Page 58 of When She Needs Them Most

“I’ve seen movies and documentaries,” the little omega says with a huff. “The murder isn’t the main problem. You didn’t think to consult me before trying to make a huge decision that impactsmeand, more importantly,my daughter.”

“It wasn’t a done deal,” I say, leaning forward. “It was just a cursory conversation. We spout out ideas all the time when we’re on a case.”

“Not that you’re a case,” Linc adds quickly. “Old habits die hard and all that.” He chuckles awkwardly, and my head tilts.

What the hell is he picking up on in the bond that Arden and I aren’t privy to?

“We won’t take any action unless you okay it.” Arden clasps his hands in front of his waist. “Does that help?”

Sky trots over to where Chelsea still leans against Linc’s chest and bumps her head into the omega’s hand.

Chelsea bends, scratching behind the mutt’s ears. She finally sighs. “I’m going to my nest, and the three of you are going to leave me alone for the rest of the night.”

“No cuddles?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Not tonight, Kase.” She gives me a sad smile, shakes out of Linc’s hold, and waddles toward the stairs.

My fury ratchets higher, and I shove myself off the couch, glaring at Linc. “Meet me in the backyard.”

“Whatever,” he mutters, sounding miserable. “Just remember, if you kill me, she will feel it. Losing a bond while pregnant…” His head shakes. “Go for nonlethal pain.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Arden

Would it be too much to ask that the body sneaking down the stairs belongs to Kase or Lincoln, searching for an ice pack after beating the ever-loving hell out of one another?

Probably.

Grabbing my almost empty tumbler of Scotch, I take the final swig. How did we go so wrong in such a short period of time?

Chelsea peeks around the wall that separates the stairwell from the living room. Her eyes bug almost comically when she spots me.

I quirk an eyebrow, placing my now-empty glass on the end table. “Running, love?”

“N-No.” She lies so terribly that I chuckle.

“Considering it?”

“Yeah,” she admits. “Just over to my house.”

I nod. Perhaps that’s where she would begin, but I have a sinking feeling that if she walks out that door, it won’t be only to walk to her house. I imagine she’d climb into her vehicle and make a real go of trying to get the hell away from us.

“How about you come sit with me? If you’d still like to leave following our conversation, then I won’t stop you. I’ll even walk you over to be safe and head off on my merry way.”

She’s still peeking her head around the corner, and I wait patiently as she rolls her lower lip between her teeth.

“Okay.” She pulls her computer bag off over her neck and drops it in the nearby chair. She’s in the coat Lincoln bought her, and it’s very clear she was bolting.

I take a deep breath and attempt to shake off the lingering frustration I’ve been experiencing since she disappeared earlier. None of those feelings are directed at her but toward our situation. Our actions were intended to take stress off her shoulders, but alphas and omegas approach situations differently.

Not to mention, I’m sure the three of us would be a lot for anyone to handle. Everything in me aches to offer my lap to the hesitant little omega, but she scurries onto the long end of the sectional and stretches out.

She even has her shoes on.

And this is why I spent the last three hours surveying the door while allowing myself to become mildly intoxicated.

Okay, moderately intoxicated.

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