Chapter Three
Grayson
"I didn't mean to scare you," Grayson said, lifting his hands up between their bodies.
The omega had jumped back, startled by Grayson coming out of the shadows. He wouldn't know that Grayson had been watching him since he'd arrived. He felt like a stalker of the highest order, but he couldn't get Lochlan out of his head, or the fact that there was more to the omega than met the eye.
"Mr. Davenwood," Lochlan replied, relaxing his body ever so slightly. "The rest of them are inside still. I had to make it an early night."
"Big weekend ahead of you?" Grayson asked, feeling stupid. He hated small talk, refused to engage in it. But with Lochlan, he didn't know what else to say. Only knew he wanted him to stay around.
"Of course. I have to prepare for my first full day on Monday," Lochlan replied smoothly. Too smoothly. He stepped to the side as if trying to get around Grayson, but Grayson mimicked his movement.
"Yes, big day. Maxocine trials."
Lochlan only nodded. Neither of them spoke again, and the atmosphere turned awkward. Grayson found himself in an unusual predicament of not knowing what to do. He always knew. But now, did he tell Lochlan he recognized him? Ask him about the baby? Did he pretend that Lochlan wasn't the pregnant omega from years ago and ask him out on a date? Why? So he could have meaningless sex that would just leave him feeling worse?
The very thought of meaningless sex seemed to take on meaning as Grayson imagined it, throwing him further off kilter. Meaningless sex? Who said anything about meaningless sex? Lochlan was first, an employee of his company. He couldn't do anything with him.
"So, I guess this is goo—"
"Do you have a kid?" Grayson blurted out.
Lochlan's expression faltered for a fraction of a second. Grayson doubted anyone other than him would have noticed, only because no other person would have been as enthralled by every movement of Lochlan's face. He was though, and he saw it, the moment of fear before he smiled widely again.
"I'm not married, Mr. Davenwood," he replied from under his lashes.
Alarms went off in his brain. This omega was lying to him. But why? "You don't have to be married to have a child," Grayson replied.
Lochlan's face was one of mock shock. "Mr. Davenwood, that is scandalous. Now, I really should get going," Lochlan said, taking a giant step around Grayson. He had to walk in the street for a moment to get around, and Grayson wasn't about to force him further into traffic to stop him. This wasn't over though. Lochlan had lied to him. Grayson needed to know why.
"Of course, I will see you on Monday, Mr. Varner," Grayson replied.
Lochlan nodded once and hurried down the sidewalk. He reminded Grayson of a frightened rabbit, though Grayson wasn't sure exactly why he was frightened. He waited until Lochlan turned the corner and then took off after him. He didn't have a choice at that point.
The same drive that kept him going on a trial well past the point where many others would have called it a failure was the same drive that propelled him now. He had to slow his gait once or twice to keep from catching up but followed until Lochlan took the steps down into the subway. Grayson frowned. The subway wasn't the safest place at this time of night. But, how would he explain his presence if Lochlan spotted him on a platform?
Grayson hesitated, trying to come up with a believable excuse when he heard a high scream from below. He took the steps three at a time, flying down them until he landed on the platform. He spotted Lochlan about fifty feet ahead, and his heart seemed to stop as he saw what was happening.
There was a rough looking alpha pointing his finger at Lochlan as a small omega cried behind him. Lochlan stood tall as the omega's protector, and when the alpha lunged forward, Lochlan smoothly reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial of pepper spray. He pushed down on the bottle, covering the alpha's face with a fine spray of the liquid. The alpha dropped, rubbing at his eyes as Lochlan turned back to the omega who was bleeding from his lip. He did a double take, noticing Grayson standing at the steps like a statue.
"Mr. Davenwood?" Lochlan asked, visibly deflating, standing a little less tall as Grayson approached them.
For the briefest moment, Grayson had seen him as he probably was. Strong and confident. Lochlan's hand hadn't trembled in the slightest as he defended himself and the omega behind him. While Grayson was furious that such a thing had even been necessary, he was stunned and in awe by his omega's cool and collected response.
"I heard a scream and…" Grayson stopped talking before he said too much.
Someone must have called the authorities because two cops arrived then. They looked from Grayson to the man on the ground.
"Well done, Sir," the one officer said to him.
"No, it wasn't—"
"Any more than we all expect of our wonderful boss," Lochlan said, cutting him off. He'd pocketed the spray and was now pulling the omega to his feet. "If you have this handled, I should get going."
"Is he okay?" Grayson asked, looking at the omega with the bleeding lip. His clothes were dirty but thick enough to keep him warm. His face was covered in acne, and he looked a few days away from his last shower. Most striking to Grayson though was his eyes, wide and full of fear. He'd seen the same expression in his best friend's face so many times as they had grown up. He didn't see the same in Lochlan though. He looked determined.
"I'm going to take him to get taken care of," Lochlan said with the other omega's arm in his.
"The hospital? I can drive you."
"No," Lochlan replied.
At the same time, the omega croaked, "No hospitals."
"Then where?" Grayson asked while his alarms went off again. He knew the omega had been through something horrible, but Grayson's instincts were telling him not to trust him. He certainly didn't want him walking off with Lochlan.
"I know a friend," Lochlan said, his voice soft.
"Then I will help you bring him to your friend."
Lochlan pressed his lips into a firm line. "I can handle it, really. I know I'm just an omega but—"
"Who said anything about you being an omega? That has nothing to do with anything. I'm just trying to help you."
Lochlan's hold on the omega was firm. "Then trust me to do this," Lochlan whispered.
Grayson didn't want to. Every cell in his being rejected the idea of letting Lochlan alone with the shifty omega but Lochlan clearly needed this from him. And dammit, Grayson wanted to give him what he needed. "You'll call my cell if there are any problems?" He leveled a hard stare at the omega. "Any problems."
The omegas were already walking toward the subway car. "Yes, of course. Goodnight."
Grayson stomped forward, pulling a card out of his pocket. "You don't have my number," he said pointedly. "This is my private cell. I expect a call the moment you are back home and safe, Lochlan. Do not make me wait and worry."
There was confusion on Lochlan's face and then nothing but fierce determination as he took Grayson's card. Lochlan pulled the omega onto the subway car with him, and when the doors shut, the car zoomed down the tunnel. Grayson turned back to the police who were watching paramedics apply first aid to the injured alpha before they could arrest him. He sighed and wondered how he'd gotten himself into such a predicament. As he returned to the bustle, he looked down and noticed a card, like his own business card, stuck to his shoe.
At first, he thought it was his card and that Lochlan had tossed it. He angrily yanked it off his shoe to find that it wasn't his but propaganda of some sort. It had the letters AOE on the front. The back simply said, 'Equality for All' over the image of a bird in flight. Instead of tossing it, something told Grayson to pocket the card. He followed his instinct while trying to ignore the suspicion that there was so much more to Lochlan Varner than he was letting on.