Page 51 of Two For the Show (Trapped On The Tightrope Duet #2)

“Right this way,” the pretty Beta waitress says, leading me through the beautiful, softly lit restaurant.

Being back here is strange, but it feels right. I once thought this was the place Rich would propose to me. Instead, it was the place where my life changed forever.

The guys weren’t quite sure how they felt about bringing me here, but it felt like a healing step that I needed to take—rewriting a dark history into something beautiful.

We pass a wall of expensive wines, and I remember the time I thought I’d be ordering one of them to celebrate taking that next step in my relationship with Rich.

There will be no wine tonight, but we’re still going to be celebrating.

We completed the paperwork to formally recognize our pack in the eyes of the law at the courthouse today. The press somehow got tipped off that we were there, and they were waiting outside to snap a photo of the six of us. It was annoying, but I can understand why they did it.

It’s not that we’re public figures or celebrities, but we’re still being talked about in the media as the investigation into Tripp, Rich, and Greg continues. They haven’t made any arrests, and I don’t know if they ever will, but at least their names are being dragged through the mud.

The waitress leads us to a round table in a quiet corner, and we find our seats. Our server comes over, places our napkins in our laps, and hands us menus before presenting the wine list. Quinton waves it away.

“We don’t need it,” he says kindly. “We don’t drink.”

I know Jude doesn’t need all of us to be sober for him. But a pack supports one another, and we’re not going to do something that could make Jude uncomfortable or risk his sobriety.

The server returns with sparkling mineral water for all of us, sweet tea for Quinton and Dario, and cola for Jude and me. We place our orders, starting with several appetizers, and Quinton holds up his glass, clearing his throat.

“To Alex. Our Omega. The smartest, most perfect, most beautiful, and kindest Omega there ever was. Thank you for putting up with a bunch of carnies.”

“Not carnies,” Jude grumbles, but he clinks glasses with all of us as we take a sip.

The food is delicious, which I hadn’t noticed last time, since the revelation of Rich having a pack made everything taste like ash.

Being here with the men I love, rewriting an ugly history into something memorable, is a gift.

After tonight, we’ll head back to California and get ready for the next tour circuit with the troupe.

Tony and the guys left two days ago with the trailers, and we’ve been staying in a hotel since then. We fly out tomorrow afternoon.

I’m excited to experience traveling the country without this millstone over my head. I’ll be able to enjoy all of the places we stop with my pack.

Things will be drastically different this time, and not only because I can utilize rideshare apps again. It’s not the best part of getting free of Rich, but having access to money again is nice. Dissolving the pack means I will receive a third of the pack assets.

We’re waiting for the deposit to be credited to my account, as their lawyers have opted not to litigate for a smaller settlement, considering the reasoning behind our separation. They didn’t want to risk my taking them to court and getting a larger portion.

The evening is winding down, and the server drops off our coffees and desserts. As we tuck in, Dario starts to tell us a hilarious story about when he and Dexter switched places for an entire day at school and no one noticed.

He’s interrupted by a commotion in the restaurant. There are loud crashes and several shouts before a person I never wanted to see again comes stumbling into view.

Rich is a mess, his shirt untucked, his usually charming demeanor shed for a sneer full of malice.

It’s the Rich he hid from the world, but I became intimately acquainted with. I can smell the curdled milk and rotten berry scent that wafts after him.

I thought I’d be afraid to see him again, but surprisingly, I’m not. He’s a pathetic excuse for an Alpha, and he can’t hurt me anymore.

“You fucking bitch,” he seethes. “You ruined my life.”

Dexter pushes to his feet, teeth bared and an edge in his voice. “You may want to turn around and leave, Richard.”

“Fuck you!” he shouts at my Alpha. “I don’t give a fuck what you think.”

“You should.” Jude’s voice is low and dangerous as he moves in front of the table to block Rich’s view of me. “I’m sure you’re aware of pack law that says if our Omega is threatened, we can utilize whatever force necessary to protect her. So run along.”

“She’s my scent match!” he shouts, gaining even more attention from the diners around us. “You can’t take her from me! I’ll Rot without her.”

“You should’ve thought about that before you sold me for a job and allowed me to be abused.” I move around Jude, unwilling to cower behind any Alpha, even ones that I love so much. “Before you abused me.”

He scoffs, rolling his eyes. “You’re so dramatic. It’s an Omega’s job to serve Alphas.”

Dario pops his head out from around Jude. “Oh, do I get to fuck him up now? I promise I’ll let everyone get a hit in. An Alpha pinata sounds so fun right about now.”

Quinton can’t hold back his snort of amusement. “He smells like a brewery; he may swerve too much for you to land a punch. Probably easier to trip him and let him bust his ugly face up on the pavement.”

Rich opens his mouth to say something shitty back when several police officers turn the corner. His face immediately pales as he looks at the large Alphas.

“Wow, can’t believe you were stupid enough to approach the Omega who accused you of abuse in public, confirming her allegations.

I thought the caller had to have been mistaken about who was causing the disturbance,” one of them says, rolling his eyes.

“Well, I’m sure the FDLE will be thrilled about this development. ”

Rich starts to yell, threatening to have their jobs and sue the entire department, but they ignore him, cuffing his hands behind his back and giving me a nod.

“Dr. Shields. Sorry for the dinner interruption.”

I wave them away. “We’re on dessert anyway. Thanks for the show.”

As they lead Rich out, I know that this will be the nail in the coffin for him. There is no way anyone will believe he is a fine, upstanding Alpha after this gets out.

After we find our seats, Matteo pushes a fork and the dessert plate toward me. The black forest cake looks delicious, and when the flavors burst on my tongue, I make a little sound of pleasure.

“Now you know what it’s like for us,” my Beta says, eyes shining. “And why we’re all so addicted to you.”

“Do you want a bite?” I hold the fork up to him.

He shakes his head. “No, I’ll have mine back at the hotel.”

The justice system is slow. Television, books, and movies had led me to believe that my old pack would be imprisoned swiftly, removing the threat for good.

That is not the case.

It’s been three months since my press conference, and they’re all out on bail, awaiting trial.

I turned over my medical records, which had details about my broken collarbone, which I told everyone at the hospital happened in a car accident.

They recovered all the photos I took of my injuries from the cloud.

I forgot that my old phone was synced to it, and all of that combined was enough to obtain a warrant for their arrest.

I know that it’s going to be a long process to trial, and that I will have to testify unless a plea is reached, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure they don’t put their hands on another woman again.

Quinton flops onto the bed beside me, staring up at the ceiling .

I may be the troupe doctor, but I am certified in emergency medicine, not genetic diseases. A few weeks ago, I arranged an appointment for him with an Alpha Rot specialist that one of my former professors recommended.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, grabbing his hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”

He underwent extensive testing, which included taking several vials of blood, performing an MRI, a CT scan, and a genome analysis. Today, they called us with the results.

“Honestly? It doesn’t feel real.”

“It’s not unheard of,” I remind him. “There have been cases where Alpha Rot has gone into full remission before.”

He chuckles, scrubbing his hand down his face. “I know. I didn’t think it’d be me, you know?”

The day that we found out we were scent matches, Quinton had passed out, his Rot so severe that his body shut down to preserve itself.

It’s only been four months since he and I bonded, and he’s in complete remission.

Now that he’s recovered, his chocolate donut scent is so much stronger, and it makes my mouth every time I get a whiff of it.

“Do you think it has anything to do with the fact that the guys and I can feel each other through the bond? Like I’m getting some of your pheromones from them, too, so I have five people who are pumping me full of the good stuff?”

I chuckle and lie down beside him. “Maybe. Our bond is very unique. I haven’t heard anyone say they can feel their packmates clearly like you all can. It’s curious, but it goes to prove that bonding is just as much magic as it is science.”

“You still can’t leave me,” he says with a fake cough. “I’m sick.”

I roll my eyes. “Sure you are, Alpha. ”

“I am!” he insists. He pastes on a smug little smile. “Sick of not being around you.”

I cannot hold back my laugh at the reminder of our first date, even if we didn’t call it that at the time, where he blew into my trailer while the rest of the troupe was having a cookout and strong-armed me into hanging out with him. I lean over him and kiss him softly.

“Well, fortunately for you, I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me forever.”

“Forever?” Dario calls from the doorway of our new two-story trailer. “That doesn’t feel long enough, if I’m being honest.”

None of us wanted to spend any amount of time apart, so we upgraded.

Dexter conducted extensive research to compare the best options, and we ultimately settled on a trailer that featured a second-story loft large enough to convert into a comfortable nest with a massive mattress.

It takes up the whole space up there, but that’s all we need.

All of the everyday living happens on the first floor.

We do have to stumble downstairs to go to the bathroom, but hey, the circus life isn’t for the weak of heart. It’s a sacrifice we’re willing to make to live how we want.

“Guys!” Jude calls up the stairs. “Come down here!”

“Ooh, our Alpha sounds serious,” Dario says, reaching for my hand. “Let’s go see what he needs.”

The three of us head downstairs, finding Dexter and Matteo on the couch and Jude at the table, staring at his laptop.

“What is it?” I ask, perching on my Prime Alpha’s knee as Quinton stretches himself over Dexter and Matteo. I bury my face in his neck, his cordial cherry pheromones immediately relaxing me.

Jude gestures at his laptop as he adjusts me on his lap. “I got an email. ”

“Oh, well, then the service is working as intended,” Dario teases. “I’m pleased to know the internet is behaving exactly how it was meant to.”

Jude rolls his eyes. “Shut up. I got an email from this woman, Scarlette Ash. She said she’s the head talent scout for Pack Palms Hotel and Casino in Vegas. She saw our performance and wants us to audition for a residency.”

“A residency?” My heart is beating out of my chest. “Really?”

I look at my pack, and all of them look like they’re about to pass out.

“They want us for a Vegas show?” Matteo says softly. “Like, a real Vegas show?”

Jude nods excitedly. “Yeah, I mean, we have to do the whole show for them, but apparently they’ve been really interested in us since we went viral by ousting the clowns, and Alex’s performance cemented it.”

“Holy shit,” Dario exhales. “Holy shit.”

“This is amazing!” I hug Jude tightly around the neck. “This is the dream, right?”

He chews his lip, eyes a little misty. “Carl wouldn’t be able to believe it,” he says quietly. “His misfit troupe could get a Vegas residency. He’d think I was fucking with him.”

Dexter crowds behind us, needing to see the email for himself. “They want us there in a week?” he yelps. “What about our tour schedule?”

“Fuck the tour schedule!” Quinton says, hopping to his feet. “All the guys will understand. They want this as much as we do. We’ll cancel the next two stops for now, and get our asses to Vegas.”

Tears spring to my eyes, and I can’t stop them from falling down my face. Dario grabs my cheeks. “What is it? Why are you crying?”

It takes a moment for me to get myself under control, but when I do, I nuzzle his hand. “Quinton is in remission, and you guys are getting a Vegas show. It’s like, the best day ever.”

“Let’s go tell the guys.” Matteo jumps to his feet. “They’re going to lose their shit.” He grabs my hand and pulls me off of Jude’s lap, throwing open the door and pulling me down the stairs, the rest of our pack close behind.

None of us can wait to share the good news with our family, our troupe.

Less than a year ago, I ran away and joined the circus, and I found everything I could’ve possibly wanted underneath the big top.