Page 31 of Toxic Revenge, Part Two (Mafia Omegas #2)

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

TALIA

“Welcome home, Miss Talia.”

The cul-de-sac in front of our mansion appeared just as James spoke. I was snuggled in the middle of the back bench seat, so I had a clear view out the front window of the town car.

Conrad, who’d drawn the short straw to take the front seat, was the first of my mates to react. “Holy shit. This place is a fucking mansion.”

“Did you think the Alfieris lived in a single story rancher?” West asked dryly.

He was peering out the side window with a hint of awe in his expression. I pushed my thigh against his, and he rested his hand on my leg without hesitation.

Mercer looked impressed by the estate, but had managed to keep his cool the best out of the three of them. “Place is well-guarded, too. Didn’t expect to be asked to get out of the car by the gate.”

I grinned. They’d all been checked over when we arrived, same as Benjamin had been back when we’d been dating. Unlike my scent match, all three of them had complied without complaint.

Yet another green flag to contrast the red flags I’d missed in Benjamin.

“She’s safe here,” West agreed. “Lots of security. I’m a little worried about how big the property is, though. There’s no way they can patrol it all often enough.”

“Yeah,” Mercer mused. “But anyone who sneaks in is going to be caught way before they reach the house.”

James laughed, getting out of the car and opening the back door for us. “If you’re interested in the patrol schedule, you’ll have to talk to Mr. Penn. He created a grid system for maximum security coverage that was checked over and implemented by Mr. Nico.”

Mercer slid out first and offered me a hand. The entryway looming ahead while my sneaker-clad feet landed on the concrete immediately brought me comfort. I couldn’t wait to get inside. The Residence had been detached from reality, an ideal place to sort through what happened to me.

Being home was a step toward normalcy, as intimidating as that was.

“I doubt he’ll share confidential security details with me.” Mercer pulled me to his side with a sigh. “We’ll have to trust there aren’t any flaws. Have there been issues with security before?”

These overprotective men.

I rolled my eyes. “Not since I was a child. When Lavinia and Odetta first revealed as omegas and people heard about it, there were some attempts to get near them. None successful. Mira and I never had any trouble like that when we revealed.”

By then, every criminal in Banfield knew that messing with the Alfieri daughters had dire consequences. No one else had dared.

Until Benjamin, anyway.

“Good. James, have you heard of any incidents?”

James and I exchanged a look as Mercer pressed him for information. “The only security incidents in recent years were ones caused by Miss Odetta, Miss Mira, or Miss Emilia.”

Mainly Odetta, with a side of Mira and a sprinkle of Emilia’s rebellious phase.

Everyone else had gotten out of the car by now. Conrad had his head tilted back, staring up at the roof of the house. West stood in a wide stance, glaring around as if one of the bodyguards was going to come up and try to stab me right here in the driveway.

“Can you give me details?—”

“Let’s go inside.” I cut Mercer off. “Believe me, you don’t want details of those incidents.”

When I started walking, he sighed and came along with me. West didn’t hesitate to follow. I waved back at James as Conrad shook off his awe and rushed to catch up.

“I’ll give you a tour.”

“Yes, please,” Conrad said eagerly. “Can we tour the kitchen first? I’m fucking starving.”

One of the maids paused on her way past the entryway and stared at him with wide eyes. He was a lot bigger and a lot rougher looking than most of the people who came here, so I couldn’t entirely blame her.

Her perusal took a hint longer than my omega side was comfortable with, though, so I cleared my throat. “Anne, did you need something from me?”

The maid went pink and in quick succession curtsied, apologized, and rushed away with broom in hand.

Conrad glanced over at the doorway, completely oblivious. “Is that the way to the kitchen?”

Someone laughed from upstairs. “I thought they fed you at Omega Haven?”

My gaze darted upward and I locked eyes with Mom, hovering at the top of the winding staircase. Shaking off Mercer’s hold, I dashed up the stairs and threw myself into her arms.

“Mom,” I whispered. “I missed you.”

She rubbed my back, her soothing apricot and jasmine scent wafting around me. “I missed you too, darling. I would have come to visit, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you. Lavinia kept me updated.”

“I know. Thank you. You’re the reason my fathers didn’t all insist on seeing me too, right?”

“They would have never left your side if I’d let them have their way. I told them two could stop for a visit, or none at all. You have your own pack to take care of you now, right? I’m very excited to meet them. Your fathers have only told me bad things.”

Pulling away from her, I saw my pack hesitating halfway up the stairs. They looked a tad pale. Terrified of Audrey Alfieri’s disapproval, as they should be. I smiled.

Mercer cleared his throat. “Whatever bad things you heard, ma’am, I’m sure we can clear them up. We’re truly devoted to your daughter.”

Mom gestured for them to come up the rest of the stairs. All three looked more nervous than I’d ever seen them, even more than they had when gearing up to meet my fathers. They paused at the top, not daring to come any closer.

“My pack is not at all trustworthy when it comes to assessing potential mates for their daughters,” Mom said. “They’d actually started to like Benjamin, for fuck’s sake.”

I blinked at the swear word. Mom wasn’t one to cuss much.

“Then, if possible, we’d like to make a better first impression than what they said about us.” Mercer held out a hand. “Mercer Gutierrez. It’s nice to meet you.”

She stepped away from me and took his hand daintily in hers. “Audrey Alfieri.”

His gaze slipped over to meet mine. I almost laughed at the panic I saw there. He was desperate to impress her.

Little did he know, he already had. He’d stayed with me at the Residence when it would have been easier to walk away. And I loved him—loved all of them. Mom would know without me having to tell her.

“Mrs. Alfieri, these are my packmates?—”

“Let them introduce themselves,” Mom said.

It went dead silent. She looked back at me with a glimmer of amusement in her eye while my pack cracked under the pressure.

Conrad was the first to speak. “Conrad St. Pierre. I may not have much of an education, Mrs. Alfieri, but I’ll do anything for Talia.”

“Education? My understanding, Four Leaf , is that you’re really quite good at making friends and beating people up.”

He grabbed the railing, his face white as a sheet. “Ma’am, I’m not like that around your daughter. I swear on my life.”

Mom laughed. She was playing with him. I almost felt guilty hanging back and watching the show.

I spotted a flash of silver hair around a nearby corner and realized I wasn’t the only one. Violet was listening in, and considering Mira and her had travelled here together, I would bet my younger sister was there too.

“Don’t misunderstand. All I was saying was that you don’t need traditional education if you have other assets. Which you do. I’m proud of you.”

Conrad deflated against the railing, a rush of colour coming back. He managed a shaky smile for my mother before she turned her attention to West.

“If those two are Mercer and Conrad, then you must be West,” Mom said.

West stood up straighter. “Yes. West Morgan.”

“Aren’t you going to tell me what you offer my daughter?”

“I don’t offer her anything, so I’m not sure what I would say.”

Mercer elbowed West in the side, glaring at him.

Mom stepped forward and grabbed one of West’s hands in both of hers. “Oh, you think you’re being serious, don’t you?”

He stared down at his hand like it was a foreign object, not attached to his body. “I am being serious. If you want Talia to be with someone who brings something to the table, I’m not that guy. I hope my packmates’ accomplishments can make up for it.”

I’d opened my mouth, ready to step in and tell him off for being self-deprecating again, but Mom hauled him into a hug before I could speak. He released a surprised yelp as all five foot three of her somehow managed to envelope him in a motherly embrace.

“You have far more going for you than you think, darling. Talia needs a protector, and you’re nothing short of perfect for that role.” Mom pulled back and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ve already met Violet, so I know what I’m talking about.”

West glanced down the hallway just as silver hair flicked out of sight again. “Um, Violet may have made me out to be?—”

“Not another word from you. Was someone hungry? Let’s go eat.”

Mom urged West back down the stairs with a hand firmly placed on his shoulder. Conrad was easily herded along with him, while Mercer hung back with me.

“Well, it’s pretty clear who your mom’s favourite is,” Mercer whispered when the others were far enough out of earshot.

“She likes all of you,” I countered.

“We all passed. But the favourite is definitely West.”

I couldn’t deny it again, because it was probably true. In West, she saw a boy who needed a mother, and she was ready to be the mother-in-law of the century.

“You still have a chance to work your way up in the ranks.” I planted a kiss on his cheek. “Although I wouldn’t recommend it. You’ll have even more scrutiny from my dads if you end up being my mom’s favourite.”

Mercer linked our arms together, starting to follow after the other three. “West can stay the winner of this one.”