Chapter 94: #NINETY-FOUR

NICHOLAS’S POV

Fuck.

Sunlight streamed through the windows and I groaned, turning in bed.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Cassian sitting beside the bed with a mug in his hand. He noticed immediately that I was awake and leaned forward, holding the coffee out to me.

There was something almost strange about waking up and finding someone waiting for me instead of waking up alone and having to figure out where I was.

For a second, I simply stared at him, still trying to fully grasp myself, before I accepted the mug.

"Good morning," Cassian said, watching me carefully as I took the first sip. "I wasn’t sure whether you’d want coffee immediately or whether you’d rather sleep longer, so I brought it anyway. If you don’t feel like drinking it, I’ll take it back downstairs, but it should help if you feel sore or strung up."

"I appreciate it," I replied, looking down at the mug before taking another sip. "I slept longer than I expected, so I guess I really needed it."

Before Cassian could respond, Roman walked through the door carrying a tray filled with breakfast. He looked far too pleased with himself as he approached the bed and placed everything carefully on the table beside me.

"I brought breakfast, guys," Roman said, pulling the chair closer to the bed. "Hey Nicholas. You must be starving."

I stared at the amount of food on the tray. "You brought all this for me?"

Roman shrugged, but the small smile on his face gave him away. "Obviously. You love to eat."

The door opened again.

Elijah walked in, and the moment he saw that I was awake, his entire expression changed. He came straight toward the bed, leaned down and pressed a quick kiss against my forehead before sitting beside me.

"Well, hey, I was going to let you sleep," he said, reaching over to adjust the blanket around my legs. "Then something told me you were awake, and apparently I have no self-control when it comes to checking whether you’re okay."

I smiled despite myself. "I’m great."

Adrian entered a few seconds later, closing the door behind him. He looked more serious than the others as his gaze moved over everyone. "Ah, I see everyone is already here."

Elijah looked up at him. "So it is."

"How are you feeling?" Adrian asked as he sat beside me. "Is anything sore? Do you have a headache? Talk to me."

"I’m okay," I answered honestly. "I’m tired, but I don’t feel hurt."

Adrian nodded slowly, studying my face. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He seemed satisfied enough with that answer, although I could tell he was still watching me closely.

This was... Nice. It felt very nice having all of them here at my bed as I woke up. It made peace fill me and I don’t think I ever wanted to be anywhere else.

I looked at the breakfast tray, then at all of them. "Why don’t you guys eat too?"

Roman raised an eyebrow.. "We already ate."

"I don’t care," I said, pulling the tray closer. "Bring your food."

Cassian laughed. "Wow. You just woke up and you’re already giving orders?"

I laughed at that, and rolled my eyes. "I’m not giving orders. I’m asking."

"That sounded very much like an order." Elijah got up before the argument could continue. "Fine. I’ll bring mine."

Roman followed him, and Cassian eventually left too, muttering something about how apparently none of us were allowed to eat in peace anymore.

Adrian remained behind and he looked at me for a moment before shaking his head. "I’m kind of surprised. You’ve changed."

I frowned. "How?"

"You used to complain whenever we crowded you," he said, leaning back against the headboard. "Now you’re the one asking everyone to stay."

I looked down at my coffee. "I guess I find the company soothing now."

His expression softened. "Of course."

When the others returned, we ended up eating together on the bed, despite the fact that there was a perfectly good dining room downstairs. Roman complained that someone was going to spill something, but Cassian accused him of being unnecessarily dramatic.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I watched them, and for a second, I stopped eating, just staring at them.

Cassian noticed. "What?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

He tilted his head. "You were staring at us."

"So?" I smiled. "This is just very normal, and it feels like I just forgot what it felt like to have a normal morning."

Adrian reached over and squeezed my hand. "Every morning will be normal from now."

I looked at him with a grateful smile, then Adrian’s expression changed and he lowered his voice. "There is something we need to talk about."

I knew exactly what he meant.

Jayden.

I lowered my eyes and Adrian took my hand again.

"What happened yesterday can’t happen again with anyone else," he said carefully. "I’m not angry with you, Nicholas. But you can’t put a gun in your hand and decide someone’s fate while you’re overwhelmed by everything you’ve been through."

I swallowed. "I know, I know."

"No," Adrian said, keeping his voice calm. "I need you to understand what I’m saying. I don’t want you carrying that decision around for the rest of your life. Murder is a lot. I don’t want you carrying that burden."

I looked at him. "I... just didn’t want to feel powerless anymore."

His fingers tightened around mine. "But you’re not."

Cassian nodded from beside us. "None of us think you’re weak because you’re an Omega, Nicholas. You don’t have to become cruel just because other people have been cruel to you."

Right.

I nodded slowly. "I understand."

Adrian gave my hand another squeeze. "Good. Because if someone comes after you again, we’ll take charge. We should be the ones doing the dirty work for you."

Roman suddenly looked toward the basement door.. "What are we actually going to do about Jayden?"

The room became quiet and nobody answered immediately.

I knew what he was asking. What were we gonna do about the body?

Adrian’s expression hardened. "We’ll handle that today."

Cassian perked up. "Perhaps your personal guard could do it for us?"

Adrian immediately shook his head. "No loose ends. My dad would pick in on him. We’ll dispose of it ourselves. Got it?"

Everyone hummed in agreement and I nodded. "Got it."