Page 87 of No Escape

“It’s not like we were purposely creeping on you,” I blurt out and immediately reconsider. “Okay, that might be a stretch?—”

The door rips open, and Saylor stumbles before Shaw has the chance to right her. A bottle of water skids across the floor as he struggles to keep hold of the rest.

The little omega shakes her head and scrambles to help. “If one of you wants to grab anything, you need to hurry. We can hold the door open so it won’t latch, but you have to be quick.”

Shaw’s forehead wrinkles, and he looks between us like he has no idea what he just walked in on. He’s still loaded down with drinks, a few snacks tucked under his arm, and our masks, which I forgot to put back on before leaving to come back to the cell. From what Saylor said, we don’t have time to waste, so I forgo strapping myself into it for now and take off for the door.

“I’ll handle grabbing our things.” I could really use a few seconds to get my dick under control, anyway.

Saylor used to pick on us for not dating when we lived at her family’s mansion. Working as full-time security doesn’t leave much time for romantic relationships. Living on-site complicates dating even more, but it is possible with a little coordination.

Shaw and I never put an ounce of effort into meeting anyone, and at the time, I didn’t let myself focus on why that was. The job was a solid reason, enough said.

After we stepped away from Saylor’s service, I could never bring myself to try to get back into dating. It felt slimy, like I would have been hooking up to pass the time until the person I was really interested in was available.

If I couldn’t have her, I didn’t want anyone. Hopefully, hearing that will help her understand what she means to me. Tous, really, since I know Shaw was in the same boat. And yet, I’m worried I’ve set myself up to fail.

I’m an unbonded alpha.

Being trapped in a tiny cell with a compatible omega I’ve got serious feelings for seems like a disaster waiting to happen, especially when I still don’t know where we stand.

What I warned her about earlier is still true.

All it would take is her perfume hitting my system a little too hard, and the next thing she’ll know, she’s trapped with an alpha who’s lost to the fog. The fact my knot pulses while recalling the faces she made while plastered to the glass seems like an even worse sign.

* * *

McCabe gave us a huge bin with a variety of clothing, boots, and personal supplies. It would have been nice if it was packed to the brim with weapons, but having clothes to change into to sleep will have to do.

I barely make it back inside the cell with Shaw and Saylor before the door buzzes loudly and the lock clicks into place.

“You can put that behind the chair farthest from the door,” Saylor says, pointing to the area near the glass wall that looks over the cell on the opposite side from the one we were in.

Shaw stands next to the couch with his hands on his hips. “Okay, so what do we do to pass the time until bed?”

I take off to put the bin of our supplies down and frown when I spot the blood on his knuckles. The first thing he should do is wash his fucking hands.

Saylor lets out something between a snort and a cough. “We could play cards or checkers. Omen has a few books if you want to spend some time reading.”

“Playing cards sounds great,” I say absently as I stack the bin on top of an identical plastic tote.

“Cards work for me, but you should have something to eat. You haven’t eaten all day, at least not that I’ve seen,” Shaw says.

Saylor sighs, rubbing her abdomen. “The last thing I remember eating was the meatballs with Valor and Omen at dinner the day before yesterday? Maybe three days ago. I lost time while I was hazy.” She frowns and shrugs. “I might try to eat later, but I don’t know if I want to risk it.”

Shaw takes the few steps separating them and comes to a stop in front of her. “That’s a long time to go without any calories. If you don’t eat regularly, you won’t be able to keep up your strength.”

“I get what you’re saying, but imagine the flu, only ten times worse,” she says as he tucks her hair behind her ear. “That’s what it’s like detoxing off the suppressants.”

He bends and nuzzles his cheek to hers. “You’re an adult. I’m not trying to pressure you into anything. I know you’re worried about those guys. I just want you to take care of yourself too.”

Damn.

He’s still got blood on his hands.

My gaze darts around as I try to determine a covert way to get him to clean that off. If nothing else, I guess Saylor is getting a good look at who we really are.

“It’s been a long day. Why don’t we all clean up a bit and change into whatever we plan to sleep in?” I step behind Saylor and hold up the back of my hand before pointing to it.

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