Page 23 of Generation Omega: Revealed
I turn and she instantly climbs onto my back, knowing to grip hold like a monkey so that my arms are free to do what they do best. I never wanted her to witness what I become in the ring, in a cage, in a back alley, or an underground brawl—in any of the places I go to release the rage that’s been my greatest source of fuel since my father died. I certainly never allowed Tillie to attend any fight I was in or even when I would spar for fun. I never wanted her to know just how much darkness lives inside me, but right now, I’m grateful for the confidence I have that I’m fully capable of protecting my woman and taking any lives that threaten hers.
I find my first target, a member of the SWAT team who’s distracted, searching for someone or something in the crowd. “We’re getting past that guy. You just hold on and I’ll take care of this.”
“Excuse me…” At the sound of the soft, female voice, I spin, prepared for anything. The owner of the voice is seated two chairs over, her cheek decorated with pink cherry blossoms. Her bold blue eyes are familiar as they search mine for recognition. I remember her and her flowers. We met her this morning on our first attempt at attending this lecture.
Tillie peeks over my shoulder at her, just like she did this morning. “So, what did you think of the lecture? All that you hoped?”
The woman blurts a laugh. “Thumbs downfor the rude interruption.Thumbs upfor the riot. I doubt we’ll get a refund, but I’m thinking there will be plenty of lawsuits.” She nibbles on her lower lip and then exhales, everything about her becoming extremely cautious. “I didn’t mean to, but I overheard… Isaw…” She nods toward the oven mitt covering my right hand. “Iknow,” she says directly to Tillie.
“If you tell anyone…” My tone drips with venom that is entirely honest about its intentions.
“I wouldn’t—I wouldnever. I believe all of this and you are proof that it’s always been real.” With awe-inspired tears in her eyes, she tilts her head toward the melee closer to the stage. “SWAT doesn’t know anything, but the people who control them and who will follow them know everything. I can get you both out of here.”
Tillie’s grip on me tightens. “How?”
“The SWAT dude you were about to attack is my brother. He’s distracted because he’s searching for me, and he’s searching for me because my mother isn’t like other moms.” Her cheeks raise as she grins ruefully. “If my mother’s baby girl gets tear-gassed, people won’t wake up and, if they do, their lives won’t be the ones they had before they took an involuntary snooze.” More resigned, she adds, “This is all going to get worse as soon as I’m out of here. You won’t be able to get past the people who are actually running this, the ones who know what they’re looking for and why.”
Tillie’s voice is shaky, which probably means her alpha’s even farther away. “You should use your influence to help here. Nobody deserves this.”
She dismisses that suggestion before Tillie’s finished. “You’rethe mission, the only one who’s truly in danger here—at least, the only one I can help. I don’t know who your alpha is.” The burning light of curiosity in her eyes proves she’d love to know the answer to that question, but she thankfully doesn’t ask.
Nothing about this woman feels deceptive and everyone in this room, soon the world, will want to know the identities of the omega and her alphas. But still, the fiery pit of violence within me demands to be heard. “If you betray us, I’ll snap your neck.”
Instead of looking afraid, she smiles at Tillie. “I still think you’re the luckiest woman alive, but you are more than that, aren’t you?” She refrains from speaking Tillie’s new designation and answers me directly, “My neck and I accept your terms, but please don’t kill my brother. He’s an ass, but he’smyass, you know?”
I glance at Tillie over my shoulder. “What do you think?”
Tillie shudders against me. “We’ve got to get out of here. I’m barely holding it together. This pain… it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt. We have to trust. There’s no other choice.” She looks at our new friend. “What’s your name?”
She stands. “Just call me Kip. That’s what my friends call me and we’re now besties.” Her expression turns sour. “Let’s go. My brother’s in full hissy mode. He just got hit by my favorite smutty darkverse book.” She winks. “Poor guy, huh? If he read more, he’d know how rough the darkverse can get.”
Kip steps around me and I turn to follow her lead as she moves toward the aisle. As soon as we reach it, I grab her arm and tug her out of the path of another airborne book.
“Oh, I love that book too—the nest was amazing and the rutting washot.” Kip giggles, then looks sheepish about it. “Thanks for the assist.” She descends a few steps and then turns to check on us. “He finally found me. Prepare for an epic tantrum.”
The SWAT guy I planned to throttle races up the steps toward his sister who gives him a sassy wave.
“Fuck, come on,” he growls, seizing her arm and dragging her down the stairs, closer to the stage and also the ramp leading to the exits.
I follow closely behind them and, as soon as we make it around the blind corner and the doors are in sight, Kip turns toward her brother. “Jax, my friends… we’ve got to get them out too.”
Without even acknowledging us, he snaps, “They aren’t my problem.”
With surprising force, Kip yanks free of her brother’s hold and slams her hand into his chest. “I’m not leaving without them, so either help all of us or take a hike. There are plenty of books to lob before you and your enforcer buddies quit playing nice.”
He angrily flips up the clear shield on his helmet and leans menacingly toward Kip. “This place is insane. You shouldn’t have come.”
Kip scoffs impressively. “Well,Captain Gaslighting, whose fault is that? We were enjoying a nice lecture before you fuckers showed up. Who even called this in? Answer that riddle, brain trust.”
His face contorts, becoming more petulant if that’s possible. “That’s above my pay grade.”
“Which is super convenient, isn’t it?”
Jax pauses, listening to something in his earpiece, and then swiftly grabs his sister and shoves her toward the door. “They’re breaching the other side of the auditorium and backstage, because I haven’t gotten you out yet.” He glances at us. “Stay close. We’ll talk outside.”
With him as our escort, we walk toward and then beyond a dozen soldiers who wait until we’re past to rush toward the omegee uprising. Outside the main doors, I’m rattled at the massive police presence, enough officers to arrest everyone in the city. I never would have gotten Tillie out with this army waiting.
An older man with dark grey hair, who carries himself like he runs the place, walks toward us. He’s not in uniform, but he’s a cop. “Good job, Jax.” He tuts at Kip, his expression warm. “Nice flowers.”
