Page 147 of Queen of Diamonds

ZED

“Id-don’t understand.” Glade was in shock as she got to her feet, staring at me across the stage.

“He’s not here.”

I took a step toward her, but she stumbled away from me, eyes wide, hands up. Her cream cardamom scent was edged with a panic I recognised. “H-he left a card. He knew where we were.”

I took another step and she edged back again. But I’d seen enough of my Omega protecting us.

Never again.

“Stay.” My Alpha bark was softer than most, but enough to still her as she teetered on the edge of feral.

I closed the distance before she could fight it, holding her terrified eyes the whole time.

“You’re safe,” I said, drawing her into my arms. “I promise, Glade, he will never come for you again.”

She crumpled against me, her small frame trembling. I picked her up, letting her wind her arms around my neck and draw me tightly as I carried her back to the car.

She’d left the keys in the ignition, and it pained me to pry her from my arms long enough to drive us to the location Kyan had set up. It was Dezhurov’s territory—one of Kyan’s contacts—and he knew we would be waiting here. We would be safe until I got the call I needed.

Kyan had filled us in on everything the day before. Just in time for us to keep up.

And while I hated it when he kept things from us, this time… This time, he’d come with a solution to everything.

Finally, a way to take control back.

Glade still hadn’t spoken, and I glanced at her as I pulled the car to a stop behind a huge building. She was seated with her hands clasped in her lap, her glossy black hair tumbled in loose waves to her thighs, swaying with the braking of the car, even when her eyes were fixed, staring at the dash.

She was in shock.

I’d read the letter, found it left on the seat of the car after she’d abandoned it. Perhaps she’d written it in the faint hope that, if we read it, we might be able to let her go.

Never.

I climbed over the centre console, and drew her into my arms once more, hating how much she was still shivering. Hating any moment the world made her seem so small.

“All those years ago, I promised you a choice,” I breathed. “And then I left you behind. We’re never going to do that again. Fuck the letter,” I whispered. “We’re going to give you everything. It is your turn for justice, Glade.”

KNIGHT

It took hours to ensure everything was contained enough for us to meet up with Glade and Zed. While Kyan and I dragged Ace back to the warehouse, it wasn’t safe for her yet.

First things first, we chained an unconscious Ace in the cell and slammed the door shut.

I was still fucking reeling.

Yesterday, Kyan had briefed us, giving just enough time to pivot.

My job was to be his backup. Since the theatre incident, Kyan paid guys to install heat sensors around every building he knew of that Ace owned. It was a quick, barely detectable job, and while not a guarantee, it let us know Glade was safe and if Kyan would need backup.

The hardest part was the price she had to pay. If Ace had found our safe house, we had to assume he was monitoring it too. Kyan made sure the car had no bugs, but Glade had to leave. Kyan had dared to slip out earlier, but we couldn’t risk the whole pack missing in case it would draw too much suspicion.

So, Zed and I were forced to wait and pretend to be asleep before leaving to catch up with her. We didn’t believe—if Ace was still watching our house at that point—he would notice Kyan’s absence.

Then Zed went to her, while I arrived at Kyan’s location in time to be his backup if needed.

Kyan’s last trick had been screwing with the quality of Ace’s security cameras enough that he wouldn’t notice anything amiss about the hooded figure who entered the building Glade was supposed to arrive at. We didn’t need much, just enough to blur the image so it could be mistaken as her.

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