Broken Dreams (Unhingedverse)
Broken Dreams: Chapter 8

CALLUM

Linus slept for five hours with Makayla as I drove. During that time, I checked in with Morris, replaceing out that he’s been checking all police dispatch stations on his phone for any signs that Bret called in a missing omega. I don’t think he’d be stupid enough to do that, but stranger things have happened.

He was also watching all the cameras surrounding Slick Dreams both while we were in the club, on the way out, and now that we’re driving home. Morris has been on our six, supporting the mission without fail.

Unsurprisingly, Bret packed up the club early and has been on the move since four in the morning. Fucking bastard.

“Where are we?” Linus asks sleepily from the back seat. He sounds adorable.

I’m worried that Makayla is still sleeping, but she expended a lot of energy, and Linus doesn’t appear worried as he snuggles her against his chest. Her long hair is sticking to her face, the blanket wrapped around them. For some reason, I’m reminded of how they haven’t been allowed any blankets at all for years, and I’m tempted to fill a goddamn room full of them.

I want to spoil my omegas completely. That needs to start with some hard truths, though before I can do that.

“We’re almost to Milwaukee,” I tell him, stretching my neck muscles to relax them.

Duncan twitches at the sound of my voice since he fell asleep as well. I told him he should in case I needed him to drive later. We both cat napped during Quinn’s heat but not enough to be well rested.

“That gives us five more hours on the road,” my brother mumbles with a yawn that cracks his jaw.

“Um, where were we coming from?” Linus asks in a small voice.

Pretending that doesn’t make me want to fucking light Bret on fire, I simply say, “Detroit.”

“How is she doing?” Duncan asks, twisting in his seat. “I hope it’s not too tight back there.”

While the back seat is roomy for a truck, Linus has long legs. He’s got to be cramped. I’m going to need to buy an SUV. Not a big deal in the long run, I’m not hurting for money. I just want everyone to be comfortable.

“No, we’re good.” Linus says. “It feels nice to be able to snuggle under a blanket together without worrying about getting caught.”

Duncan makes a noise in the back of his throat that happens right before he kills people. I may be a hacker that makes good money for several mafia families as my day job, but we have no problem getting our hands dirty when needed. Duncan has several legitimate businesses he runs as well that bring in decent income. We’re neutral ground, which is why so many of the mafia families hire us as freelancers. It gives us a lot of flexibility to do whatever we want.

Our father doesn’t enjoy how much freedom we have, but I don’t really care. We have our omegas, he won’t ever be able to complain about who we settle down with again.

Speaking of fathers and families, I’ll have to deal with Quinn’s when the time comes. There’s so much to do when you replace a girl who’s been missing for twenty years.

“Ah, I went to sleep so I wouldn’t overthink this whole escape thing,” Linus says carefully. “I need to know more so I don’t freak out.”

“Do you want me to just start talking, or do you have specific questions?” I ask.

If his anxiety is beginning to spark, his thoughts may be moving too fast for him to ask questions. When things are overwhelming, figuring out the best way to disseminate information is important.

Blowing out a breath, Linus takes a moment before answering.

“Where do you live? Are you living in separate houses?” he asks.

“We’ve lived together our entire lives,” Duncan answers, taking a sip of water to pace his words. “We inherited a house soon after college, and during college we shared a house we rented.”

“Our rooms are always across from each other,” I continue. “My Grandma Diedre gave the house to us when he turned twenty-one. She bought it for herself initially, but decided it was too big for her and her pack after one of her mates died. She’s now in her eighties. My grandmother wanted us to have a house with character.”

“It’s definitely that,” Duncan says with a smirk. “We used to offer it up to the families for meetings and parties. It’s a great party house, but it’s also got good bones.”

“It’s safe too,” I murmur. It’s so natural for us to bounce back and forth in a conversation without talking over the other that I don’t even notice it.

I’m sure it’s a bit creepy for others though.

“Families?” Linus asks tentatively.

“The mafia families of Minneapolis,” I explain. “We’re a tight knit group, and fight like actual families as well.”

“Yes, some of the old men are stuck in the stone age and need a kick in the pants to accept change,” Duncan grumbles. “Minneapolis isn’t really the kind of place where you’ll replace turf wars, either.”

Well, not anymore, anyway.

“We also live outside of Minneapolis. It’s quiet and pleasant,” I add. “Are you worried that we’re criminals?”

“Not really,” Linus says. “I also don’t think upstanding people search for their lost childhood friend in a manner that actually works.”

“Ah, no. You’d be right about that. I had to tap into a contact or two on the dark web in order to do that,” I say. “We’ll keep you both safe.”

“Good,” he sighs. “After the way you handled the club, I don’t think I need to worry about that either.”

“So what are you worried about?” Duncan asks drolly.

“A lot,” he confesses. “I don’t know how I fit into all of this, but I know I can’t live without Makayla.”

“Okay,” I murmur. Fuck, here goes nothing. “We have something to tell you that may help with that part, but I have a few questions first. Is Bret doing something to mess with your biology?”

“That’s a very specific question,” Linus says, surprised.

Good, he’s smart. I want him to begin moving in the direction of what I need to tell him before I do it. It’ll make it easier to accept, I hope.

“Mmhmm,” Duncan says noncommittally, waiting. We are very comfortable with silence. Neither of us have any trouble waiting him out.

It’s several minutes before Linus begins to speak, but he finally gathers his thoughts. “Bret injects all of his omegas regularly with some kind of cocktail that’s supposed to be a birth control for the female omegas. Everyone receives something so he can control our heats, as well as antibiotics to keep us healthy since we see so many clients,” he says. “He’s gone in and stopped an omega’s heat if it seems to be going too long. It hasn’t happened in a few years, so I suspect that he’s gotten better at limiting how long his omegas’ heats go.”

They’re not his. Neither are you. I hold the words tightly to myself, because I don’t want to interrupt him. Cutting a glance at my older brother, I see that his fist is against his lips. Focusing back on the road, I force myself to listen while only glancing at Linus occasionally in the rearview mirror. It’s safer that way. I don’t want to crash.

“Makayla and I suspect that he’s doing something to fuck with our senses. It wouldn’t be good business for us to scent match with an alpha visiting,” he continues. Bingo. God, Bret is such a manipulative pencil dick. “I don’t know what kind of agreement he’s striking up with alphas who come to the club.”

“I read the paperwork sent over to me,” I say, feeling my anger building. Breathe, Callum. “Alphas agree that if they scent match with someone at the club that they won’t tell the omega. Nor will they attempt to remove them from the club.”

“So much for that,” Linus says with a soft snort. The sound makes me smile in amusement. I really like him. He’s got a good sense of humor despite everything, and I’ve also seen the fire inside of him.

I can’t wait to see the way he spreads his wings once he gets to experience his freedom. He may be my scent match, but I meant it about not clipping anyone’s wings. No matter how much I want to keep them safe.

I’m no better than Bret otherwise. The very thought contorts my face as I silently gag.

“Yes, well, we may have ignored that clause two fold,” Duncan says, seeing that I need a little help.

“Two…” Linus says before falling silent.

“When I walked closer to you to get water for Quinn, I realized something,” I say.

Just fucking say it! God, why am I so damn nervous? He’s absolutely going to freak out.

“Pull off the bandaid,” Linus says, gasping in a breath. “I need to hear it, Callum.”

“You’re ours too,” I say, feeling lightheaded. Fuck, it’s like when you get to the top of a rollercoaster and then get dropped straight down. It’s terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.

Makayla sighs softly in the back seat and I freeze, as does everyone in the truck. There are several tense moments before Linus speaks.

“She’s asleep again,” he says. “I don’t… I mean, we don’t get a lot of sleep so I think she may be out till we get to your house. I can’t guarantee it, but I’m hoping she is. This is something that you should tell her face to face. Seriously, we’re both your matches? What are the odds?”

“I think that’s one of the reasons Callum’s foot is so heavy on the gas,” Duncan mutters. “Jesus, slow down, man.”

Nodding, I raise my foot until it’s a decent speed and switch on the cruise control. He’s right. Getting pulled over would fucking suck. I can see Morris keeping up with me, staying close as we drive.

We’re both anxious to get to our destination and off the damn road.

“I don’t know what the odds are, but I’m eternally grateful for it,” I tell him truthfully. “It’s clear that you’re very close to her. You know her in ways we don’t anymore. This wouldn’t be an uneven relationship. It’ll just mean more communication to make sure everyone is getting what they need.”

My mind races as the miles between Michigan and us grow wider. This escape all hinges on Makayla and Linus not having trackers under their skin. I’m going to need to run an app on my phone over them.

Ugh, may as well do it now.

“Trackers,” I grunt, handing my phone to Duncan. “Can you replace the app I have to check for them and run it over them?”

“I never heard Bret say anything about trackers,” Linus admits. “It wouldn’t hurt to check, though.”

Duncan unbuckles as he turns on the flashlight on my phone, and gets on his knees as he faces the back seat, hanging over our seats to get closer to the omegas. My brother has a one track mind once he has a task to complete.

“You don’t even need to lift the blanket unless I ask,” he says softly, running it over both of them. Duncan makes sure to check their necks, back of their knees, and feet, but nothing sets off the app.

“I’m pretty sure Bret is too cheap for trackers too,” Linus teases as Duncan drops into his seat. “Guys, this is a lot to take in.”

“I know,” Duncan sighs as he puts my phone away. “How badly are you freaking out? I’m going to confess to wanting to wait till you were in the truck so you couldn’t run away screaming.”

The back seat is quiet until I realize Linus is shaking with silent laughter.

“Are you for real right now?” he asks, having to force himself to breathe. “Scent matching with someone is huge. I felt pulled to the two of you when I saw you, I just didn’t understand why. I thought I was beyond destiny smiling down on me like this.”

“Why?” I rasp, wondering how anyone in his early thirties can be this certain they don’t deserve what so many wish for.

“Who wants a pair of whores?” he whispers.

“I don’t care what your past looks like,” I say vehemently.

“All we want is today and all of your tomorrows,” Duncan rasps, rubbing the side of his face. We both have stubble from going days without shaving. Any longer, and we’ll look like the mafia criminals we are.

“Yesterday only helped make you who you are today,” I add. “I can tell you that I don’t see a single thing I don’t like, okay? No one chooses to be sold into sex slavery. Therefore, none of that acts as some kind of moral choice.”

“Wow,” Linus says, sniffling. “I’m going to need to keep pinching myself because I can’t believe you’re real.”

“We aren’t perfect,” I admit. “However, we’re pretty self aware. I’ve also made Adira promise to tell us if we’re being idiots. The urge to wrap you up in bubble wrap is riding me hard.”

“We won’t do that,” Duncan says quickly.

But we’ll still want to.