Sweat was dripping down my body as I collapsed forward against him, panting hard. His knot swelled, and my passage convulsed, trapping him in place. My heart felt like it was trying to crash through my ribs... but slowly, slowly, everything inside me settled into calm serenity.
Gage freed his hands from behind his head. One arm draped over my back, holding me to him. The other hand stroked over the back of my head soothingly, my scalp tingling beneath the gentle touch. The world beyond our joined bodies faded to insignificance, a distant and dreamlike thing. I closed my eyes and breathed out, feeling years of old pain carried away on the exhale.
I wasn’t sure how long we stayed knotted. The cliches weren’t as true as I’d been led to believe, though—because I stayed awake the whole time, while Gage was out like a snuffed candle.
I wondered if he’d slept at all since I’d attacked Knox, beyond the couple of hours he’d caught after he’d made me pancakes and taken me back to bed.
It was fully light out as I sat against the headboard, looking down at his rugged face. He looked younger like this. Maybe everyone did, when they were peacefully asleep.
Unfortunately, my own peace was retreating like a mirage as the haze of sex and sleep wore off. Pretend time was over. It was time to face reality. To face the consequences of my actions, whatever that might mean.
I’d been listening intently, and there wasn’t a single sound from elsewhere in the house. Which meant this was probably my chance. I didn’t want to be stuck here as a cat locked in a box,not knowing what I was guilty of. I needed answers, and those answers lay outside this remote house.
Cautiously, I stroked a hand over Gage’s bristly hair, checking how deeply he was asleep. He didn’t even stir.
I took a deep breath and got up.
The clothing Tony had bought was still upstairs. I crept up to the attic room, ignoring the shudder of distaste as I crossed over the threshold. After dressing quickly in practical clothes, I went back downstairs, still listening for any other signs of life in the house. Gage was in exactly the same position as when I’d left him.
Ignoring the misgivings rocketing through me, I did a quick search and found his cell phone and wallet. I pocketed the phone and two hundred dollars, tiptoed to the front door, and let myself out.
The driveway was as long and winding as I remembered. I jogged down to the road and hid in the trees near the mailbox while I figured out how to power up the phone. There wasn’t a passcode or face recognition, which evenIknew was fucking stupid.
The Uber app was already installed. I pulled it up and then fumbled around until I figured out how to call a ride. I had a date in the city with an omega named Adrian, and I wasn’t putting it off for a moment longer.
SIXTEEN
Heath
I GROWLED AND SNARLED, instinct taking over as four burly private security guards converged on me like a rugby scrum. I might’ve gotten my answer about the fictionalAdrian, but I was also an idiot running on soured adrenaline and no sleep.
Screams and raised voices echoed around the high-end hotel event room. Even if I’d had a gun on me, I wouldn’t have dared use it. A meaty hand closed around my wrist and twisted, nearly dislocating my shoulder as the paid muscle wrestled me face-first onto the polished marble tile.
Something cracked in my pocket with a sound like crunching glass. Sharp edges jammed into my hip.Great. That was the end of my phone, then.
I craned around, trying to catch a glimpse of Lorenzo Vozzina’s omega mate—but all I could see were legs and feet. A heavy blow hit the base of my skull, stunning me. The sea of legs tilted, and the sounds of panicked confusion warped in my ears, ringing like a cathedral bell.
A hand yanked me up by the hair. More hands forced my arms behind me. Something thin and flexible looped around my wrists and tightened until it dug into the skin. A zip tie.
Two of the goons hooked hands beneath my armpits and hauled me upright. My injured shoulder screamed; the roomspun around me in dizzy circles. Another fist impacted my cheek, snapping my head sharply to the side. Blood flooded my mouth from a cut cheek. I spat it onto the white floor—an ugly red splash of color.
“Come with us,” grunted on of the goons.
I sneered at him, tasting blood on my teeth. “Why? Am I under arrest,officer?”
