~Sky~
I was sitting on Daniel's couch pretending to scroll through my phone like a normal person when he finally came out of the shower, towel around his waist, hair dripping, looking like he just stepped out of one of those stupid alpha thirst traps people post online.
"Morning again," he said, voice still rough from sleep. "You eaten yet?"
I held up the half-eaten toast I'd made earlier. "Trying to. You take forever in there. What, you washing your regrets too?"
He snorted, grabbed a shirt from the chair. "Yeah, the big one about bringing home strays who might be serial killers."
I laughed, sharp, it kind of hurt in my stomach. "Ouch. That hurt? Thought I was the victim."
He pulled the shirt on, sat next to me. Close. Too close. His knee bumped mine. "You know you're so fucking cute when you're all this… ."
I rolled my eyes so hard I felt dizzy. "Wow. All what…. ."
He stared at me. Long. Like he was trying to read my soul through my pupils. "Sky. Seriously. You need to stop looking at big Alphas with those eyes. ."
I sighed. Dramatically . . "Then arrest me. Cuff me. Do your big bad profiler thing. But you won't, will you? Because deep down you like having me here.
He flinched. Just a little. But I saw it.
Before he could answer, his phone buzzed on the table. He grabbed it, face going serious. "Team. They need me in early. New lead on the Dollmaker."
I perked up. "Oh? Like what?"
He read through it and then…
" Possible sighting of the killer prepping another grab. Pregnant omega this time. And.. Hold on, please don't ask me about such again, it's classified damn. "
My stomach dropped so fast I almost puked toast. Pregnant. Fuck. That was supposed to be tonight. My team had the target lined up, Renn, the mean little bitch who'd made life hell for half the omegas back in the group home days.
I forced a smile. "Sounds important. Go save the day, hero. And yeah I've heard you."
He stood. Grabbed his jacket. "Stay here. Lock the door. Don't answer for anyone."
"Yes, dad."
He paused at the door, looked back. "I'm not kidding, Sky."
"I know." I gave him my sweetest smile. "Come back safe."
He left.
The second the door shut I was on my burner phone, fingers flying.
*Abort. Abort now. Daniel's team is onto the pregnant one. Cops incoming. Pull back.*
Vivi's reply: *Too late. Grek already grabbed him. Warehouse 9. Get here fast.*
I cursed. Loud. Threw the phone on the couch. Grek. That hotheaded alpha moron always jumped the gun. Literally.
I grabbed my hoodie, mask in the pocket, slipped out the back way. Heart pounding. If Daniel's team showed up first... everything would blow up.
I got to Warehouse 9 in twenty minutes, I used my back up bike, you wouldn't want to know how fast this thing moves and or how I got it. The place stank of oil and old metal. I pushed the side door open, mask on, hood up.
Inside, Grek was holding Renn by the throat against the wall. Renn, round belly, terrified eyes, mouth taped. Vivi standing back, arms crossed. Two other guys from the crew, silent muscle.
Grek turned when he heard me. "About time, princess."
I yanked the mask down just enough to talk. "I said abort, you idiot. Cops are coming. Let him go."
Renn's eyes went wide. He saw my face. No mask. Full view. Shit.
Grek laughed. Mean. "Too late for that. He saw you. And this one's special. Remember what he did?"
I stepped closer. "Yeah. I remember."
Renn had been the worst back then. Seventeen, omega, pregnant the first time already. Thought it made him untouchable. He'd corner the younger ones in the dorms, me included steal their food rations, mock their scars, call them "used goods" while rubbing his belly like it was a trophy. One night he pushed Mira down the stairs because she wouldn't give up her blanket. She broke her arm. Nobody did shit because Renn was "carrying." The alphas running the place just laughed. And now he was having second baby.
He'd made sure every omega knew their place: below him.
I hated him. But I didn't want him dead. Not with the baby.
"Grek," I said, voice low. "We keep him alive. The kid's innocent."
Grek snorted. "The kid? This fucker's carrying another monster. Just like him."
"Shut up." I grabbed his arm. "We pose them when they're broken. Not when they're pregnant. That's the line."
He shoved me off. Hard. I stumbled back. "Your line, not mine. This one's been begging for it since the day he kicked that kid in the ribs for looking at him wrong."
Renn whimpered behind the tape. Tears running.
Vivi stepped in. "Sky's right. Baby changes things. We can hold him. Re-educate. Or drop him somewhere safe after."
Grek's face twisted. "Safe? After what he did to half of us? Nah. He dies. Clean and uick."
"No." I got between them. "We don't kill pregnant omegas. Ever."
Grek pulled a knife. Fast. Pressed it to Renn's throat. "Move, Sky."
I didn't. "Try it."
He laughed again. "You gonna fight me? Little doll-maker?"
I lunged. Grabbed his wrist. Twisted. He roared, swung. I ducked. Punched him in the gut. He doubled over. Knife clattered. But I could see how hard he was trying not to hurt me.
Vivi yelled, "Stop it! Both of you!"
Grek straightened. Eyes wild. "You always do this. Get soft. That's why we never finish what we start."
"I'm not soft." I was shaking. "I'm not letting you kill a baby to feel tough."
He stared at me. Then at Renn. Then back.
"Fine," he spat. "Your call. But when the cops catch us because of your bleeding heart.. "
He lunged forward. Knife up. Not at me. At Renn.
I screamed. "NO!"
Too late.
The blade went in. Quick. Deep. Renn's eyes went wide. Body jerked. Blood everywhere. Grek pulled back. Renn slid down the wall, hands on his belly, gasping.
I dropped to my knees. "Renn fuck hold on "
He looked at me. Not hate. Just... sad. Like he finally understood.
Then nothing.
Grek wiped the knife on his pants. "There. Done."
I stared at the body. The blood pooling around the baby bump. Something broke inside me. Loud. Ugly.
I stood up slow. Turned to Grek.
"You fucking idiot."
He shrugged. "He saw your face. Had to."
I punched him. Hard. Nose cracked. Blood sprayed.
He swung back. Hit my jaw. Stars.
Vivi yelled, "Stop! Cops!"
Sirens. Distant. Getting closer.
Grek wiped his face. "We gotta go."
I didn't move. Kept staring at Renn.
"Sky!" Vivi grabbed my arm. "Now!"
I let her pull me. We ran. Out the back. Into the alley. Hearts slamming.
We split up. I ditched the hoodie in a dumpster. Walked normal. Casual. Like nothing happened.
Got back to Daniel's place before he did.
Showered. Hot. Scalding. Tried to wash the blood off my hands. It wasn't there. But I could still see it.
Sat on the couch. Shaking. This isn't the mentality of a serial killer, what in the fucking fuck was going on with me.