Page 63 of The Violence of Love (The Black Market Omega #2)

Oli

I sit in the armchair, staring at Autry while she talks. Myrick is on one side of the tiny omega, his face pale and his eyes unfocused. While Charlie sits on her other side. He’s crying—quiet, helpless sounds that thrum through our bond like a struck chord.

Rhett is a statue, frozen in place. His face is unreadable, carved from stone, but his eyes burn with that quiet, controlled fury alphas get when something precious has been hurt. And I know exactly how he feels.

“And then I went downstairs,” Autry continues, her voice tiny and weak. “And I did what Tallen told me to do.” Her hands tremble in her lap. I want to reach out, to touch her, offer something—purring, pressure, warmth—but I don’t. I sit here like an idiot.

“I told my mom I could handle dinner on my own,” Autry says.

“Told her to relax on the patio with the boys. And then…” She swallows hard, her whole body tensing.

“I crushed up that entire bottle of pills. And I made that fu cking pie. It was perfect. And Tallen ate it.” She hangs her head, her voice barely a whisper. “They all did.”

I could tell where this story was going. It’s the only thing that made sense. But her words still land like a goddamn gunshot.

Charlie pulls her close, rocking her gently. She leans into him, but her eyes are distant—lost in her horrid memories.

“After dinner, I..I set the pie on the table,” Autry stammers.

“Then I went and washed up. I took my time. Cleaning everything. I tried to memorize the view out the kitchen window and the faded tiles on the floor.” Her eyes narrow like she can see the room right now.

“I thought that if those pills didn’t work, if Tallen lived, then I was probably never coming back.

If they did work, I was hopeful that everyone would think it was a regular heart attack.

” She takes a deep breath, then says, “I never thought they’d eat it.

My dad hates apples.” A muffled sob jerks from her soft throat, and my hands curl into fists. “I killed my parents.”

I can’t take my eyes off her. I don’t know if what I’m feeling is fury or heartbreak, but I know I’ve never wanted to kill someone so badly. My only regret is that Tallen is already dead.

“I went outside.” Autry’s chin quivers as she continues to talk. It’s like she’s compelled at this point. She’s kept the secret for so long and now there’s no stopping it. “And they were all there. Still sitting at the table.”

Charlie’s crying again. I hear Rhett’s jaw clench, and Myrick hasn’t blinked in what feels like minutes.

“I couldn’t—” Autry talks between sobs. “I couldn’t look at my parents. I couldn’t—couldn’t even touch them. I knew what I’d done. But I… I just kept staring at him .”

“Tallen?” Rhett asks gently .

She nods.

“He was slumped back in his chair. Arms limp. Mouth open. Vomit on his shirt.” Her lips tremble.

“He looked surprised. Not scared. Not angry. Just… surprised .” She shakes her head like she’s frustrated she doesn’t have another word for it.

“I watched his chest. I waited to see if it would rise or if he would blink. I counted to a hundred. Then two hundred. But he was gone. Really gone.”

She shuts her eyes. “I had to be sure.”

No one speaks. I mean, what’s there to say?

“I was so stupid.” Her voice breaks, and she wraps her arms around her middle like she’s trying to keep from splitting open. “I just wanted to be free. I just wanted to survive.”

“You did,” I say quietly, leaning forward. “You did survive, Autry.” But I don’t know if she hears me. She’s already disappearing again—back into the memory, back into her grief.

I grit my teeth until my jaw aches. The kind of pain she must have felt.

Glancing to one side, I look at Rhett. He’s as still as death, but I can see it in his eyes—he’s right there with me. I bet he felt the same when he learned what Jason did to Myrick. That helpless, blood-boiling rage.

“It’s okay.” Charlie tucks Autry’s head under his chin. “It’s all over, and we’ve got you.”

“I just wanted a good mate,” she whispers, barely audible. “Omegas only have the rights their alphas give them, and he made it clear he was going to give me none.”

Her words hang in the air like smoke after a fire. Thick. Suffocating.

I want to tell her she’s safe now. That she’s ours, and no one will ever touch her again. But it’s all bullshit. Donall’s coming for her. And we don’t know when.

Rhett rises slowly. His eyes are burning with barely restrained rage, but his movements are calm and controlled. He steps toward Autry and presses a gentle kiss atop her head. “Everything’s going to be okay,” he murmurs.

She doesn’t respond. She keeps crying, her body shaking with each sob.

Myrick seems to snap out of his trance, blinking back into the moment.

Rhett turns to the beta. “I’m going to make some phone calls,” he says softly, cupping Myrick’s face. He looks at the beta almost as if to make sure he’s okay. Myrick nods at his silent question, then Rhett shifts his gaze to me. The way he looks at me makes it clear he wants to talk.

I follow my pack alpha through the apartment and into the living room.

Rhett pauses next to the massive window overlooking the city lights.

The moon hangs high in the sky, and the nightlife is in full swing beneath us.

Headlights streak as they race down the road, and signs flash like tiny dots at ground level.

“What are you thinking?” Rhett asks quietly.

I exhale a low growl. “I’d like to dig Tallen’s body up, crush his bones into dust, and piss on whatever’s left.”

Rhett fixes me with a stern look—it’s almost fatherly. Then he asks again, “No. I mean—what do you think we should do? We need to move her. Now.”

I swallow, sober now. He’s right. We can’t stay here. But I can’t believe he’s asking me . It’s kind of touching…like he trusts me or values my opinion. It’s a weird sensation.

“Do you have contacts who can get us north?” Rhett asks when I don’t say anything. “Is there some way to get through the border without having to go through any checkpoints?”

I shake my head. “I’ve been out of that world too long. The only friend I have left is Brock.” I start to reach for my phone to message him, but Rhett holds out his hand, stopping me.

“I’ll call him. He’s my brother.” He doesn’t say anything else, but I respect it. They have a weird past, and this isn’t my mess to manage.

But I should probably talk to Brock before he gets here.

He doesn't know that I’m mated or even a part of Rhett’s pack.

Every time I tried to bring it up, I chickened out.

After all, Brock has spent the last year telling me how hard and difficult his brother is.

And while Rhett is very guarded, he’s also tender and loving with his mates. He’s a good alpha.

But, I’m sure it’ll all be a shock to Brock.

“Okay.” Rhett glances around the room as if suddenly realizing how much stuff he owns. “Get everyone packed. Snacks, medicine, secure documents—only the essentials.”

I hesitate. “What about nesting supplies?”

“That’s not essential,” Rhett says firmly.

“It might seem trivial now, but wait until we have two omegas neck deep in distress.”

Rhett’s eyes narrow, then he nods. “You’re right. Bring it. But no pillows. We can’t take everything.”

I nod, grateful.

“I want us out that door before dawn,” Rhett says. But just as he turns to leave, I stop him.

“Rhett?” I’ve had a single, burning question all night. “Why did Donall tell us about Autry? Why not break down the door and arrest her with the warrant in hand?”

Rhett’s jaw tightens. For a heartbeat, all I see is pain—old wounds reopening.

“My guess?” Rhett sighs. “He wanted to look her in the eyes when he ripped her whole world apart before he put the cuffs on her. Maybe he’s even hoping we’ll reject her tonight.

” He shakes his head like there’s no real way to know.

“Some fuckers aren’t happy unless they can watch your whole life go up in flames. And Donall is a real piece of shit.”

I hang my head, feeling like complete shit. “I should have killed the fucker.”

“No,” Rhett says firmly, stepping closer and pulling me into his arms. “You did the right thing.”

His embrace is solid and grounding. His scent wraps around me, and for a second, I can finally breathe.

I press my nose against his shoulder, soaking in every bit of calm he’s offering.

I’ve taken comfort from the rest of our pack—but not Rhett.

I thought it might feel too intense, too strange. But this? It feels right.

“Don’t worry,” he murmurs, pulling back to look at me. He cups my cheek like I’ve seen him do with Myrick a hundred times—steady, sure, gentle. “We’re going to be okay.”

His thumb brushes my cheekbone, and something in me nearly shatters. It’s like he’s giving me permission to be vulnerable, to let someone else be strong for me. A reminder that I don’t have to do this alone.

“Pack our stuff, and I’ll do the rest.” Rhett smiles like it’s that simple.

I can’t hold back anymore. I surge forward and crash my mouth to his.

Rhett kisses me back without hesitation—hard, fast. It’s not a lust-filled kiss, but one desperate for connection. I need to feel my alpha. Just for a second.

When he pulls back, his hands stay on my face, eyes locked on mine. He’s breathless. So am I. And as messed up as the timing is, I feel a flicker of pride that I did that to him.

“Go,” he commands me quietly, firmly.

And I do—my body already moving, desperate to make my pack alpha proud.