Page 106 of Knot Their Arrangement

The cover story is simple enough – close to the truth while obscuring the parts that would raise too many questions. It's how we've operated for years, dancing on the edge between legal and illegal, finding the grey areas where justice and necessity meet.

Ezekiel takes point, moving with that predatory grace that marks him as dangerous even in this professional capacity.

I match his pace but stay slightly behind, knowing the snipers positioned throughout the forest will be watching his movements to assess potential threats. They're his backup, his invisible shield –part of the network of protection that makes him such an effective force in the city.

The rain has almost stopped now, leaving behind a mist that clings to everything like gossamer.

Trouble's breathing remains steady in my arms, the sedative keeping her peaceful despite the movement. The mask still covers her face, its glow dimmed but steady like she's earned the right to wear my signature.

Who would have thought?

That the Omega Damon asked me to track –the one who caught Ezekiel's attention and sparked his possessive streak– would turn out to be my Trouble.

The coincidence seems too perfect to be random, too precisely orchestrated to be chance.

The universe has a strange sense of humor, bringing us all together like this.

Damon's criminal empire, Kieran's financial might, Ezekiel's legal authority, and my underground connections – all converging around this one remarkable woman who just proved she's as deadly as any of us.

The memory of her handling that gun with such precision makes my blood heat despite the urgency of our situation.

The way she took those shots without hesitation, marking each target with surgical accuracy...it awakened something primal in me. An instinct that recognizes her not just as someone to protect, but as a predator in her own right.

She's evolved, just like I have.

That innocent girl I met in the alley grew into someone capable of surviving in our world – no, more than surviving.

Someone capable of thriving in it, of matching our darkness with her own.

The thought sends a thrill through me that has nothing to do with physical attraction and everything to do with recognition.

We emerge from the forest onto the road where a sleek black vehicle waits, its emergency lights casting red and blue shadows through the mist.

The color scheme matches my mask, and I wonder if that's intentional – another piece of our carefully crafted image.

Damon stands by the rear doors, his expensive suit somehow immaculate despite the weather. Kieran's at the wheel, those mismatched eyes tracking our approach through the windshield. They've positioned themselves perfectly – one to help with the patient, one ready to drive at a moment's notice.

Our pack in perfect sync.

Looking down at Trouble's masked face, I make a silent vow. Whatever fate has in store for us, I won't let her slip away again.

Not now that we've found each other in this new configuration, this perfect alignment of darkness and strength.

The girl I knew deserved freedom and protection. But this woman, this deadly creature who matches our savagery while maintaining her grace – she deserves everything we can give her. Everything our pack represents.

Power. Protection. Possession.

And most importantly, the chance to be exactly who she is, without shame or constraint.

Because that display of lethal efficiency wasn't learned in some self-defense class. That was the action of someone who's always had this capacity for violence, this perfect blend of beauty and danger.

Just like us.

As we approach the vehicle, I hold her closer, already knowing this is just the beginning.

We may have started as Riot and Trouble, two kids playing at rebellion, but we've grown into something no one will ever see coming.

I'm never letting her go again…not even if her bastard of a father tries to kill me again.

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