Page 131 of Believe it or Knot

“My innocence in this matter might not sway public opinion of my character,” I nod, then shrug. “Well, what’s a few more death threats on top of the hundreds I was already getting?”

Aurie blinks at me. “I’m sorry. Did you say death threats?”

I nod, fighting a yawn. “Yeah, and that was just from breaking Liam’s heart, so…”

She leans forward. “Do they know about those?”

I frown and run a hand over my face. I’m so fucking tired. “Who? Hey, do you think I can leave? I need to sleep.”

“The Cordova pack,” she says, tapping on the table again. “Do they know you’ve received death threats?”

My jaw cracks as my mouth parts on another yawn. “I don’t see how they would. I haven’t spoken to them in over a week.” Well, unless you count being huddled together under that tree. Which I really don’t.

“You should tell them,” she urges, but I’m already shaking my head.

“No. They wouldn’t care.”

Her perfectly manicured eyebrows draw together, and then she sighs. “I don’t think that’s true, but it’s up to you how much you want to share with them.” Damn right. “Anyway, I’ll go check to see if you can leave.”

I give her a grateful smile. “Thank you, I really appreciate it.”

She waves off my thanks and stands from the table before moving to the door and knocking on it. A moment later, it opens and then closes again. I know without checking that it locks automatically.

I watch the clock on the wall as it ticks over to four am. My body slumps over, my forehead coming to rest on my hands folded on the table. Jesus, I’m tired. All I want to do is sleep for a million years. Forever and maybe never wake up.

But I know I won’t be able to. I have to figure out where I can go when they let me out.

I don’t have a car to drive myself home. Honestly, that would be the farthest thing from safe with how tired I am. I suppose I could call Sadie or Sylvie, but I suspect they are both deep in the arms of their packs, receiving the comfort of their bodies. I don’t want to take that from them.

I don’t have a wallet or an ID to book a hotel room.

Tears prick my eyes as the realization hits.

I have no one and nowhere to go.

Track 32: I Wanna Be Your Slave

“Can you tell me how much longer it’s going to be?” I ask the night shift cop behind the glass. He’s older, has graying hair sticking out in tufts around his temples and ears, and a shiny bald spot on top. His hair apparently migrated south to rest on his upper lip in a very full, bushy mustache.

He sighs, likely fed up with my demand for information, but I don’t give a shit. We’ve been here for hours. All of us have already given our statements. It didn’t take long because we weren’t at the facility. It was really just us telling them how we realized that something was wrong, that someone had kidnapped Sorrel.

Sadie and the Falcone pack left about thirty minutes after we got here. Hardly any time at all. She’d glared at all of us with her silver eyes but hadn’t said anything to us as her pack hustled her out. An hour later, Sylvie emerged and the Werth pack whisked her away. It’s been another hour and Sorrel is still back there.

If she was a member of our pack, if I’d bonded her already, I would have rights regarding her treatment. I could demand to see her, demand that they let us take her home. But she’s not because I fucked up. And so she’s back there alone and exhausted and traumatized.

When I asked about getting her a lawyer, the man behind the counter told me she already had one. Which is good, but I need to know who it is and if I can find someone better. Someone who will go to bat for my girl like I would.

“I’ve told you, Mr. Cordova, it takes as long as it takes. They have a lot to cover.”

I nod, just barely holding on to my frustration. I need Sorrel here with us. Need to have her in my arms and to know that she’s safe. I need to never let her out of my sight again.

“The other two women who were kidnapped have already left.”

He looks up at me and says slowly, “they’re omegas. They can’t handle this kind of situation. Their emotional states are more delicate than a beta’s.”

My hand fists where it rests on the counter and my teeth clench against the need to roar at him. You can’t punch the cop, Gray. You’ll end up in jail and then you won’t be here when they release Sorrel.

Even with thinking that, I can’t hide the growl in my voice as I say, “You think she’s not also emotionally affected by this? She was fucking kidnapped. She’s traumatized and you assholes are making it worse.”

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