It was an alpha, from the broad shoulders and muscular body. A man with cold beady eyes and a messy beard. Stormremembered that face from their meeting near Linus’ apartment building.
Dert Waters. And he was here, snooping around Linus’ Jeep.
Storm’s stomach dropped.
He turned them around abruptly, pulling Linus against himself. His thoughts raced. He couldn’t kill Dert if Dert hadn’t laid a finger on Linus. But Storm was equally unwilling to let Linus get hurt, just so he could end that alpha.
“Storm?” Linus squeaked.
“I forgot something at Sweet Creams,” Storm lied to spare Linus a panic attack. “At least, I think it’s there. Let’s go look.”
It took everything he had to turn his back on the threat, and walk away.
“Hey, you!” Dert yelled from across the parking lot.
Linus froze. Storm cursed inwardly and hauled him along the sidewalk.
“S-Storm?” Linus mumbled.
“I got you. Let’s keep going, sweetheart.”
Linus swallowed noisily. “I thought I heard...”
“He’s no one you need to bother with.” Storm’s heart pounded. He itched to grab the gun in his jacket. He itched to slam a brass knuckle into Dert’s jaw, and shatter bone.
Not right now. Not in front of Linus.
Storm gritted his teeth and all but dragged Linus back into his mom’s ice cream shop.
Maiz jumped when they came through the door.
“Just need to use the back room for a bit,” Storm said.
Maybe it was the look in his eyes; Maiz didn’t question him.
“Storm,” Linus began.
Storm brought him to the back room and cast his gaze around for ideas. There were a few storage racks packed with ingredients. “Hey, are there enough things in here to make a dessert? We should make something.”
“What?” Linus furrowed his brow. “This is my mom’s stuff. We can’t just—”
“It’s important, trust me. I need you to make a dessert with what you can find here, but it can’t be ice cream,” Storm said desperately.I don’t even know what I’m saying.“Could you gather the ingredients, at least?”
He looked into Linus’ eyes and hoped the distraction would be enough.
“Fine,” Linus grumbled.
Storm dropped a kiss on his forehead and slipped out of the back room, shutting the door behind himself.
Two seconds later, Dert Waters stepped into the ice cream shop.
Maiz looked over, freezing when he caught sight of Dert’s thunderous expression.
Ah, fuck.Storm joined the omega behind the counter. “Hey, Maiz.” He cupped his hand and whispered in Maiz’s ear, “Do me a favor. Go join Linus in the back room; make sure he stays in there until I say it’s okay to come out. But wait ‘til this jerk shutshis mouth before you open the door. I don’t want Linus hearing his voice.”
Maiz nodded jerkily, his eyes still glued on the newcomer.
“Shoo.” Storm nudged him in the arm. “Get going.”
