Page 4 of Cruel Knots

My brothers and I are killers but our hearts beat for her. We can do anything to make her smile.

“Why do you look so lost, Damien?” Leon asks, throwing an arm around my shoulders.

“Mikhail needs to control his temper,” I say, glancing at my youngest brother who’s busy straightening his jacket. “Don’t pounce on your prey without a plan.”

“Aww, shucks, Bruh!” Mikhail groans. “I got him, didn’t I? Stop ruining a fun night before it’s even begun. If we’re lucky, we might get to kiss Lucia tonight.”

Warmth floods me at the very thought. Thank fuck for the shadows shielding my face or my teasing brothers would see the evidence of my excitement on my heated cheeks.

Within half an hour, we reach the posh district that houses Lucia’s school.

“Let’s head into that mall to fix ourselves,” Mikhail suggests.

Looking ahead, I see the towering shopping mall with its bright, welcoming lights.

“Sounds good,” I say with a nod.

My brothers and I use one of the bathrooms to get dressed in the clothes we stole from Trevor Harding and his friends. The tuxes fit me and Leon perfectly but Mikhail’s jacket proves to be slightly bigger on his lean frame.

“Don’t sweat it,” says Leon who’s cleaned up rather nicely. He looks as handsome as the filthy rich alphas attending Lucia’s school. “The jacket makes your shoulders look broader.”

“You think so?” My youngest brother asks me with a worried look on his face. “I don’t want her thinking I’m a dork.”

Smothering a chuckle, I grab him behind the neck and bring his face closer to mine. “You’re my brother. Of course, you look handsome.”

That makes him crack his usual, carefree grin.

We liberally use up the few items we stole on our way to fix our hair and make us smell good. When we’re ready, we walk out and head toward Ashville Academy.

There’s no time to steal a car to make a grand entry through the front gates, so we scale one of the walls of the posh, guarded school to enter the premises.

We’ve used this route plenty of times to sneak in to catch a glimpse of Lucia during class hours. Having been around the campus, we know our way to the auditorium where prom night is being held.

There’s an air of excitement among the students tonight. Several groups are already drunk and high despite the school’s policy against alcohol and drugs. I guess the rules don’t apply to these rich bastards.

I catch sight of Lucia even as throngs of students crowd the entryway of the auditorium.

She shines in a knee-length white dress. Her long, dark hair is fashioned into gentle waves that reach her waist. A single emerald pendant rests at the base of her throat, drawing the eye toward her ample cleavage.

Lucia is only sixteen but she’s already a woman.

I swallow, feeling a familiar thirst in my throat as my heart drums against my chest. Lucia is the most beautiful omega in the world. You can glimpse her heart just by looking into those moss-green eyes.

“Why did you turn into a statue?” Leon mutters. “She’s right there.”

Lucia stands near the gates of the auditorium with an anxious expression etched on her pretty face.

“Let’s not keep her waiting any longer,” says Mikhail. “I hate how worried she looks.”

“She thinks Trevor stood her up,” says Leon in a grim tone. “Come on, Damien. Let’s go to her.”

I force my heart to calm down before taking a step toward her.

Lucia’s gaze finally falls on us and suddenly, a bright smile appears on her pretty face.

Stay calm, I tell my pounding heart.

All anxiety drains from her face as she eagerly starts waving toward us.

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