“Oh—oh fuck.” My eyes go wide as the realization sets in. “When you rescued the Whitehill Omegas, didn’t they all have kill switch implants? Without the right code, there’s no way to remove them without setting them off…”
Tatum’s hand slaps over her mouth, covering the sound of her gasp. Too late, the Alphas descend like dark, murderous shadows, ready to end whatever just upset their mate. Easton moves like lightning, wrapping around her like he’s her personal bulletproof vest.
To my surprise, Apollo and Trev are at my side just as quickly.
All that from one gasp. What happens when it’s a whine? Would they start sniping bystanders? Fucking Alphas.
“What—”
“The kill switches,” I murmur. The pit of terror in my stomach threatens to swallow me whole. Beau can’t just leave. He can’t be free of Scott without the code.Not unless he…
No. I won’t let that happen.
“How did you know the codes for Whitehill?” Trev asks.
Apollo doesn’t look surprised by my conclusion. He knew. That’s why he lied to Hayes Pack. Beau’s got a killswitch somewhere in him, and without the right code, on the right device…poof.No more Beau.Fuck.
“The guards were fucking shitheads.” Apollo shrugs. “Same way I contacted Haze.” It’s clear he isn’t willing to share more after the silence stretches.
“Does Beau know?” Even as I ask, I realize he must not. Probably assumes his father will end him the old-fashioned way.It’s Scott's backup plan, and if Beau knew, he might try to find a way to get it taken out or kill himself trying.
“No.”
“How long have you known?” I tilt my head. Apollo holds my stare, his dominance washing over me, but I don’t look away. He’s not trying to overpower me. He’s trying to protect himself. He might not even realize he’s doing it.
The Alpha doesn’t answer, but sometimes the things left unsaid tell you everything you need to know, anyway. If I had to guess, it’s connected to Scott kidnapping Apollo. Rather than kill him, he saw an opportunity.
To use him.
And control them both.
I think I’m going to enjoy watching Scott die.
“Beau might beresistant to our help after last night,” Trev explains. The others left a little bit ago, driving Apollo home so he could use the surveillance setup there to watch over us.
The driveway of Hayes Pack’s house is so massive you could throw a block party out here, but Trev and I are using it for mission prep. They have everything we need, and then some.
And right now, the Alpha is‘and then some-ing’the shit out of me.
“This feels excessive, Trev,” I tease.
The large Alpha winces as he hands me another small and concealable weapon. That’s four. Five, if you count Apollo’s ring and the three daggers he left me with. I slip the pepper spray intothe front pocket of my jeans and check to see if it’s hidden. Good enough, I guess.
“Dream,” he grunts, looking me dead in my eyes. He’s being so intense.
“Trev?”
Another wince.What am I missing?
“My name isn’t Trev.”
I blink at him, mouth hanging open slightly. I don’t understand.
“What!?”Then what the heck is his name?
“Knew it,”Apollo says, his voice a gravelly grunt through my small earpiece connecting me to the other Alpha. Trev, well, apparently Not-Trev, wears a matching one.
“My name is Hawthorne Trevino, not Trev.”
