"Interesting form," Valek observes, moving to the bar beside me. "Military background?"
"Something like that," I grunt between reps.
Valek launches into his own set, his form different. More fluid, almost gymnastic. He's showing off too, in his own way. Making it clear he's not intimidated by Wraith's display of strength.
The three of us continue working out, the tension thick enough to choke on. Wraith moves through exercises that showcase his terrifying power. Deadlifts that make the floor shake, overhead presses with weight that shouldn't be possible. Valek counters with displays of flexibility and control. Muscle-ups, human flags, movements that require incredible core strength and balance.
They're circling each other without actually circling. Measuring. Testing.
And I'm stuck in the middle, trying to keep them from actually killing each other while my mind spins with plans. We need to keep Ivy safe. Need to get her and Wraith away from Valek's constant surveillance. Cedarbrook would work, but the timing has to be perfect.
"One more question," Valek says, finishing a set of weighted dips. His chest gleams with sweat, those silver eyes locked on mine. "When do you expect your teammates to return?"
The question hangs in the air like a challenge.
Wraith stops mid-rep on the cable row, the entire weight stack suspended. His massive back is rigid with irritation.
"When they're ready," I say carefully. "Plague had some personal business. Whiskey went with him for... support."
"Support." Valek tastes the word again. "How thoughtful. Though one wonders what kind of personal business requiressuch urgent attention. In the middle of the night. With heat supplies from a specialty store."
Fuck.
He knows about the omega store. How the fuck does he know about that?
Wraith drops the weight stack with a crash that echoes through the basement. He rises slowly, turning to face Valek. At his full height, he towers over both of us, his scarred chest heaving with controlled breaths.
The message is clear.Interrogation over.
"Well," Valek says, seemingly unbothered by the wall of muscle and barely contained violence looming over him. "This has been most illuminating. Thank you for the bonding activities."
Valek grabs his shirt, pulling it on in one smooth motion as he heads for the stairs. He pauses at the bottom, and I think he's going to say something else cryptic and threatening, but instead, he pulls his phone out of his pocket, glances at the screen, mutters a curse under his breath that sounds like “Caleb,” and takes the stairs two at a time.
Then he's gone.
The moment he's out of earshot, Wraith's fist connects with the concrete wall. The impact leaves a crack in the cement. Blood drips onto the gym floor from his split knuckles, but he doesn't seem to notice or care.
"We need to move up the timeline," I say, already grabbing a towel to wrap his bleeding knuckles. I'm almost surprised he doesn't push me away. "The second Ivy gets back, we're going to Cedarbrook."
Wraith nods.He knows too much,he signs with his free hand.Could kill him.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," I sigh, though part of me knows a fight at the very least is inevitable. Valek's not going to stop digging. And Wraith's not going to let anyone threaten Ivy.
This is going to end in blood.
The only question is whose.
Chapter
Forty-Nine
IVY
My nest is a wreck.
The hotel sheets are twisted into knots, blankets thrown haphazardly across the bed, and I'm pretty sure one of the pillows has a bite mark in it. Not mine. Definitely Whiskey's. The alpha apparently gets bitey when he comes.
And that's about all the three of us have done since coming back from the diner earlier this morning.
