Scent of Deception (Bonds of Steele Omegaverse) by Laurel Night

Author:Laurel Night [Night, Laurel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-08-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

SAPPHIRE

“Someone knows? Knows what?” Rodie asked, puzzled.

But I knew exactly what Jasper meant. It was the thing I’d feared for the last six months, and especially in the last few weeks since arriving in Nashville and setting our plans in motion. My pulse immediately began to climb, blood rushing through my ears. Someone knows.

Jasper threw an envelope on the countertop. Winchester snatched it up while Jasper answered Rodie’s question.

“Knows that Sapphire isn’t a manifested omega.”

Rodie’s eyes widened as Winchester read the letter aloud. “Mister Whitfield: Congratulations on your recent nuptials. You may have fooled your family, but you haven’t fooled me. I imagine Pack Whitfield would pay handsomely to know their son is trying to defraud them with a beta masquerading as an omega… Not to mention the authorities. How much would you pay?” Winchester’s arms dropped and his eyes rose to meet Jasper’s. “They didn’t sign it, or give any instructions.” He flipped the envelope over. “It wasn’t mailed—how did you get this?”

“Wilmont found it on the windshield at the country club tonight. He was hanging out with some of the other drivers. He didn’t see whoever put it on the car. They don’t have cameras in that lot.”

“So it must be someone who was at the club,” Rodie hypothesized. “Surely the cameras at the door-”

Jasper cut him off. “That doesn’t mean much, unfortunately. Anyone can get on the grounds at the club, and tonight was the chamber meeting so a ton of people were there, plus I always go to those meetings. Anyone could have planted it.”

“Well, I don’t understand what we’re supposed to do with this.”

“We’re meant to be on edge and waiting for the next note, I’m sure. Maybe they’re hoping that if we’re stressed about it for a few days, we’ll be more pliable when they do eventually give us their demands.”

“What could they possibly want?” Rodie’s confusion was adorably naive.

“Money, obviously.” Winchester’s tone was gritty and harsh. “They want to be paid off to keep quiet. This is blackmail, Rodie. Plain and simple.”

“So we give them money and then what? What’s keeping them from telling Pack Whitfield or the police, or from demanding more?”

“That’s just it,” Jasper sighed. “There is no guarantee with blackmail. You just pay it and hope they keep their promises.”

“So we pay it,” Winchester growled. “I don’t like it but we don’t have any better options. The money doesn’t matter. What matters is that we keep this buried, at least long enough for you to get Whitfield Records.”

Jasper’s light eyes rose to Winchester’s dark gaze with concern. “What if they demand more than I can afford? I get a stipend from my fathers but it’s not as if I have a nest egg stashed away. My money all goes to maintaining appearances. Everything is wrapped up in my inheritance.”

“Jas, I told you, pack expenses come from my account. This is definitely something I’d consider a pack expense. Whatever it is, we’ve got it covered.”

Woah. I took a moment to steady myself with a hand on the counter, since my head was swimming.

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