Daniel shrugged, expertly dodging another swipe from Robert before slapping him hard across the face with one of his huge mitts. Robert staggered dazedly and Daniel grabbed his arm, bending it until he criedout and dropped the knife. Daniel kept Robert’s arm folded awkwardly as he patted him down. When he was satisfied, he spun Robert around to face King.
“All good?” King asked, casually stretching his neck side-to-side as though preparing for a workout.
Robert swayed on his feet, frantically shifting his attention between the men now flanking him. He flinched at their every movement, obviously expecting another blow. He covered his mouth with one hand, attempting to stem the tide of blood pouring from his nose. Daniel and King talked around him as if he wasn’t even there. Their calculated nonchalance only made it clearer that Robert and Frank were in grave danger.
Callum was glad. He hoped they were terrified. They’d touched his omega, threatened to sell her into sex slavery. He hoped they never knew another day without fear.
“Hotel is secured. I called it in to our guy at the precinct. He’ll send a black and white if that’s how we want to handle it but he’s on standby for now,” Daniel answered automatically, though Callum could see that he was studying the omegas carefully, likely checking for injuries. His gaze lingered on Callum’s neck and his jaw clenched.
“And the Code Five Bravo?” King prompted.
Suddenly, a series of booms echoed nearby, making Callum jump. Daniel winced apologetically. “Cover up in progress. The hotel guests are being treated to drinks and a fireworks display on the roof. One of them went off prematurely, which explains that loud bang everybody heard a bit ago. Everything is in place, and Pack Bonnycastle is waiting to be briefed. It’s your play, boss.”
King nodded slowly, looking from the two omegas to the men who’d threatened them. A chill spread through the air. Pack King, includingCallum and Bianca, burned with icy rage. Callum touched his neck again, clenching his teeth against a surge of anger at the memory of his helplessness. His heart pounded in his chest and for a moment he thought he might be sick. He swallowed hard, stifling a whine. Daniel, Dante, King, and Bianca growled in unison.
Robert yelped, his nasally tone confirming his nose was broken. “Listen, I just wanted to talk to her! I missed her is all and I maybe got a little mad that she didn’t want to see me but–”
Callum had never heard a person make a sound like the one Robert made when King interrupted his bullshit explanation with a sharp kick to the side of the shin that must’ve splintered the asshole’s tibia. His leg bent at an unnatural angle and he collapsed. Daniel caught him by the collar, unmoved by his screams of pain as he struggled to find his balance without putting weight on his injured leg.
“Unless you want me to break your knee next, I suggest you shut the fuck up,” King told him calmly. Robert shoved his fist in his mouth to stifle his continued whimpers as King turned to Dante. “Bring me the other one.”
“Get up,” Dante growled, motioning for Frank to join his packmate.
Frank spat at Dante’s feet. “Fuck you! I need a fucking doctor, you psychotic son of a b-”
This time, it was Bianca who seemed to move with inhuman speed. She flew across the garage and threw all her weight behind three quick punches. Frank’s head snapped back and he screamed.
“One, two, one! It’s her favorite combo,” Daniel said nonsensically, making Callum wonder if he might be concussed from the blow to the head, because he had no clue what that meant.
“You attacked my omega, you miserable twat!” Bianca snarled, punching Frank again, and driving her fist directly into his woundedcheek. He howled in pain. “If you think I’m going to let you insult my alpha as well, then you’re even dumber than I thought you were. And I already thought you were a fucking moron.”
A memory tugged at Callum’s subconscious, and he suddenly found his voice. “He’s lying. There’s something in his pocket.”
Dante moved lightning quick, the butt of his pistol colliding with Frank’s face before Callum’s words finished echoing through the garage. A moment later, Dante tossed a knife aside, pocketing Frank’s phone and wallet as well. Bianca kicked the prone alpha in the gut, her face red with fury.
“You’re lucky you’re still breathing, you sick son of a bitch,” she hissed.
“Say the word and he won’t be,” Dante promised. “Neither of these motherfuckers have to walk out of here.”
Bianca paused for a long moment, emotions flashing across her face faster than Callum could read them. She knew Dante meant what he said. He would kill for her without hesitation. He would kill for them as he would’ve done for any of his mates. Just as King and Daniel would. These men had hurt their omegas, had tried to take them and sell them into untold hells, and the alphas of Pack King would gladly execute them for their audacity. They would kill these men and not lose a wink of sleep over it, and goddammit Callum liked that crazy shit. Maybe he was a little crazy himself.
He’d heard love did that to a person.
Bianca stepped toward Callum, her face full of anger and concern. He could feel it washing over him in oddly comforting waves. He hadn’t missed that she’d just openly called him her omega and Dante her alpha. It seemed they were done pretending this thing between them all was temporary.
“How’s your vision? Any dizziness or nausea?” she asked, reaching up to touch the close-cropped curls at the back of his head. It was sore, but Callum sighed, leaning into her touch. Bianca gave him a small smirk. “That was a hell of a sucker punch you took. Do you feel okay?”
“Better now,” Callum rasped, covering her hand with his. Bianca brushed her fingernails through his curls, sending a shiver across his skin.
“He hit you?” Dante hissed, stepping closer to Frank and leveling the gun at his head.
Frank choked on a scream. “Robert! Help!”
“Binks, please,” Robert begged.
King turned abruptly to uppercut Robert in the gut. Daniel let him fold this time, watching impassively as he fell to his knees and retched up bile. His ragged gasps echoed through the garage.
King crouched beside him, leaning close, and speaking in a terrifyingly emotionless voice. “If you ever speak to her again, I will rip out your fucking tongue and feed it to Frank. Unless I ask you a question, you don’t talk at all. That’s your last warning.”
