At the same time, it was comforting to know it was an option. A recommended option, even.
I leaned against West as I scarfed down the rest of my grilled cheese. He was stiff as a board. Probably still upset at being called out for his lack of visits to Violet. There had to be a reason behind that, and I wanted to ask, but there were more pressing things to deal with.
Right now he just needed to know I cared about him despitemaybepreliminarily taking his sister’s side over the visits thing.
Everyone ate in silence for a while, but when Violet was done with her burrito bowl she piped up again. “How is Conrad doing? Not awake yet, right?”
Mercer shook his head. “Soon, hopefully. He had a lot of drugs pumped into him.”
“I would ask for details, but knowing your profession, I probably don’t want to know how he was injured.”
“Better if you don’t know,” West grunted.
Violet narrowed her eyes at him before turning her attention back to me. “I visited Conrad for a bit before you were out of heat. Wanted him to have some company. I hope that was alright.”
I hadn’t noticed her scent in his room at all. It should have lingered, considering all the seating was made of fabric. “Why wouldn’t it be alright?”
She cleared her throat awkwardly. “Unfamiliar omega in his space, and all that. I know omega scents around their mates really irks some of the girls here, especially around their heats. I tried to be respectful and sprayed scent eliminator everywhere I touched. He’s like family to me, so I couldn’t bear to not visit. I would have asked first if you’d been available, but, uh...”
I couldn’t help but smile. She was sweet to have considered it, but her worry was for nothing.
“I like your scent,” I admitted. “It reminds me of home, of my sisters and mom. You don’t have to worry about getting rid of it around me.”
Violet flushed. “Yours makes me think of home, too. The home I wanted, I mean, not the one I had—I don’t know how much West has told you about my past.”
“He hasn’t told me anything, don’t worry.”
She glanced between us. “I wouldn’t be upset if he did tell you. Might help you understand him better. But that’s for another day when there isn’t so much else going on.”
It was obvious that his overprotectiveness of me stemmed from Violet. My guess was he thought he was to blame for her being here. I could assume she disagreed, and I probably would too.
“It’s your story, Vi,” West mumbled. “I can’t tell it.”
“Tell your part in it, then.”
He grumbled something unintelligible. Mercer sighed, wrapping his arm around my waist and stealing me to lean against him instead.
“Are you and Lavinia getting along?” he asked.
Violet grinned. “She’s like the ultimate older sister. Pretty sure she thinks I’m annoying, but what older sister wouldn’t?”She must have noticed my confused forehead wrinkle, because she elaborated. “Lavinia is staying in my room with me. When she’s not having terse conversations with mafia people on the phone, anyway.”
Ah, so I didn’t need to be concerned about explaining my mafia heritage to Violet. Lav had already taken care of that.
“Ultimate older sister is a good way to describe her.” I laughed.
“Kind of like the female version of West, too. She’s super protective over you.”
I shrugged. “Always has been. We love her for it, though.”
“Sounds like we might get along,” West muttered.
Violet chuckled and stood up, stretching her arms over her head. “You’ll meet her soon, I bet. She’s itching to see Talia. I have some garden chores to do, but if it’s alright, can I come visit Conrad again after?”
“Definitely. We’re going right back to see him too,” I said.
My stomach was content after my grilled cheese, leaving me anxious to return to my mate. He would be awake soon—he had to be—and I didn’t want him to wake up alone surrounded by people he’d never met.
Violet waved goodbye, taking her bowl to the dish drop-off. I tried to stand, but West’s hands landed on my thighs and kept me seated.
