him behind me, looming like a wall.

I don’t want him to see me like this—stripped down, pale and flushed, skin too soft in all the wrong places.

Not with that body of his standing there, carved like stone.

Myrick stares at me, eyes searching mine. Then he sighs and takes a step back. “Alright. Fine. Bed. But only if you promise to let me help you in the morning.”

“I promise.” My voice is small. Pathetic.

Oli moves behind me. Slowly, the warmth of his body disappears, and I listen, not turning to look until he steps into the hallway.

“Give me one minute,” Myrick says to Oli as he bends down and picks up the dog. “I’ll show you to your room once I get Charlie in bed.”

“Take your time.” Oli’s deep voice drifts toward me, and goosebumps flash up and down my sides.

“Let's get you to your room.” Myrick wraps one arm around my shoulders, then guides me out of the bathroom.

Oli steps to one side, giving us room to edge past him. My whole body tingles when my arm brushes his chest, but I keep my eyes down, not looking up until I reach my room.

I mumble a quick thanks to Myrick, then slip inside, shutting the door behind me before he can say anything else.

Pressed against the door, I wait, listening for Myrick’s footsteps to fade, then I hear Oli’s gruff voice. I hold my breath, then the door right next to my room shuts. He’s next door.

Why does that scare me ?

Slowly turning, I stare at my comfy bed, thankful to finally be home.

My bedside lamp is on, casting soft shadows across the wall.

I kick off my shoes, then awkwardly shimmy out of my slacks, wincing as I pull one sock off and nearly lose my balance.

I crawl under the covers in my wrinkled dress shirt and boxers, curling around the first pillow I find.

The sheets are cool. Soft. They smell like Myrick’s laundry detergent—crisp and faintly citrusy. My back still aches, and my eyes sting, but the weight in my chest eases a little.

It’s better in here. Easier to breathe.

Safer.

I’ll find a beta clinic tomorrow and figure out what the hell’s wrong with me.

But for now, I let the soft light settle in around me, and try to forget the way Oli’s scent still clings to the inside of my nose.