Page 30 of Captive Beta
Fuck.
What happened?
What happened to Riley?!
My chest tightens painfully.
I race past him, Jorge following me closely. When we reach the van Mathew just came out of, Riley’s pheromones roll out, full of pain and distress.
“Riley!” I jump in, taking the shivering form of my beautiful female Alpha in my arms. “What happened?”
Jorge wraps his arms around us, pulling us close to him. “You’re safe. You’re safe.” He repeats the words like a mantra, like he’s done this before. His soothing pheromones wrap around us, trying to reach Riley, who’s still crying.
Mathew said that they were both fine. He said that the mission didn’t exactly go to plan, but that it all worked out.
So, why is she so upset?
I look to Jorge. This doesn’t seem to be the first time he’s found her like this. Maybe he knows what could have triggered it. But he shakes his head.
No help there.
“The Diamonds…” Riley’s voice is rough against my chest, her trembling arms wrapped around my waist tightly. “They captured me. I was a teen. They threatened to hurt my family.”
What?!
Riley was taken by the Diamonds?
Why didn’t I know this yet?
From Jorge’s surprised pheromones, he didn’t know about this either. This is news to him too and he’s known her for much longer.
“When Erika saved me.” It seems hard for her to speak through the sobs and clattering of her teeth. “We found out. They’d already killed them. Years before.”
Ice runs through my veins at the words.
Not only was Riley once held by the Diamonds, and kept in line by threatening to hurt her family, just like Luca. But they used that tactic even though they knew that her family was long dead…
Fucking hell.
I tighten my arms around Riley, try to send her as many loving pheromones as I can. To have to live through that, to have those memories, it breaks my heart. My sweet Alpha…
Of course, Luca must know this is a possibility, that his family is no longer alive. But nobody wants to find out that their biggest fear is true…
“You two go back to the house.” Jorge’s voice is soft. “I’ll go with Caleb to get Luca’s family.”
“No. I can…” Riley sits up and my heart shatters at how distressed she looks. How she’s trying to pull herself together, but failing.
“You go back to the house with Vera and the others. You can’t show up like this. It would give his family the wrong idea. We want to let them know that he’s well and safe. We don’t want them to think he’s in trouble.” He hugs her and she nods against his chest. “I’ll go with Caleb. I’ll let you know what I find immediately.”
“What about Luca?” I don’t think it’s a good idea if he’s on his own right now.
“Mathew can be with him in the same car. You take Riley with you. Let Miles drive.”
This feels all so overwhelming and strange.
But we’ll figure it all out when we’re home.
We have to.
