Page 47 of Reckless: Chaos

Something pokes at my gut, an instinct I’ve learned never to ignore. Usually, I wouldn’t eavesdrop. In my past relationships, the moment I felt the need to check phones or follow partners, I knew it was already over.

I don’t feel that way with Ryker. This is different. This feels like...

Like when I first discovered those discrepancies in Sterling Labs’ data.

Like when I realized someone was targeting betas.

My feet are moving before I make a conscious decision, following him at a careful distance.

I trail him back to his garage like a ghost, keeping to the shadows of expensive cars. His murmured words float back to me in fragments, each one ratcheting up my suspicion.

“Location?” The word carries weight, importance.

Either he knows I’m following him and doesn’t care, or I’ve gotten better at stealth, because he leaves the garage door cracked just enough for me to peer through. My heart thunders in my chest as he puts the phone on speaker—something he hates doing. Every instinct screams that he knows I’m here, but then he starts rifling through drawers with single-minded focus.

“Did you tell her?” Quinn’s voice crackles through the speaker.

“No.” Ryker’s response comes out like gravel. “She just got shot, and Jinx nearly lost his shit. I can’t...”

The words hit like a punch to the gut. After everything—the shooting, the care, the trust I thought we were building—they’re still keeping secrets.

“Understood, but this won’t end well if you don’t say something.” Quinn’s tone carries warning.

What hurts most is that I didn’t see it coming. Me, who prides herself on finding hidden patterns, on seeing through digital smoke screens. I missed this happening right in front of me.

“I just need time.” The sound of another drawer slamming echoes my rising frustration. “She’s healing.”

“I know, but this is about her. We all know it. You can’t keep her in the dark.” Quinn’s voice softens with concern.

“Where the fuck did she hide that drive?” Ryker’s question makes my blood run cold.

They’re looking for my drive. The one containing everything I found about Sterling Labs, about the beta targeting, about...

“You could, I don’t know, ask her.” Quinn’s suggestion carries a hint of sarcasm that would make me smile under different circumstances.

“I can’t.” Ryker’s head drops, and something in my chest cracks at the defeat in his voice. “Is the location secure?”

Quinn’s sigh crackles through the speaker. “It’s secure and set up for the most part. One more week and the power will be able to handle anything she throws at it.”

Ryker nods as if Quinn can see him, the gesture strangely vulnerable. The sight of it ties my stomach in knots.

“Just ask her to help with the secure location.” Quinn pushes.

“I plan to.” The words send traitorous butterflies through my belly, warring with my growing suspicion. “Theo’s heat is next month.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Quinn’s voice softens. “Are you going to ask her to stay? To be pack?”

“I want to.” Ryker pauses, and the next words slice through me like a blade. “Is it selfish of me to want one more heat with just my omega?”

The pain is immediate and sharp, worse than any bullet. I press a hand to my chest, trying to hold the pieces together.

Quinn hums, the sound heavy with judgment. “Yes.”

The simple answer hangs in the air between them before Quinn continues, “Listen, I have to go. The address is 6883 Lemon Ave.”

The irony of the street name would be funny if I wasn’t fighting back tears.

“Alright, when do you want her there?” Ryker asks, all business now.

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