16
I had a few dresses for formal occasions, but who knew if these dresses would be enough for a high class formal party. I heard the front door open and suddenly shut.
"Amara!" I heard Rafael call out frantically. Confused I moved out into the hallway. He called my name once more with a bit of edge. He was coming up the stairs when I saw him.
"What is it?" I asked worriedly and he just approached me and wrapped his arms around me tight.
"¿Qué pasa?" I asked. (What's the matter?) He pulled back and just looked me over.
"Olivia told me some horrible news and I just couldn't stand to be away from you any longer." he said. I nodded taking his hands.
"Let's talk in your room." I said and we walked to his room and I let him explain about this serial killer that was murdering African American beta women. He was pacing in front of the bed as I was sitting atop of it.
"But how does this man or woman know that these specific women are betas?" I asked. He shrugged.
"Who knows. He probably watches them, learn their routines and then picks a time to strike." he replied and I looked down some.
"Well, I may not know Olivia very well, but I am sure she and her team will catch this person." I replied. He nodded placing his hands on his hips.
"Be honest with me, mami… has anyone from AntiDom tried to make contact with you?" he asked. I shook my head.
"No. My last meeting with any member was Orion at the precinct." I told.
"You're sure?" he asked sharply. I nodded.
"Yes, I am sure. There's been no retaliation from AntiDom on me." I said and he sighed and I crawled to the end of the bed taking his hand.
"Look we have no idea if this person will ever come into our lives and we cannot let them strike fear in us." I told. He just stared down at me with a soft gaze as he gently shook his head.
"You didn't see their faces, Amara… you didn't see their pale skin on that table. Their hair, their ages, everything you fit the profile of who this maniac is targeting. I don't ever want to feel what those alphas are feeling right now: loss, pain, uncontrollable anger and rage. The two of us just got to a good place together and I don't want anything to happen to you." he explained raising his hand and touching it to my cheek. I could hear the obvious pain in his voice. I personally don't believe that I would be targeted, but then again you never know until it happens. I nodded slowly.
"Has news of this person been broadcasted into the news?" I asked.
"Not yet, but soon they will be." he replied and I nodded.
"Okay well I'll keep my meetings at school brief, I'll cut back on my jogging and only go on campus until they are caught. I'll do my best not to be alone if I can help it." I replied. He looked down some.
"Could I convince you to skip your meetings and just come straight home?" he asked. I winced.
"And live in fear? I'm sorry, but I cannot do that, I won't." I replied holding his hand in mine once more. He nodded.
"At least I could say I tried. Just please be careful text me where you're going even if you don't get a response?" he asked. I nodded smiling warmly and kissing the top of his hand.
"I will. Now, I need to pick out a dress to wear to this thing you've invited me to." I said and got up and left the room.
Within a few hours, I was finishing the last few touches on my hair, pinning a tight bun on the top and letting the rest hang over my shoulders. I was in a black dress that had a vertical circle cut out in the back. It was tight around the bust area, so it pushed my breasts up a bit. I could hear Rafael coming up behind me. He was in a nice suit with a black tie, his hair beautifully combed as usual. I wasn't paying much attention, until suddenly his hands came around my neck with a rose gold necklace with a tear drop pendent on the end. I gasped as it shined already around my neck.
I let my fingers graze the pendent, and I turned and looked up at him with bright eyes.
"It's beautiful, Rafael. Thank you." I said standing up and he smiled down at me.
"Anything to see you smile, mami." he said. I smiled up at him and leaned forward kissing him gently.
"What did I do to deserve this beautiful necklace?" I asked. He looked down at my neck with a warm smile before looking up at me.
"Truthfully… while you were in the holding cell when we first met I left to call your parents and while they were on their way here, I went to the jewelry store and bought it in hopes it would get you to like me." he said. My eyes softened at his words and I would have went aww, but I refrained. I touched the necklace once more.
"You have good timing… if it was still weeks ago I probably would have thrown it at you in anger with assumptions you were trying to buy my feelings." I said and now he laughed.
"That's definitely something you would do. ¿Estas listo para ir?" he asked. (Are you ready to go?) I nodded and he held his arm out to me. I wrapped my arm around his and we left the room.
"So are all of these your friends from the precinct?" I asked as we now made our way through the house and out the door. Rafael nodded once.
"More like acquaintances, and a few others you don't know from the political side of my life. I guarantee you will have an amazing time." he said. I smiled and nodded.
"I can't wait to meet them." I said causing him to smile wide. Once we got out to his car, Rafael opened the door for me and I got in. We drove into the city, and I couldn't help but be curious of who he associated with. Were they rich spoiled alphas? Did they demand and parade their betas around? If I was uncomfortable there would he care, or do what he could to save face with his friends? I was so lost in thought that I did not notice him glancing back at me.
"What are you thinking about?" I hear him ask, and I looked at him before looking at him with a light smile.
"Nothing." I replied, and he glanced at me.
"Come on mami, I can see it in your eyes you seem worried." he said. I felt a light knot form in my stomach before looking at him.
"Who are these people we are seeing? Are they just some people you are trying to impress? Will they parade their betas around like show dogs? Will you try and impress them by showing me off?" I asked softly and his eyes hardened, but in show of concern than anger.
"No nothing like that! I would never do such a thing to you." he said, and I looked at him for a long moment.
"But these people may do that?" I asked and he was hesitant.
"Amara, I can't control the actions of other people especially other alphas." he started, but my quick nodding stopped him.
"I understand. Not everyone can be as understanding and kind hearted as you." I said placing my hand over his leg and he smiled.
"Well I've never been called kind hearted before." he said dryly, and I just chuckled and looked ahead.
I had my phone in a small clutch purse with me and it vibrated. I pulled it out and knew the number all too well even if it wasn't saved in my phone. It was Billy. He had been both messaging me and calling me and I knew why. He had heard about the serial killer, obviously and had been sending me news articles and texts of worry for my safety.
"Who is that?" Rafael asks pulling me from my thoughts, and I looked up at him.
"No one important." I said putting my phone away, but the look of annoyance was already spreading over his face. He sighed heavily.
"Amara you promised. You promised you were done with Billy Conlan." he said, the anger apparent in his tone. I was still for a moment nodding numerous times.
"I am. He was just texting me his concerns. He knows about this killer out there, the neighborhood betas came to the house earlier to warn me as well. Everyone is just looking after their loved ones." I said. He scoffed some and looked out the window.
"Loved ones." he muttered, and my jaw tightened at my use of words.
"I didn't mean it like that. Sooner or later my parents will find out and will ask me to just move back with them until this person is caught." I said and he exhaled heavily through his nose.
"I just don't want there to be any secrets between us." he said and I nodded.
"Of course. Look he only messaged me today and I have told him that I am fully aware and that I will be fine and safe." I told him as we stopped at a red light. Finally he could look at me and read my eyes. I stared at him sincerely and seriously. "I know our relationship wasn't built on trust and I fully understand after what I did with Billy you will have doubts. But I don't want to put that stress on your soul ever again." I held my left hand out to him, palm up and he just gazed at me gently before placing his hand in it and curling them together and raising my hand to kiss the top of my palm. I smiled warmly and he drove through the green light.
Within thirty minutes, we arrived at some large mansion owned by some childhood friend and state senator, Alex Munoz and his beta and wife, Yelina. As we entered, we were greeted immediately by friends of Rafael's. They all smiled and shook his hands and gave warm, but dry smiles to me. By now I got to see Olivia and all of the cops from the precinct and a few other alphas and their betas. Most of them didn't say much during conversations between alphas, so I knew I most likely couldn't either. Amanda was the only one speaking alongside Olivia, but they were all surrounded by other detectives so it was like alphas and betas didn't exist in the group at all. Fin was here with a beautiful dark-skinned woman with soft curls and a pretty smile. Carisi didn't have anyone at his side. Did he not have a beta… was he a beta?
I could tell it was not my place to go over and ask though.
"I've got to say, Rafi, I never thought you'd ever snag a beta especially one as beautiful at this young gem such as this." Alex complimented turning my attention from the group of detectives to my alpha and his friends. Rafael smiled placing a hand on my lower back. All the alpha men and women smiled and laughed observing me.
"Well the universe works in mysterious ways." he said smiling at me. Now all attention was on me and I did not like that.
"So tell me, Amara, is it? What is it you are going to school for?" Alex asked and I glanced at Rafael to see if he wanted to speak for me but he gave a curt nod and I smiled and looked at Alex.
"Journalism." I replied. Alex nodded as if impressed. Yelina just looked down as if not wanting to be a part of this conversation. Me too girl, me too.
"Have you ever thought of campaigning? I'll soon be running for mayor. I know I could use your journalistic mind on some things." he said. I could see Yelina hide her scowl. She did not like where this conversation was going so I just politely shook my head.
"Me? Oh no I know nothing about politics. I'd probably be a distraction to you with my many mess ups." I said. Alex just nodded slowly.
"Well if you ever interested, let me know. We can get together." he said. I immediately felt Rafael's hand mildly tighten a bit on my back. I just nodded.
"Thank you." I replied. I managed to politely slip away and move across the other side of the hall toward a window. It was exactly what I expected. But I couldn't blame Rafael he can't control others. At least he said nothing to belittle me or treat me like I was second class and for that I was thankful for. I drank my red wine and in silence and just looked out the window before finding myself on a beautiful balcony.
"Hey you're missing the party." I hear Olivia say. I turn and see her in a golden dress and slowly I shook my head.
"This party is for your kind." I said looking away ignoring her look of confusion. She hid it well with a smile.
"My kind?" she asked. I just looked at her knowing full well that she knew what I meant. She nodded slowly and looked back toward the party. "In your world you see segregation… but in my world, I see it too." I looked at her confused and she smiled looking toward Amanda.
"I have spent most of my life rejecting the idea of a beta. I don't necessarily think it's right that the cosmos created an alpha and a beta, but I do like that we all have the freedom to make a choice. Even though some betas don't want to be with their alphas, and in some rare cases alphas don't want to be with their betas, we are out there making sure everyone still has their freedom of live how they want. Amanda didn't have to accept me, because she was seeing men and she felt trapped and that her life would be changing, but she gave me a chance and soon accepted me. You really didn't have to accept Barba, but you two are making it work. You're choosing to and from what I can see you both seem really happy. But whatever your choice is- no one has the right to tell you how to live your life." she said. I scoffed mildly and sipped my wine.
"You were all planning to send me to prison if I didn't help you stop AntiDom and sign myself over to him." I said, and she nodded with a motherly smile.
"But that deal has been long gone. And you are still here." she pointed out and I looked at her and thought about her words. When Rafael told me that I was no longer to help with their case after speaking with Orion, he indeed was taking our deal off the table. I was free to leave the minute I promised to stay away. I looked up at Olivia to her smiling.
"Don't over think it." she merely replied and turned and moved back to talk to her coworkers. As she left, Rafael came up to me and smiled.
"You were talking to Olivia, that can't be good." he teased placing his and on the small of my back. I smiled.
"We were just getting to know each other." I said, and he smiled and nodded.
"Well I hope you are still enjoying the party. I know Alex can be a bit of a flirt, but he'd never over step, he loves his wife." he said. I kept the scoff of disbelief low.
"It seems he just likes to play the field knowing his beta has no choice but to stay." I replied. He looked at me confused.
"Hey where did that come from?" he asked and I looked at him.
"Come on you really think the reason he'd want me to help with his campaign was just out of being kind and giving me a job? Did you not see Yelina's face" I asked. He looked down some nodding.
"Okay point taken." he replied. I nodded.
"You wouldn't have squeezed my back either if you didn't notice it." I replied with a smirk making him nod more.
"Alright. That is true. I didn't like him making any type of moves on you." he admitted. I nodded with a smile.
"It's okay. He's not my type." I teased and we shared a gentle laugh before he motioned his head back inside.
"I would love for you to get to know some more of my acquaintances." he said and I nodded with a smile.
"Alright." I responded and followed him back inside.
It was about one in the morning, when Rafael and I left his party. His coat was draped over my shoulders as it was cool out this morning. Rafael was mildly agitated due to Carisi and I sharing a few more interests in art and theater. Which honestly was a step forward because I thought he was a real jerk in the beginning. But as we spoke, he managed to have me chuckling over past cases he used to have have of which he completely messed up. To Rafael we were talking a bit more than usual.
"I can imagine he wants to be "besties" now so that you all can talk about Hamlet for over an hour. And I KNOW Hamlet." he said heatedly. I chuckled and stepped in front of him gripping his collar stopping him in his tracks, his eyes avoiding mine and a childish huff escaping him.
"I'm sorry darling. It was just nice getting to know your friends." I said. He glanced at me.
"More like coworkers." he mumbled. I leaned up on my tip toes and he looked at me closely.
"Yet you will always have my attention." I said and kissed him deeply. He replied almost immediately and wrapped his arms around my hips.
"Come on mami, let's get you home." he said against my lips. I agreed and we went home.
