Page 43 of No Escape

“Thank you, that’s amazing. I haven’t had a shower…” I swallow thickly, trying not to stress about the lost time. “I’m actually not sure how long it’s been. Do you know what day it is?”

“They don’t tell us that,” Valor says, still teasing his thumb over my T-shirt—that actually belongs to him.

“Time is mostly irrelevant in here.” Omen moves to collect more items from the bin. “Not much left, but I did find these.” He pulls out a stack of clothes with several pairs of socks on top. He drops them back into the bin. “You really don’t need that if you’re comfortable in our clothes. However, I found a pair of women’s shoes.” He lifts them out, and they’re plain white sneakers. “They’re for next time they let us out of the cell. I had to guess. I went with a nine. They only had a few pairs left.”

“Those are perfect. I feel like a broken record, but thank you so much.”

“And last but not least.” He tugs another vacuum-sealed bag from the bin. It sounds like all the rest of the stuff tumbles off and falls haphazardly at the bottom. “A brand-new pillow.” Valor takes it from Omen, and the beta begins loading everything into the container. “Since you don’t have a dresser, I thought you could keep your things in here for now.”

He shrugs like it’s no big deal.

To me, it feels pretty monumental.

They’ve gone out of their way to make me feel welcome. More than that, they’ve kept me safe.

The gifts to help me have a few things in here that remind me of home… That’s above and beyond.

Carefully extracting myself from under the blanket, I stand from Valor’s lap and move around the table while Omen is still packing up the stuff.

He finishes, standing to his full height and wiping his hands off on his pants.

I don’t let myself think it through before wrapping my arms around his slender waist. “I appreciate it so much. Thank you, Omen.” His head tilts, and he pats my back almost awkwardly. “You smell really good,” I say, rubbing my face around his T-shirt. “Seriously delicious.”

My nose ends up buried between his arm and the side of his chest, but I have the irrational urge to lift up on my tiptoes to bury my nose in his throat.

Or his armpit.

Either would have a potent hit of his pheromones.

“Did you want me to hold a towel up so you can shower?” he asks, sliding his hand down to pinch my ass. “Just saying, my offer still stands.”

I squeak, stumbling backward.

“There’s no heat in the showers in the cells,” Valor says. “If you’re going to go that route, it’s best to do it during the day so your pillow doesn’t get sour. Omen, grab the cards. We can play a few hands before bed.”

ChapterThirteen

Leo

Shaw, Ridge, and I make it to the hotel. The Netherlands is one of the few countries that I’ve never been to on an operation, and I hate the unsettled feeling that comes from not knowing the lay of the land.

Easton said the pickup would happen soon.

Ridge is going to text us when the team calls him. We won’t be able to do anything, but it will give us a few minutes to mentally prepare.

Shaw lies on one side of the king-size bed. He’s got his damn boots on and his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes are closed, but he’s not asleep. He’s just silently spiraling while I huff, spinning around to pace the other direction.

The hotel room can’t be more than fifteen feet long, and if I’m not careful, I’ll wear a literal hole in the carpet.

“Lie down and get some rest while you can,” Shaw says without bothering to open his eyes. “It’s right back to hurry up and wait.”

Normally, I would laugh.

It’s basically the motto of the military. Your ass better be there on time—or even better, early—when they need you. But then you spend hours waiting around to be given your next set of orders.

I’m a type-A person.

I’m proactive.

---