Page 43 of Unmarked

One of them reaches for his phone -

And it vanishes.

Kai throws the device into the wall with a satisfyingcrack.

“No calls. No photos,” he says. “You didn’t see her.”

The betas nod like bobbleheads at gunpoint.

Kai returns to us, shrugging. “I’m not saying I’m the muscle, but if this were a boyband, I’mdefinitelythe hot one with anger issues.”

Lucian exhales through his nose. “You’resomething.”

“What?” he says, laughter in his voice. “You know, this is feeling less like a rescue and more like a classified op. And I’m into it.”

“I’ll remind younotto say that when the omega you’re joking about has claws,” Ash says dryly.

“She already does,” Theo murmurs, glancing down at me before lowering his voice. “We’ve got you, Rhea.”

I nod. Not because I believe it entirely, but because it’s the only thing I can do.

We reach the back door. Lucian pushes it open, and cold air rushes in, slapping my skin awake.

I gasp, body arching slightly against the shock. Every inch of me recoils and aches at once - torn between relief and want, logic and hunger.

Theo adjusts his grip, sheltering me from the worst of the cold while Ash sweeps the perimeter.

Lucian strides ahead, all purpose and predatory silence. The alphas follow until he reaches a matte-black SUV that looks less like a car and more like a moving fortress.

It beeps once as he unlocks it, and Kaistares.

“Of course you drive something that looks like it does international arms deals on the side,” he quips.

Lucian doesn’t blink.

“Get in,” Lucian snaps, crisp as a bank foreclosure notice.

Theo steps toward the SUV, but Lucian lifts a hand like he’s directing traffic at a crime scene.

“Put Rhea inside,” he says, clipped. “Leave the rest to me.”

Theo freezes mid-step.

Ash’s shoulders tense.

Kai’s smirk wobbles like it just remembered it had taxes due.

My head’s heavy. Sluggish. But even through the fog of heat and chaos, one thought pulses loud and clear:

Lucian wants me alone.

Alone, in a locked luxury deathmobile, with a man who looks like he argues with lawyers for fun.

Nope. Absolutely not.

I don’t care how many commas are in his bank account; there is not a single fiber of me willing to play that game.

Four is better.

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