Page 39 of Knot All is Crystal
That would’ve gone over like a lead balloon.
“I know you were scared,” Tyler says quietly. “I was, too. To think if I had been even a little bit later, if you hadn’t shown up, what could’ve happened to her.” He shudders and wraps his arms around his chest. “She’s tough, but she’s not that tough. If they had touched her…” He growls, slamming his fist into the table. “I would never have forgiven myself.”
“You and me both,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Did Kieran go hard on you?”
He snorts derisively. “You could say that.”
I don’t ask what he means by that. I know the lengths Kieran will go to to protect Queenie.
“Can I go?” Tyler asks after a minute. “I have a bar to stock.”
I wave my hand, dismissing him. “Yeah, man. Sorry for blowing up on you. I just...”
“I know,” he interrupts. “We all would do crazy things for Crystal.”
* * *
Kieran droneson about a new supplier, and my nails dig into my palms as I listen.
Supplier can mean many things to Kieran Cobb.
Supplier of alcohol for the club.
Supplier of drugs.
Or, the worst, a supplier of Omegas.
Which is why I’m here.
“I need you to meet with them tomorrow. They said they have a young one, snatched from the Academy.” He’s picking his nails with a gaudy letter opener resembling a dagger. Does he think that makes him look intimidating? “I need you to pick him up.”
This isn’t my usual task. I focus on heading up the Prism side of his business, not the flesh one. But a few times over the years, he’s asked me to handle a transaction of this nature. Maybe it’s because he trusts me more than whoever is over that line of business.
Maybe I’m just the more convenient choice.
Or maybe he thinks my appearance can scare these Omegas into submission.
Kieran’s shoulders are tense, and I can tell he’s keeping something from me. I’ve learned to read the Alpha well over the years. We’ve worked together for over half a decade, and in that time, I’ve gone from street-level grunt to his second in command. Ricky, who handles most of the drug side of things, is never involved in these sorts of meetings. I made it my goal to grow close to Kieran and become indispensable to him, and he’s rewarded me with access to the organization that is probably well above my station.
“Picking up an Omega from the Academy seems like a high risk, boss,” I say as I cross my arms and lean back. “Is that a risk we can afford to take right now?”
Right now, meaning when the organized crime unit was caught poking around our club a week ago.
Not that they aren’t always trying to find out something about the Conglomerate, but still. Eyes are on us.
He sighs and sets down the faux blade, exhaustion weighing his features. Still, he’s sharp as a tack and replies nonchalantly, “Male Omegas are in high demand, and I have set up a trade for one with a facility that will become our new fizz manufacturer and produce to my standards.” He pours a glass of scotch and holds it up to me in a silent offering. I shake my head.
I don’t drink. Ever. I refuse to let my guard down like that.
“I need access to a resource they have, and they do not have the infrastructure to procure a male Omega like I do.” He sits down at his desk and reclines with his legs crossed on the surface. “So this will be a necessary risk. You can do the handoff, right?”
Nodding, I slowly stand up. My bones creak wearily. “I can do it. Where is the handoff?”
* * *
I stumbleinto Kieran’s office, blood dripping into my eyes from the cut on my brow.
I’m exhausted, but this part has to be done.
