Page 15 of Knot a Tie
ChapterNine
Rayne
I’m not sure why he is hiding his true nature under the guise of a docile, do-as-Burnt-toast says, but this Richard isdefinitelynot the weakest link. Searching his eyes, I evaluate him. He lets me see it all. A warning, if you will, of not to single him out as the leader of this sorry-arse loose pack of shitty alphas. He doesn’t belong here, sowhyis he here? He is better than them. If he didn’t let me see it on his face, I’d have known anyway by his attitude. Out of a primal instinct, which is coming solely from the omega inside me and not the woman, I shuffle a bit closer to him. I know that he will protect me. I don’t know how I know; I just know.
Again, it’s instinct.
He smiles warily down at me, and I return it with a tight one of my own. Feeling some of my sass come back, I lean forward and rap sharply on Burnt-toast’s shoulder.
“I saiddeal?”
He turns to look at me again. I resist the urge to shy away from his cold glare. “So did I.”
“I don’t believe you mean it,” I bite back.
“Well, tough titties for you.” He faces forward again after his gaze drops to my ample chest briefly.
Okay, that was a bit rude. Mind you, on a scale of snatching me off the street and shoving me into the back of this car, it’s more a one than anything else. But still. Manners, people.
Richard leans over and whispers in my ear. “I’ll make sure you get back to your car in one piece.”
I give him a weak smile, hoping he means it.
He sits back and then barks at the alpha on the other side of me, “Let her ring her parents and cousin.”
Tree-man glares at me. “Fine, but you tell them everything is great and make it believable.”
I nod as he pulls my phone out and holds it up to my face to unlock it. Grimacing at him, I watch helplessly while he invades my privacy and accesses my contacts. “Who is your cousin?” he snaps.
“Morgan,” I reply, my lower lip trembling slightly. What am I going to tell her? Delayed? She might ring my parents. Not coming? She’ll ask why not. We’ve both been looking forward to reconnecting, it will raise more red flags.
Tree-man opens up the messages. “No, a phone call,” I insist.
“You can speak to your parents, but I’m not giving you twice the opportunity to screw us over. Text. What do you want to say?”
Uhm. Fuck. The pressure is getting to me. Sweat beads on my forehead. “Uhm,” I stammer when he gives me an impatient, menacing glare. “Hey cuz. Sorry about this. Still coming, but slightly delayed. Met a hot alpha in the services, and well dot dot dot, then add the winky face emoji.” I groan inwardly as Burnt-toast snickers. Yeah, I sound like a big slag but tough. It’ll keep her off my back for a day or so.
I feel Richard’s fingers squeeze mine again.
Tree-man, with a smirk on his face, presses send and then roots around for my parent’s number. He dials and my mouth goes dry. My mum is going to know there’s a problem because I’m ringing, not texting.
Think, Rayne. Think fast.
“Rayne?” Mum’s voice comes over the line in concern. “Everything okay?”
In a flash, Burnt-toast’s hand snaps out and grips my loose hair, tightening just enough in warning to make me wince.
“Yep, I’m here now. Thought I’d ring as you prefer.”
“Oh, good,” she says distractedly and my heart falls into my stomach. “Have fun and say hi for us.”
“Will do. I’ll check in again in a few hours,” I rush out, needing to get that in so these arseholes know they have to keep me alive for long enough to do that at least.
“Okay, love. Bye.”
“Bye,” I whisper and then I’m cut off from the safety of the call and back to reality and the scary situation I’ve been thrust into.
Tree-man pockets my phone again, but Richard’s fingers tighten on mine. This time, I squeeze back. Whatever his place is here, it’s not aligned with the others. I need to get him firmly on my side, even if that side is my unmated omega, pretty, shaven pussy.
