Page 51 of Toxic Revenge, Part Two (Mafia Omegas #2)

Chapter

Forty-Six

TALIA

Our plan hinged on me being bait for my evil bondmate.

I’d go to my meeting with Brooks O’Connor while my pack, Lavinia, and Emilia waited in a surveillance van nearby. When I was done, I’d go out the back door of the hotel, pretending to be utterly oblivious.

That would be when it made the most sense for him to strike, but my pack would get to him first.

It sounded simple. The hardest part, on paper, was getting off the Alfieri property in the first place. We’d enlisted Gears and Odetta to create a distraction, allowing us to slip away without my fathers noticing a thing.

Once we’d escaped with our surveillance van—borrowed from the family garage—I’d gotten out and switched to a cab.

Getting dropped off in a white van would be far too suspicious.

They tailed the cab the whole way to Medley Island, but pulled off into the back alley instead of entering the hotel’s drop-off area.

I was alone for now.

Until I could get back to my pack, it was only me and my bond with Benjamin. Me and his negativity poisoning my mind.

I exhaled as the driver pulled up to the entrance of the Jubilee Harbourfront Hotel. He’d barely put it in park before I was out, letting the crisp breeze dry my sweaty skin. If I paused, I’d lose my nerve.

I definitely hadn’t done enough therapy sessions to be here yet.

“Thanks for the ride.” I passed the driver a hundred dollar bill when he came around the car.

He thanked me, getting back in and driving away as I adjusted my purse over my shoulder. The luxury hotel doors opened and closed in front of me, well-dressed men and women coming and going.

I fit in with them. Lavinia had set me up with a professional, casual look. A long sleeve blouse in a dark red colour and tan fitted slacks, with a pair of simple flats. My hair was tied up into a tidy bun, and Odetta had put on my makeup this morning.

With my trembling hands, I wouldn’t have been able to do it myself.

Clutching my purse, I walked into the hotel before I could lose my nerve.

It was chaotically loud in the lobby, with all the hustle and bustle of a Vegas casino. The check-in desks had lines contained and organized by black velvet ropes, and the entrance to the hotel’s famed restaurants had the same. I strode through the chaos, trying not to let it get to me.

The hairs stood up on the back of my neck.

Benjamin could be anywhere in this crowd, and it would be impossible to spot him. He might be watching me right now.

I bit down on my tongue, shoving down the panic creating a tight band around my chest. If he was watching me, that meant the plan was working.

By the end of the day, we could have him.

But it still meant he was watching me. Probably gloating over the way he’d made my life hell and ruined something that should have been sacred. My skin itched at the thought.

Get it together, Talia.

I had to meet with Brooks, and I couldn’t look weak in front of him.

By some miracle, I kept my head held high and made it through the lobby and down a wide hallway to a quieter area. More velvet ropes flanked a doorway, a couple of burly security guards standing stalwartly with their hands in front of them. Here, there was no line.

I walked up to the door and a guard stepped in front of me. “Miss, this is the VIP lounge. If you’d like to visit, please get your name on the list for one of our weekend events.”

“I’m here for a meeting with Brooks O’Connor. He should be expecting me.”

The guard gestured to his coworker, who disappeared through the door. I glanced around as I waited, trying to see if I could spot Benjamin. There were fewer people down this hall and less places to hide, but I didn’t see him.

Maybe he hadn’t realized I was here yet?

More likely, he was waiting for the opportune moment to strike and didn’t want to get caught before then.

It didn’t matter. I was ready for him.

Probably .

“Come on in, Miss. He’s waiting for you.”

The original security guard stepped out of my path when his friend returned, and I offered them both smiles. The doorway yawned open in front of me, leading into a moodily lit lounge, and I followed the security guard to a curtained corner.

At a round table with a laptop open in front of him was a handsome man with curly brown hair. He looked up from the screen when he saw us coming, giving me an assessing once over. “Thanks for showing her in, Jack. Make sure we aren’t disturbed.”

“Yes, Sir.” The guard left me in the private corner, and my throat grew tight.

Would Brooks O’Connor show his true colours immediately? Would he treat me with respect, only to turn around and stab me in the back later? Or was he actually as level-headed and clever as the rumours said, without any of the typical O’Connor cruelty?

“Nice to meet you,” I said. “Brooks O’Connor, I presume?”

“The one and only. I have to say, you’re not the Alfieri I was expecting.”

Had he been expecting Lavinia? She had set up the meeting and was the only one who was actively involved in the business. But how could he possibly know I wasn’t her? They couldn’t have met in person, could they?

“Come and sit. We have a lot to discuss.” He gestured to the seat opposite him.

It was a plush chair in some dark colour to match the moody vibe of the room. I sat on the very edge of it, prepared to flee if necessary.

He closed his laptop, adjusting the cuffs of his suit jacket. Brooks had the imposing aura of an alpha, but wore scent blockers to eliminate his scent.

“Who were you expecting?” I latched onto the first tangible thing I could.

“Lavinia.”

“How do you know I’m not her?”

“I’ve met her.”

“She’s never mentioned it.” I’d assumed she got his contact information from our fathers, not by meeting the man in person.

“No, she wouldn’t have,” he said cryptically. “Regardless, I’m interested to hear what information you have for me. What should I call you?”

“Talia.”

“Brooks. No need for formalities.”

He didn’t push the conversation further. The man went silent, watching and waiting for me to say something. It made sense—I’d been the one to call the meeting.

“I want to talk about your cousin, Benji O’Connor.”

“Why do we need to talk about a dead man?” He raised an eyebrow.

“He’s not as dead as you’ve been led to believe.”

Brooks stiffened. “How do you know that for sure?”

I took a few folded pieces of paper from my purse. Copies of the documents we’d stolen from Ronald White’s mansion. Spreading the one with the picture of Benjamin out in front of him, I watched his reaction.

His jaw clenched and he grabbed the paper, skimming it quickly. “Working as a lawyer, that scam artist,” Brooks muttered. He looked up at me. “Why are you telling me this?”

Lavinia and I had discussed last night how much information I should give Brooks about my relationship with Benjamin. She’d suggested I err on the side of less detail but hadn’t seemed worried about him trying to use Benjamin against me.

A door slammed from across the room. It broke the tension of my silence, both of us snapping our heads to look at the newcomer. We heard him before we saw him.

“Dude, you dragged me away from one hell of an informant,” he complained. “What’s so important?”

In the quiet privacy of the lounge, there was no mistaking his voice. When he emerged from a dark hallway, different from where I’d entered, it was confirmed.

“Guinn?”

He stopped short, eyes going wide. “Fuck.”

“You know him?” Brooks asked.

“He either saved my life or ruined it,” I said. My shocked stare narrowed into a glare. “Considering I’m seeing you here, I think I know which.”

Benjamin was an O’Connor, and Guinn worked for them. He must have called my scent match after all. I stood, backing away from both men. It only served to put me in a corner.

“Are you still accusing me of calling that asshole?” Guinn strode further into the space, meeting us in our corner alcove. “Just because I work for your family’s rival doesn’t mean I wanted to ruin your life. All I was trying to do was get your ass somewhere safe. You’re the one who ran away!”

“What the hell are you both talking about?” Brooks demanded.

“She had a bad night. We met,” Guinn explained vaguely.

Brooks rubbed at his temples. “And you didn’t think to mention it?”

“Wasn’t your business.”

“We’re packmates. Everything is my business.”

“Packmates. Heh.” Guinn shook his head.

The two men shared a glare, rife with tension. Neither one gave in, and it lasted so long the anger in the air made my skin tingle.

“Um, I’m going to leave.” It had been long enough that Benjamin would have discovered my presence by now. We could move on to part two of the plan. Extending this chat with Brooks wasn’t necessary.

I shifted a few steps toward the exit, but I would have to make it past both of their bulky forms to escape.

Unlikely to happen until they wanted to let me go.

“No. Not yet. Guinn and I will discuss our pack matters later—right now, I need you to explain why you came here to tell me about Benji. Has he done something to antagonize your family?”

“Benji?” Guinn cursed. “I really thought that asshole was gone for good.”

Brooks grabbed the paperwork and shoved it at him. “Not according to this.”

I fiddled with the bracelet from West as he scanned the papers. “Wait a second,” Guinn muttered. “Didn’t you say your scent match—the one who bonded you against your will—was named Benjamin?”

He’d put two and two together.

It wasn’t that hard, really.

“Against her will?” Brooks’ eyes went wide. He opened his laptop, typing hurriedly on the keyboard. “What else has he been fucking up to? Is he the reason…”

He trailed off.

“I’m sure you’ve heard of the poisoned bullets that turn alphas feral,” I said quietly.

“We’ve been trying to find the source, but didn’t expect…”

Brooks ran a hand through his hair. Guinn clenched the papers so hard they tore.

“Benji and Willard are behind that, working with a motorcycle club based in Villem.”

“My fucking uncle and his sleazy son. Of course they would do this. Half the city is in a state of terror with these bullets on the streets.”

Brooks growled, slamming his fist down onto the wooden table. I jerked away, my back hitting the wall. The curtain fabric cascaded around me, trying to swallow me into it. I wished it could as my heart raced, fear pounding through my body.

Was he going to attack me?

Maybe I shouldn’t have been the bearer of bad news.

“You’re terrible at interacting with omegas, Brooks.

Have some restraint,” Guinn grumbled, then turned to me with an attempt at a smile.

“He’s not going to hurt you, Talia. If he tried, I wouldn’t let him.

I’ve already saved your ass once. No point in letting my hard work be undone by my own packmate. ”

His comforting barely helped. I had to focus on my breathing to bring me back from the brink of shutdown.

Brooks shoved away from the table, pacing the marble floors.

“They’ve gone way too far,” he growled under his breath. “I thought we had more time, but it seems moves are already being made.”

“He’s talking mafia politics to himself now,” Guinn explained unnecessarily to me. “Don’t worry. He hasn’t gone insane yet. Although, it’s only a matter of time.”

“Fuck off, Guinn.”

“Back at you.”

They really weren’t coming off as packmates. If they hadn’t said anything, I would never have guessed. “Are you going to let me leave yet?”

Part of me wanted to stay—it felt safer here, in this closed off room where Benjamin couldn’t be hiding around any corner.

“Can you tell Lavinia to contact me again? I’d like to work with your family to get those bullets off the streets,” Brooks said.

“Couldn’t you just call her?”

He frowned deeply. “She doesn’t answer my calls.”

That checked out. “Fine.” I sighed. “I’ll tell her.”

“Then you’re free to leave.”

He went back to his computer, furiously tapping the keyboard again. Guinn gave me a once over, then went to lean on the table beside his packmate.

The longer I stayed, the more intimidating the rest of the plan would become. Brooks and Guinn could figure their own shit out. I had to draw my bondmate into the trap we’d laid out for him.

I peeled myself away from the wall, but my legs refused to take me more than halfway across the room.

I started to tremble, goosebumps breaking out on every inch of my skin. The second I left the lounge, I would be exposed. Our plan would be in action for real, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to go through with it.

Would I freeze the second I saw Benjamin?

What if he cornered me before I got outside? We’d planned out a simple path I would take out the back door, but so many things could go wrong.

Had I made a stupid choice to be the bait?

It was too late to back out now.

With a heavy breath, I forced my legs to keep moving, taking me out of the lounge.