“Dude, you can’t turn her over to the police,” Gage said sharply. “She’s our scent match!”
I choked, trying not to think what the alternative might entail.
The callused hand gripping my wrist tightened painfully. “She may have just killed Knox!”
Gage huffed. “I know, but...” He hesitated, then just repeated, “She’s our scent match.” His voice was softer this time.
Heath glared down at me with bared teeth. I blinked up at him, mute with fear.
Seconds stretched.
“You want to walk out of here not wearing handcuffs?” he demanded aggressively. “You tell me exactly what happened to Knox. Right the fucknow.”
My mouth opened, no sound coming out. What would be worse? To get hauled off by the police, or end up at the mercy of this pack?
The phantom prison cell loomed, cold and claustrophobic. I knew Heath would never let me go free... but if I tookmy chances with him and Gage, maybe I could escape. It felt like more of a chance than I’d have if I was handcuffed and surrounded by armed cops as a murder suspect.
I licked dry lips, trying to bring some moisture to my mouth.
“Acepromazine,” I whispered. “And then I injected air into his veins.”
Heath cursed sharply.
“Why?” Gage asked, sounding confused.
“Because he’s evil,” I croaked. “You’re allevil.”
Gage exchanged a look with his packmate. His expression was bewildered.
“Maybe she’s mentally ill?” he said, after a short pause.
I sneered at him... not because he was necessarily wrong, but because if I was, it was alphas like him who’d made me this way.
“Get her out of here,” Heath grated out, dragging me up from the chair. “If you’re still dead set on this. I’ll take over with Knox until the ambulance gets here.” He bent over and dragged me close, until we were eye to eye. “And believe me, lass—If Knox does die, I can make youwishyou were sitting in a courtroom facing murder charges.”
I shuddered, not doubting it. I was just going to have to get away somehow before that happened.
“Oh,” he added, his tone deadly. “One more thing.” He dragged off one of my gloves and grabbed my hand, forcing my bare fingers around Knox’s tumbler—pressing my sweaty fingerprints onto the glass. “Insurance,” he said grimly. “In case I change my mind and decide to throw you to the legal system’s wolves later on.”
My lips peeled back in an involuntary growl. He shoved my hand and arm into the glove. Then he pushed the syringe, cash, and fake ID back in my clutch and thrust it at me. I grabbed it and stumbled as he pulled me over to the bed.
I couldn’t help looking down at Knox’s face, a waxen blue-gray beneath his tawny skin. Gage slid off the mattress where he’d been pumping his pack leader’s heart, smoothly grabbing me as Heath handed me off and took his place.
The smell of orange peel and warm bread wove around me like a drug. Gage herded me over and picked up his discarded jacket from where he’d thrown it. Then my breath caught as he pulled out a little snub-nosed revolver and jammed it against my ribs, using the jacket draped over his arm to cover it from view.
“C’mon,” he said. “We’re going. I don’t wanna hurt you, but I can’t let you get away, either.” He glanced over his shoulder at the pair on the bed. “Take care of him, yeah? He’s tough; I know he’s gonna make it.”
Heath only grunted, not looking up from his task of keeping Knox’s heart pumping.
The gun in my side poked me harder, and I gritted my teeth as I was marched to the door of the suite, and into the hallway beyond.
