Page 121 of Knot All is Crystal
Hopefully, Atlas can help us fill in some holes and help us bust up this ring once and for all.
Kieran paces in front of us, running his hands through his hair. He jabs his gun at me as he speaks. “They’re late. Your contact better deliver, Bellamy, or your ass is mine.”
Ooh, he used my last name. He’s real mad.
I’ve lost my ability to be scared of Kieran since I began working for him. He’s dangerous, unhinged, and completely amoral. But he doesn’t want to get his hands dirty beyond a few cheap hits.
That’s why he has me.
I knew, going into this arrangement, that part of the reason why he let me get so close was that he didn’t think I was a threat. In his prejudiced mind, a Black man like me couldn’t possibly be clever enough to overthrow him.
So he made me his muscle.
His brute.
And it’s served me well over the years, getting me closer to my goal than I ever dreamed. Sure, my sister will never come back to me, but I can honor her memory by ruining the man who took her from me.
Poetic justice.
The door opens, startling Crystal so much that she whines pitifully. I ache to pull her to my chest and soothe her, but we both have roles to play today, and those aren’t ours.
Wyatt comes in, dragging a bound and gagged Atlas by the collar. The Alpha is dressed up like a proper cowboy, with a hat pulled low over his eyes and heavy boots. He throws Atlas at Kieran’s feet.
“Here y’all go, one abomination.”
Atlas bucks and swears, his dark hair flying around haphazardly. Crystal starts to shake with barely restrained rage beside me, and I have to poke her in the lower back to remind her to keep it together.
“Abomination?” Kieran sneers.
Wyatt spits on the factory floor. “S’what I said. God didn’t intend for no men to be Omegas. They’re erasing women and undermining everything an Omega is supposed to be. It’s disgusting. And the Alphas that’ll get them pregnant and let them pass on their corruption ain’t much better.”
Atlas spits the gag from his mouth and lets out a pitiful, convincing whine. “We’ve always been here! Male Omegas aren’t a new development. Only recently has society decided that we’re broken or dirty.”
Kieran’s fancy Italian loafer meets Atlas’ ribs. “Shut the fuck up, Omega. While I may disagree with your handler, it’s only because, in my opinion, all Omegas are nothing more than warm holes and cute faces. To be seen and not heard.” He crouches to look the Beta in disguise in the eye. “You’re pretty enough. My buyers are going to love you.”
If I didn’t know this was all planned, a predetermined ruse to take down Kieran and the Conglomerate eventually, I would think the fearful way Atlas trembles is real.
Kieran’s nostrils flare as he tries to scent Atlas, and my stomach bottoms out until he nods approvingly.
My uncle, Ajay Kahn, Rebecca’s father, works overseas for one of the Design Clinic competitors. He’s how both of us got the experimental drugs to suppress our Alpha natures. When we explained what we needed, he helped us concoct a plan to simulate Omega pheromones in a more believable way than the perfumes that currently flood the market.
“Then, if we’re good here, I’ll take my payment and be on my merry way,” Wyatt pipes up. This persona is so convincing that it makes me feel slightly queasy, and I can tell Crystal isn’t unaffected. She mewls softly, like his words hurt her on Atlas’ behalf.
Kieran, of course, doesn’t notice her distress. “Yes, yes, you’ve done enough. Puck,” the other Alpha turns toward me, “I assume you’ve worked out payment?”
“Yup, got it all covered, boss.” I grab a folded slip of paper from my pocket and hand it to my teammate. “Your pickup instructions are here.”
“You better not be fucking with me,” he drawls. “Or we’re gonna have a problem.”
“My word is my bond.”
If only Kieran knew how true that statement is.
Because I gave my word that I would avenge my sister.
That I would take down the King.
And I always keep my word.
