Page 27 of Knot Their Arrangement

Professional street racer turned underground racing king, he lives for the adrenaline rush of pushing limits. Whether he's designing custom engines or flying through city streets at impossible speeds, he approaches life like every moment might be his last. His youth makes him reckless, but his genius with machines is unmatched.

And Kieran...

I smile thinking about our resident recluse. The bestselling author spends his days crafting dark romance novels that fly off shelves faster than they can be printed. His quiet nature belies the twisted worlds he creates in his books, worlds where anti-heroes find redemption and dark desires lead to unexpected love. He prefers his office sanctuary to the chaos of the outside world, finding peace in the click of his keyboard and the silence of his thoughts.

We shouldn't work.

By all logic, we should tear each other apart.

Ezekiel's right when he says we're not "officially" a pack. How could we be? The paperwork alone would raise red flags across every law enforcement agency in the country. A detective, a crime lord, a street racer, and a reclusive author – we sound like the setup to a bad joke.

But an Omega…the right Omega could change everything.

In our society, no one questions a pack's composition once an Omega accepts them. Her approval carries more weight than any background check or social expectation. If she thrives, the pack thrives, and all questions about compatibility fade into irrelevance.

Though that sword cuts both ways.

Her rejection could destroy everything we've built.

Sullivan's voice draws me back to the present as he continues his rant.

"—and Castellano's operations have expanded into the eastern district. The audacity of that criminal, thinking he can?—"

I watch as Ezekiel finally reaches his limit, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

"Chief," he interrupts, his voice carrying that edge of authority that makes my cock twitch, "if this call is going to continue revolving around what a trouble-making goon Castellano is, could we do it over beers or something?"

The offended sputter that comes through the speaker almost makes me laugh out loud.

"Detective Cross! This is serious! Castellano is one of the most dangerous players in our city. His influence?—"

"With all due respect," Ezekiel cuts in again, and I can see the muscle in his jaw ticking, "I'd love to totally agree with you. But if that was the case, our hundred and eighty-fifth attempt to take him down in the last ten years would have been successful instead of us wasting our resources and time trying to prove to the world that he's a villain deserving to be behind bars."

I continue to study Ezekiel's profile as he endures Sullivan's tirade.

The dim light of passing streetlamps catches in Ezekiel's eyes as Sullivan drones on about department protocols.

I study him, noting the tension in his jaw, the way his knuckles whiten on the steering wheel. His response to my proximity is obvious, making something primal stir in my chest.

Is it me he's reacting to, or thoughts of her?

The uncertainty gnaws at me.

In our years together, I've never felt this kind of doubt. I'm used to being in control, to knowing exactly where I stand. But tonight, watching him get flustered over an Omega he barely met, something shifts inside me.

Maybe I am more possessive than I thought.

The Italian blood in my veins runs hot at the mere thought of sharing his attention. We've discussed finding an Omega before, of course – it's inevitable given our biology. But the reality of it, of seeing him actually affected by one, stirs something dangerous that shouldn’t be so easily provoked.

Got to change that…

"Yes, Chief," Ezekiel manages evenly as I move closer, my intentions clear in my gaze. "The situation in the eastern district requires…careful consideration."

Our eyes lock, and I see the exact moment his professional demeanor starts to crack. His pupils dilate, turning those deep brown eyes almost black with desire. The sight sends heat coursing through my veins.

Mine…

"Of course, resource allocation is a primary concern," he continues speaking to Sullivan, though his voice holds a slight tremor now. My touch makes him grip the steering wheel tighter, fighting to maintain control in some way, even though the car is still parked.

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