Page 22 of Wild Omegas (Wild Skies Ranch Omegaverse #1)
Carson
ONE WEEK LATER
It’s been a week since the barn fire. A week of constantly looking over my shoulder expecting an intruder in our home.
This paranoia doesn’t leave even when I go into Fairwater and pick up enough security cameras to blanket the entire ranch and deprive Fairwater Falls of the technology until a major restock.
I don’t enjoy throwing my money around, but I’ll do anything to protect my omega.
I’d hire a full security team if I thought it’d make a difference.
But Josie would hate that, I think, and they’d just get in the way of ranch work.
Ranch work.
Maybe I can simply hire a security team that’s also skilled in ranch life and pass them off as staff… There’s a decent idea.
I’m contemplating this as I walk down the hall from my bedroom only to find Luke and Brooks congregating in Brooks’s room with concerned expressions on their faces.
My heart sinks. “What’s happened?”
Something must have transpired while I was showering and cleaning up from work for the day.
Luke glances at me and waves me in. “Nothing. Brooks was trying to dig up information on Damien.”
“Have been all week,” Brooks grunts. He runs a rough hand through his hair. “His information is locked tighter than a fucking bank safe. If I was still on the force I may be able to get at it but no one’s telling me anything now.” He slams one fist on the desk.
“What about through less official channels?” If throwing money at this problem would work I’ll bribe anyone.
Brooks must understand what I mean because he inclines his head. He looks unsure. Not if it’ll work, I realize, but of involved morals. Do morals matter when it comes to our omega?
Not in the slightest.
Brooks relents. “Yeah, that could work. How much?”
I chuckle dryly. “How much do you need? I know there’s not been any more incidents but he’s not just going to go away.”
Luke glances between us both. “Damien must be staying nearby. Assuming he set the fire himself there’s no reason he’s not staying in Fairwater Falls. He wants Josie to feel cornered. And if he’s not there, his people might be.”
Brooks looks out the window overlooking the damaged barn. “Are we sure it was Damien and not a random fire? Just to play devil’s advocate.”
How is he even questioning this? “There was nothing in that barn that would start on its own.” I gesture to Luke. He’d know better than I. “Right?”
Luke nods with surety but I can see guilt swimming in his eyes. Where I’ve been haunted by paranoia for the past week he’s clearly been doubting himself. Second-guessing. “We’re careful and it’s not like there were any lightning storms.”
“Accidents do happen,” Brooks continues.
I shoot him a glare. “You can’t actually believe that.”
“That accidents happen? Yes, I do.” Brooks sighs. “But not this. I had to ask. We have to be sure before we go into town and start looking for Damien. If we’re wrong… We can’t be wrong.”
Luke leans against the closest wall. “Much as I love this idea we have to admit that we don’t know what he or others look like.”
“It’s a small town,” I say. “It won’t be hard to spot outsiders, especially for you, Luke.” He’s grown up in Fairwater Falls. If he can’t recognize someone from out of town, he’ll know people who can. Bartenders, hotel workers. The time spent searching won’t be in vain.
Brooks reaches for his jacket and then opens a drawer and withdraws a holstered weapon. “Then one last question. If we all leave looking for Damien it leaves Josie alone. Are we okay with that?”
I watch as Brooks tucks the holster into the waistband of his jeans. The answer is clear, so I say, “Luke and I will go. You stay here and keep an eye on Josie.”
Brooks looks unsure but eventually relents. “Just don’t be stupid.”
I toss a glance at Luke. “Us? Never.”
We head out shortly after that and hit every hot spot in town one by one.
No one particularly stands out and Luke makes no discoveries, even when we stop by The Tap, the largest bar in town.
Luke and the owner, Rowan, seem to know each other and then I realize I recognize him.
He’s one of the volunteer firefighters who helped put out our fire at Wild Skies.
“Thank you again, Rowan.” Luke shakes his hand. “If you hear anything we’d love to find the man responsible.”
Rowan’s shaggy brown hair is disheveled from a busy night of work. He shakes his head to clear it out of his eyes and gives Luke a sharp nod. “Anytime. Wild Skies is a staple. You really think it was arson?”
I glance around the bar while they talk. Of course it was fucking arson.
“Yes,” Luke answers. “It’s complicated, but we appreciate you keeping an eye out.”
A few drunk locals push up to the bar for more drinks. We back off and keep looking and talking to people, but there’s nothing suspicious to find. Not that we’re cops. Not that we can legally do anything even if we did find Damien.
I don’t care about legality. I just want Josie safe.
By closing time at most of the local establishments we give up and think about heading back. That’s when my phone goes off. Who the hell is texting me this late at night?
Jason: The deal’s getting hotter, Carson. You gotta come back from the country and join this, man. It’s going to be earth-shattering.
Somehow I doubt it’s as earth-shattering as finding your omega and home and then having it threatened.
I don’t reply to Jason. There’s no reason to.
I’m not taking the deal. I’m not working for another start-up ever again.
Wild Skies Ranch is my home. It’s where I belong, working the earth with my hands, not managing board rooms and money.
I just need to make my home safe.