Page 29 of And Omega Makes Four
"Umm..." I turn in my seat, so I can look back at Frankie. "You wanna explain, Frankie? I wasn't there when she told you guys about it."
"Oh." Frankie clears his throat and shares everything Jenna told them about her relationship with River's mother. How close they'd been and how she'd promised to look after him.
River is silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable as he looks out the window at the passing scenery.
When he looks back at us, none of us are prepared for what he says.
"My mother's alive."
20
FRANKIE
It's been a few hours since that car ride, and I'm still not sure I completely understand the plan we devised in the aftermath of River's revelation, but there's no going back now.
One way or another, we're committed.
I take a deep breath as I drive up the long driveway toward the front gate of the compound. I'm alone in the station wagon because the others have split off to handle their respective roles.
My palms are sweaty as I pull up to the gate, but I somehow manage to stay calm when I'm stopped by the guards.
"Who are you? You better have a good reason for being here." A large meathead alpha tries to intimidate me after I roll down my window.
I'm the only one whose face hasn't been seen by any members of River's pack. There’s always a chance they might recognize my scent from the hotel room or from when River was picked up, but so far, it seems like I'm in the clear.
Plus, we opened like...a dozen of those car freshener things and stuffed them in every single crack of the station wagon's interior. So that's definitely gonna confuse things a bit.
"I'm here to speak with Charles," I say as clearly as I can manage. "I've got news about his son that he's gonna want to hear."
"You can leave any information with me." The guard narrows his gaze, not buying my story. "I'll make sure he gets it."
"No, I need to speak to him directly." I shake my head, holding my ground. "This is sensitive information that I can only share with him."
The guard frowns at me, his expression suspicious.
"Please," I add, trying to sound as sincere as possible. "It's about his son. It's important."
"Uh-huh..." The guard clearly isn't interested, but his radio crackles to life a moment later.
"What the fuck is going on down there?"
"Some bozo’s here claiming he's got info on the kid but won't tell anyone but Charles," the alpha says, keeping an eye on me as he talks into the radio.
"Then process him and get his car out of the way," the other voice snaps. "He's blocking the gate, and the northern pack entourage is due any minute."
"Understood." The alpha releases the button his radio and turns back to me. "Get out of the car and come with me."
I smile politely and do as he says, following him into the compound as he orders someone else to move my car. I'm patted down, and the station wagon is moved through the gate and parked in a lot with a bunch of other vehicles.
For an isolationist pack, they certainly have a lot of wheels.
"Alright, let's go." The alpha grabs my arm and drags me toward the main building.
I don't resist, letting him manhandle me as he leads me inside.
The compound is bustling with activity and people rushing around, preparing for the arrival of the northern pack. There's a somber air permeating everything, as if everyone is resigning themselves to some awful fate.
After what River told us about the northern pack, they just might be.
