Page 59 of Their Knotty Pack (Starbrook City Omegaverse #3)

Brody

I smirk as Bethany shifts in her seat for the fifth time in the last fifteen minutes. "Uncomfortable?" I ask lightly, keeping my eyes on the road as we drive into work. She's wearing jeans today—hooray for casual Fridays—and the material hugs every curve of her ass.

"Nope," her cheeks redden as she shifts herself again, "Kieran and Miles…both claimed me this morning, so I'm just a little worried that I might ahh…leak."

Grinning, the alpha in me satisfied that she's completely saturated in the scent of not one, but two of our pack members, I arch my brow.

"You didn't…wipe the excess?" I was more than a little unhinged when I asked…

well, okay, demanded that one of us claim her before work everyday, but she's taken my request very seriously.

My alpha couldn't be happier. Who knew he was such a possessive bastard?

She flushes even redder. "They…stuffed it back in me. Repeatedly."

Well, shit. Now I have an eight in the morning boner and a vivid image in my mind.

Maybe I shouldn't have said any of the pack. Maybe I just should have said it was my job.

I don't h ave time to think further on it, because then we're pulling into the parking lot of work, and something is…wrong.

My skin prickles, and a feeling of pure discomfort takes over. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and Bethany sees it before I do.

"Oh my gods." Her hand flies to her mouth as she gets out of the car, rushing across the parking lot to our small but homey building.

Or…it used to be homey.

The glass store-front is completely shattered.

We're the first ones in, as usual, and she and I slowly walk into the building, shock taking over. On the wall behind the receptionist's desk, someone spray painted "You can't save them" in jagged letters, and bile turns in my throat.

Bethany rushes past, all the way to the break room. Her steps falter as her voice chokes in her throat. The room that she had tried so hard to make more warm and comfortable for everyone…smashed to bits. Potted plants shattered, throw pillows on the chairs ripped apart.

This has Pack Hansen written all over it.

My heart leaps in my throat when I realize that if they didn't stop at the front door, they very well could have tried to go after our case files with all our client's confidential information.

I race to the back of the building, ignoring the way my office is torn apart, my eyes searching for one thing.

Our top of the line, double reinforced filing cabinets. The one thing I splurged on.

It's a little dented, but when I put in the key to open it, I breathe a sigh of relief when I see that all the files are intact.

I need to call Hunter.

He picks up on the first ring. "Brody? Is everything okay?"

That's one of the things I love about Hunter. He's always so in tune with his pack, even from miles away.

"No, it's not." My voice is shaky. "Can you come down to the office or send some guys down? They've absolutely trashed the place."

He doesn't ask who. He doesn't push for details. He takes a second, clicking of a keyboard in the background, then confirms, "I'll be there in ten minutes."

It'll be okay. Hunter is coming. He'll know what to do. He'll know how to save the thing that I've poured all my money and time into—

A small hiccup comes from my doorway, and I look over to see Bethany, tears running down her face, her phone in her hand. "They killed all my plants. Tore them out by the roots and stomped on them, like they were trying to kill them. This had to be Pack Hansen. Nobody else would have bothered—"

Her voice cuts off as a sob works its way up her throat, and then I'm on my feet, wrapping her in my arms. "Shhh, shhh, baby, it's okay. Hunter's on the way." My own panic recedes as I focus on comforting my omega.

She sniffs. "Yeah, well, I have guys on the way too."

I pull back, arching a brow at her. "Who?"

She gives me her phone, showing me pictures she took of all the damage, up close shots of the stomped-on roots, photos of every office that's been trashed, and the spray-paint in the lobby.

They were all sent to Matteo, Archie, and Titus De Lucca.

Bethany

*sent an image *

Archie

Where are you?

Bethany

Work. Came in to the place trashed.

Ma ttie

I'm on my way.

Titus

Me too. Don't let anyone touch a single thing.

Bethany

Arch, stay at work. I just wanted you in the loop.

Archie

Only because I know Mattie and Ty will be there. Stay safe. Love you.

Bethany

Love you.

My eyes widen. What are they going to do once they're here? Titus, I can see since he's that private security guy. But Matteo De Lucca? The billionaire?

"Umm, bossman?" Kane's voice calls from the hallway.

"In here," I call out, and he walks down the hall, his jaw dropping.

"Excuse my language, but what the fuck happened?"

"I have a feeling it was Pack Hansen," I almost growl, my grip tightening on Bethany. "Hunter is on his way with some officers, as well as…Matteo De Lucca. Stay by the front door, and make sure nobody touches anything. Maybe they left fingerprints."

By the time Bethany's calmed down, and I've corralled my small staff in front of the building, making sure nobody goes in, police vehicles are pulling up, as well as a blacked out SUV that I can only assume belongs to the De Luccas.

My suspicions are confirmed when both Titus and Matteo step out, Matteo in a three-piece suit, Titus in green cargo pants and black t-shirt, dog tags swinging. And then, the back door opens and I'm surp rised to see Noah Beckham step out, hi-tech looking briefcase in hand.

" Sorrelina ," Matteo fusses over Bethany in his light Italian accent, looking her over. "Are you alright?" My heart warms at hearing the Italian endearment for "little sister" come from him.

"I'm not hurt," she says, and I'm a little surprised my alpha isn't raging at the billionaire for getting so close to her.

"Then why are you crying, piccola fatina ?" My lips tighten. Little fairy .

"They trashed all the hard work Brody's put into this place. They killed my plants. Stomped on their roots." She sniffs, and Matteo curses while Titus' look turns murderous.

"Let's see how they like when I stomp on their—"

"Hey there, Detective Song!" Noah jumps in, before rolling his eyes at Titus.

"Noah." Our pack lead approaches us with uniformed officers in tow.

"Matteo. Titus. I wasn't expecting to see you here.

" I almost expect him to try to take Bethany into his arms, but he seems to struggle with what he should do, given he's here in a professional capacity.

I'm not the only one who notices, if Bethany's downcast expression is anything to go off.

"Our sorrelina reached out." Matteo smiles, his business side showing through.

"And we always show up for family," Titus grunts.

Noah shrugs. "I'm being paid to be here." Then he glances at Bethany, who still has tears in her eyes. "Nice to see you, Bethany."

She nods once, sniffling as she burrows into my side and hides her face.

My poor girl.

"Benson," Noah nods to me, then gets straight to business. "Where are your security cameras?"

"Oh. Um, I haven't quite figured out how to work them, the system is really old…"

Noah roll s his eyes at me. "Just point me in the direction of your server room."

"Down the hall, last door on left. Here's the key."

I hand over the master key, and Noah disappears, Hunter looking after him with raised brows. Then, he shakes his head, turning his attention back to Bethany and me. "Have you touched anything?"

"I did check the filing cabinets in my office to make sure they didn't get in," I admit. "Sorry I was so focused on making sure the bastards didn't get their hands on any sensitive information that I didn't even think about contaminating the crime scene."

"It's fine," Hunter sighs, his gaze lingering on Bethany, "they've caused enough destruction that I'm sure if there were any prints on the cabinet, it wouldn't be the only place."

If there were any prints. Because if this was Pack Hansen, and it probably was, they know what they're doing. They wouldn't leave prints anywhere.

"My guys are going to start taking statements, but…" His sentence trails off, but his eyes are still glued to Bethany, who is still buried in my side. He senses my staring, and I raise my brows and motion my head as if it say, " Well? What are you waiting for?"

He clears his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallows. "Ah…bluebell?" Her face peeks out just enough to see his arms start to raise—

And she's out of my arms in less than two seconds, crawling up the detective like she's a koala and he's a tree, her legs wrapping around his waist and her face burying in his neck.

His face blanks for a moment, like he wasn't expecting that strong of a reaction from her, but then he's wrapping his arms around her middle, holding her close as he presses a kiss to her temple.

He relaxes into her, and she starts sniffling again. "This was Pack Hansen."

"I know, bluebell."

"But we won't be able to prove it, will we?"

His shoul ders slump in defeat. "Not unless they made a stupid mistake."

A throat clears next to us, and I realize that Matteo and Titus are still here, watching the interaction with mixed reactions.

Matteo looks like he might sigh at any second and ask, "Isn't love beautiful? ", while Titus looks about two seconds from threatening bodily harm should he ever hurt her.

I'm guessing the only thing stopping him is the fact you aren't really supposed to threaten police officers.

"Do you have anywhere to move your operations to?" Matteo asks me suddenly, and I feel the blood drain from my face. I didn't even think about it.

"I—no, we don't. Shit—"

"That settles it then." Matteo nods once, pulling out his phone.

"Settles what?" Bethany turns her head, still resting on Hunter's shoulder, to look at him.

"NeoTek Tower currently has an empty floor. You can conduct business until we purchase you another building."

That's a great offer, but…

"I can't take you up on that." I shake my head, feeling my stomach sinking.

"Why-ever not?" He asks, the phone halfway to his ear.

"Because…I don't think we'll have the funds to purchase another building. I used most of my trust fund on this one and hiring more lawyers, and Hannah's donation is keeping us afloat right now…" I trail off and shrug, feeling like a failure. "We can't stay in your building indefinitely."

Matteo De Lucca scoffs at me. "Nonsense. You're a non-profit, right?" At my dumbstruck nod, he continues. "I am able to donate to whatever causes I deem worthy, amico mio. Consider Neotek, and by extension, Pack De Lucca, your…benefactor in this endeavor."

"I…I do n't know what to say," I shake my head, feeling like I'm going to wake up from a dream to find out none of this is true.

"You do not need to say anything. Just keep helping omegas. Tell me, how many lawyers do you have on staff?"

"I…um, five? Including myself." What the hell is happening?

"Pack Hansen, or whoever orchestrated this attack," Titus growls, cracking his knuckles, "is trying to beat down your operation.

Make it so you can't function anymore. Force omegas to come to them and bankrupt themselves trying to get basic legal help.

You're going to come back from this even stronger than before.

" He glances at Matteo. "How many more were you thinking, Matt? Triple?"

My jaw drops. What…triple the amount of lawyers?

"Yes, that will be a good start." Matteo nods.

"The condition of my funding is for you to hire on at least ten more lawyers in the coming weeks, putting you at fifteen, which is triple your current amount.

Background check everyone through Lone Star.

We want omegas coming from all over the state of California. "

He gives me a grin, grasping my shoulder. "You've started a good thing here, Brody. With any luck, you'll be able to open more branches, and maybe in the near future, no omegas in the country will have to go bankrupt trying to leave an abusive pack again."

Hunter finally lets Bethany down, and she is looking a little better. "This isn't what I meant when I asked if you want to donate to the cause." She looks up at Matteo, hands on her hips.

Mattie lets out a rumbling laugh. " Sorrelina , you know I never do anything halfway."

She sighs, rolling her eyes, but a smile tilts at her lips. "I know. Thank you guys, for coming so quick, and for…" she trails off waving at Matteo, still holding his phone, "all that."

Titus holds out his fist, and she bumps it with hers. "You guys are gonna kick their sorry asses, right?"

"Right!" She smiles brightly, and Hunter stares at her, a small smile on his face. I wonder when he's going to admit he's already in love with her?

Shortly after hanging up with his assistant to get the furnishing for his empty floor sorted out, Matteo handing Bethany a black credit card, telling her to use it for the firm, Matteo and Titus leave, and Bethany and I have to give our statements to the uniformed officers.

One of them, a beta by the looks of it, eyes the area with such indifference.

The other officers at least look concerned or upset.

The beta officer, whose name tag reads "Carlson", taps his pen against his notepad impatiently, like he has other places to be.

"Hunter?" I ask quietly, trying not to draw attention to myself.

"Yeah?" His eyes stay trained on Bethany as she gives detailed descriptions of every item that was destroyed.

"What's that guy's deal?" I motion with my eyes, and his brows furrow.

"Carlson? He transferred in a few years ago. I don't really know him personally, but he does solid work. Why?"

"Just…" I huff a breath, suddenly concerned that I'm making things up.

But then, as soon as Carlson feels Hunter's eyes on him, his demeanor changes, and he instantly becomes more engaged with Kane, the one he's currently taking a statement from.

"I can't explain it, but there's something off about him. "

Hunter is silent for a moment, watching. "I'll keep an eye on it. Hopefully Pack Hansen won't see your partnering with Pack De Lucca as some kind of declaration war and keep their heads down."

"War?" I raise my brows.

"I mean…you're taking their clientele, right? Not that you shouldn't. But…let's just say I hope they'll be scared off by the name 'De Lucca'."

I swallow , grimacing. Yeah, hopefully in saving the most important thing I've ever done, I haven't painted an even bigger target on our backs.