Page 40 of Omega’s Oath

“What samples?” Omega felt a rolling bile crawl up his throat waiting for her reply.

“The donor samples for her treatment.”

Omega got up from the desk, knocking the chair to the ground, the room spinning as his vision went red. He lifted his hands, not knowing what to do with himself as anger consumed him, and the ripples this could have on Rose and Jude’s lives. “How could you be so selfish?”

Cruz shot him a look and he sat, wrestling his fury under control to get the answers he still needed.

“I was jealous, okay. Rose had it all, the friends, she was beautiful, and she was free. She got away.”

“So, you thought you’d fuck up her life and play God for a nice new car.”

Cheryl was crying now, and Cruz shot him a warning look again to take it down a notch.

He gave a short nod and softened his voice even though he wanted to rail against her for what she’d done to the woman he loved. “So, you switched the samples. Did Harlan say what his intention was?”

“He wanted to win her back. He said if they had a baby together, she’d see they were meant to be together. He was furious when you came along and said if he couldn’t make her see reason, he’d have to shake things up.”

“What did he mean by that?”

“He was trying to scare her into turning to him, but it backfired, and he got angry. He’d had a key made for her house and he’d go in and move things, or mess around with the place in some subtle way. Mom found out what I’d done. She found a text from Harlan and threatened to tell Rose.”

“That’s why you killed her and framed your dad?”

“Yes.” The tissue was a shredded mess between her nervous fingers now.

“Where is Harlan now?”

“I don’t know. He disappeared a few weeks ago and said if he couldn’t do it the easy way, he’d find another way.”

“Cheryl, how long has Harlan been stalking Rose?”

“I don’t know but by what he said, it’s been a few years. It started just after his wife died.”

“Jesus Christ.”

Cheryl leaned forward and grabbed his hands. “You have to help her. He’s dangerous. He threatened my kids’ lives if my mother told Rose. I wish I’d never met him.”

Omega dragged his hands away, not able to bear the touch of a woman who’d sell out her sister for a new car. “I’ll look after Rose.”

“What will happen to me now?”

Omega was done so he let Cruz take this. He hit dial on his phone as he half-listened to Cruz tell her that she’d be interviewed about the murder of her mother in detail and charged. Omega waited for Rose to pick up his call and cursed when it went to voicemail.

A pit in the base of his belly began to squirm with fear as he rang again and got the same response.

He left the room as Quint walked toward him. “We have an APB out on Harlan Goodwin.”

“I need to contact Rose.”

He saw the look of sympathy pass over the other man’s face, his jaw flinching in anger as he nodded.

After the last attempt he was in full panic mode. Cruz was walking toward him, looking equally pissed off but hiding it better. “Can you get a hold of Mickie and find out if she’s with Rose? I can’t reach her.”

“Sure.”

Omega watched like a hawk, not able to suppress the fear in his belly that clawed with talons at his insides.

“Hey, Mickie, is Rose with you?” Cruz looked up at him sharply and Omega fought the urge to throw up. “No that’s fine. I’ll call you back.” Cruz hung up and closed his eyes for a second. “She says Rose called to say she was meeting with her sister and she’d catch up with her another time.”

“Harlan’s got her!”

Cruz stepped forward and clamped a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t know that, so let’s find out before we leap to conclusions. I’ll call Condor and have him check the camera feeds around Rose’s place and we’ll head over to her house.”

Omega shook his head. “Condor is meeting up with his friends, Reid and Liam. They’re here for a few days on a job from the UK. He’s out of the office all afternoon.”

“Well, I’ll ask Hawk. Maybe having a couple of extra bodies around will be good but let’s wait and see. She might have just gone shopping with someone else.”

Omega shook his head. He knew as sure as he stood there that Harlan had made his move and had Rose and Jude.