Page 136 of Knot Their Starlet

“Don’t make decisions based on me. Focus on Beck, ‘kay?” she mumbles as I lay her down onto Leo’s bed.

I tug his comforter up until it reaches her chin. She looks like an angel with her dark hair fanned out across his white pillows.

With her expression relaxed, like it is now, she looks... innocent. Innocent in a way that she never looks when she’s awake.

She cracks a single eye open, peering up at me.

“You’re not answering,” she pouts.

“Okay,” I nod, forgetting for a second what I’m even agreeing to.

With her eyes cracked open, she catches sight of Everett hovering over my shoulder.

“You came,” she says, blinking wide eyes, glazed over from alcohol, up at him.

She says it like it’s the most bizarre thing in the world, that someone would show up for her.

“Of course I did,” Everett says, pausing like he’s struggling with what to say to her. “You are a part of the family now.”

Her nose wrinkles.

“I don’t want to be family. Then we wouldn’t be allowed to—” her mouth clamps shut, and she tugs the blankets up over her head. “I’m going to sleep now!”

“Goodnight, Andi,” Everett chuckles.

When he passes me on his way out, he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t need to. I can read the look on his expression as easily as if I were looking in a mirror. Probably because we’re in the same boat here.

We’re all in fucking trouble.

Everett and I join Leo and Beck at the kitchen counter, sitting on barstools around Cameron Foster’s business card set between us.

“Well then,” Everett sighs, taking a sip of coffee from his mug. “This certainly wasn’t what I expected when you called me.”

“I don’t think any of us expected this,” Leo says, scrubbing a hand down his face.

“It was just supposed to be a fun night out,” Beck adds. “And it was! Until everything fell apart.”

“The story gets told whether we participate or not,” Everett says, reaching out and flipping the card over in his hands. “The only question is whether we’re in it.”

“He cornered her.” My objection has the three of them turning their attention to me.

“I know,” Everett says. “Which means he’s desperate. Desperate journalists with good track records are manageable. It’s the ones that make threats of blackmail without being desperate that you can’t negotiate with.”

Everett has been in this game far longer than the rest of us. I don’t like his logic, but I can’t fault it.

How much of my anger is coming from the fact that I wasn’t there to protect her?

She’s been victimized by a violent alpha before, just like I was when I was younger. And unlike me, she had no hope of truly fighting back. The last thing she deserves is a repeat.

“She’s the one who told us to consider it,” Leo says quietly. “In the car.”

“And again when I put her to bed,” I sigh, stroking the five o’clock shadow along my jaw.

“Really? What did she say?” Beck asks, leaning forward eagerly.

“Said to make choices with your best interests in mind, not hers,” I answer.

And I know, after watching the way Beck’s expression melts into one of excitement and adoration, that Andi has wormed her way into everyone’s hearts.