Jesus. Fucking. Christ. My personal dessert menu just arrived, and instantly, I’m panting like a bitch in heat.
Walsh gets temporarily forgotten as I swing around, wildly searching for the reason I’m so giddy and out of sorts.
Oh my god.
It’s the Genoa Alphas and the Beta I jacked off with.
They better not be together; there’s no way any panties on earth could hold how slick that would make me.
Now that I’m not sloshed on Jameson, not only are the Genoa Alphas’ scents like cupid arrows for my Omega to catch, they’re also really, really, really fucking good-looking. Obnoxiously so.
They aren’t here for fun, despite the cheeky grins I get from each of them. The Alpha who threw me over his shoulder in Genoa winks at me, then his whole demeanor changes as he turns back to the crowd.
They don’t say a word as they walk through the attendees, firing off shots, targeting several people.
In a few seconds, they bring a whole new kind of chaos to the night. And maybe my life.
I do what every other person does—run.
Although, I take a handful of steps before I realize I left the money in the till. It’s not about the actual dollars; it’s about proving my loyalty to Walsh. Using an empty box, I unload the till into it before closing it up as best I can while I race away.
Behind me, people are screaming. There’s the occasional shot going off and lots of yelling. I don’t need to turn around to watch to know people are dying.
The back part of the warehouse is practically deserted. I don’t even pass any security guards. They’ve either done a runner, like me, or they’re chasing the action. The room with the bound people is exactly how it was when I saw it the first time I walked through.
Dragging the heaviest thing I can find, I block the door and then jam the old lock, hopefully giving myself enough time to help these people and get out of here. And while I am not saying the people being held in the room are truly innocent, I also think they deserve a fighting chance.
Whoever left them in here didn’t check what was left behind or what could be used for tools. I find a gold mine on the workbench. The scissors are rusted and basically useless, but they come apart after a few tries, giving me two blades.
“Stay down.” I squat behind the first person I choose, who is my only concern, if I’m honest.
Going off the scent of her fear alone, the girl is younger than I first assumed. Cutting her hands free, I drop my hands onto her shoulders. “Stay there. I’m going to free the others, and then we’ll go together.”
Her broken little sob comes out like a pained squeak. She tries to stop from making a noise.
“Stay as quiet as you can. I’m still here,” I whisper against her ear.
The other people are quiet, not moving or drawing attention to themselves. I bypass the ex-wife in her expensive dress. I’ll free her last, in case she’s still loyal to her ex, because sometimes that’s how it goes. I won’t take the risk of freeing her before the others because of it.
“Don’t move too much,” I offer quietly to the person next to me, but talk loud enough for everyone to hear. “I’m going to cut you free, but leave the bag on your head.”
They stay still, and then I do the same to the next, until I’ve worked through the room. “You need to run. Let me take the girl first.” I speak to the room, appealing to their compassion, and everyone but the ex does what I ask.
She starts to pull the bag off her head at the same time she’s screaming for help. It only confirms what a crappy person she is by being so selfish. I dart forward and punch her once, catching her slumping form and leaving her lying on the floor.
“On my signal, count to ten, then take off the bags and hustle. Everything is happening out the front, but I don’t know what waits out these doors.”
I get a handful of whispered thanks. Scooping up the money box from the ground, I pull off the bag over the little girl's head. Bright red curls spill out, and she’s pushing them out of her face, but I grab her hand and put my finger on my lips, telling her to be quiet. There’s lots of noise coming from the main room again.
I signal for her to stand up, and then I turn so she can climb onto my back, piggyback style. I doubt she’d be able to run, considering how long she’s been on the cold concrete. She gets the idea straight away, her arms tightening around my neck, her legs around my waist. I hand her the money box for her to hold as we take off. She’s trying to be as quiet as possible, but everynow and then, I hear her breathing hitch as she tries to not burst into tears.
We edge closer to the door, and I whisper back for the others to start counting.
“Shut your eyes,” I snap at the last minute to the girl I’m carrying, as I remember all the cute pets in the next room. I don’t have time to free them—I wish I did—but we need to go, and we need to go now.
Chapter Fourteen
RONIN
