Page 13 of Ruin Me Knot
Nice words, but I don’t buy them.Why does he even care?
The room's closing in. The tantalizing air makes my head fuzzy. My thighs press together helplessly as arousal spreads, molten and insistent. The part of me that still cares about survival screams to run before my body betrays me. "I want to get out of here."
The tanned Alpha with the chocolate eyes frowns deep and turns his harsh gaze to the redhead. "Gabriel, remove the IV so she can stand."
For a beat, I just stare, not comprehending. Did he say I can go? My heart pounds, waiting for the trap, for the snap of command or threat. The auburn-haired Alpha—Gabriel—offers a slow, languid smile, sunlight breaking through storm clouds. A smile that would weaken knees in a different life.
Gabriel keeps his palms up. "Can I touch you? Just to get the line out, Sweetheart. I’ll be quick. Promise."
I can’t trust anything these Alphas say, but the door is within reach, and freedom glows at the threshold. I need the IV gone so I can leave. I extend my arm to Gabriel, liquid dread replacing the blood in my veins, and brace for the hit.
It doesn’t come.
Gabriel unwinds the bandages. He moves slowly, so as not to tug on my raw skin or touch where he doesn’t have to. I keep waiting for his grip to slip, for impatience or irritation to show, but he glances at my face every few seconds. There’s a carefulness in him that feels foreign. Impossible. My pulse drums inmy ears as he peels back the tape and gently slides the cannula from my skin. He presses a folded square of gauze against the spot, holding it there until the bleeding stops, doing exactly what he said he was going to do.
I don’t trust it, but I want answers. I swing my gaze to the big, tanned Alpha before he turns. "Who are you? Where am I? How did I get here?"
"I’m Ronan." He gestures to the dark-skinned Alpha sitting against the wall on my other side. "That’s Jaxon."
The Alpha’s focus never falters. "Jax works."
"Gabriel took your cannula out." Ronan leans forward, keeping his hands wide on his thighs. "As to how you came to be here? We followed you after the gala to that…facility." His mouth tightens with what looks like regret. "I’m sorry, Omega. We got there as fast as we could, but we were too late to stop Hardwick from hurting you. You’re safe here."
I say nothing. I don’t know where to put apologies from Alphas, or how to believe them, so I press my lips tight and turn back to what matters.
"How am I safe here?" I glance at all three Alphas.
Ronan’s unyielding gaze meets mine. "We’re ex-marines. The three of us run Hawthorne Security, mostly mercenary work, rescue, protection. We work high-risk contracts and provide sanctuary for vulnerable people, which is why we were at your trade-off. We were hired to protect you, but we didn’t expect you to be our scent-matched mate. This apartment is one of our safe houses. We have controlled access on every level, a private elevator, and security cameras. No one knows you’re here except us."
"Hardwick got away from us. She triggered a full shutdown and poisoned the whole place to erase the evidence. We made the call to save you instead of chasing her." Jax’s eyes never leave mine. "It doesn’t mean she’s off the hook. We’re not done. She’s only bought herself time. Right now, you’re what matters."
His words tumble through me, but they don’t stick. I can’t make sense of them. Nothing fits. How did they know I’d be at the gala? Their voices, their regret, the idea of me being something important. All I feel is sweat dripping down my temples, heat pulsing between my legs, a frenzied throbbing at my centerthat won’t let me concentrate on anything but the mind-stealing arousal of heat coursing through me.
For one heartbeat, I just stare at the line of Jax’s jaw, the sincerity in his eyes. Then survival takes over because if I stay in this nest, I’m going to be begging for their cocks. They will claim me.
And I won’t be owned.
The tube in my hand is gone.
I lunge, scrambling out of the heap of pillows and snatch at the door handle with sweat-slicked hands. My heart thumps so loud I hardly hear their voices rising around me. I rip the door open and spill out, running as fast as my weak body will let me. Out of the heat, out of their reach, desperate for freedom and air, for anything but the cage of three Alphas, and the hunger incinerating my free will.
The Omega in me claws toward them. But I turn my back on her and bolt.
Chapter Seven
Leah
Itear down the hall, bare feet thudding over thick carpet. The walls stretch on either side, lined with doors that open onto ordinary bedrooms, neat beds made up with comfortable covers. No cement cells. No punishment rooms. But none of it slows my pounding fear.
A shout comes from behind me. "Leah. Wait. Don’t hurt yourself." But I know better than to stop.
My muscles are heavy and slow. I’m not used to running but adrenaline floods what’s left of my body, driving me faster than Ithought possible.
I slam past a bathroom and burst into an open living area. I freeze for a heartbeat. To my left is a kitchen, on my right a living area but it’s the large floor to ceiling window that steals my full attention.
Opaque closed blinds filter the light, enough to let me look out but keep prying eyes from seeing in. My breath stalls as I take in the scene beyond the glass. Below us, life moves with breathtaking, impossible normalcy.
We’re four stories up. Cars glide past. I spot a person riding a bike. A mother bends to zip her kid’s backpack. Trees lining the street below sway, their green leaves flickering gold when they’re ruffled by a breeze. I hover, too stunned to move. The world outside is real and alive and it knocks me sideways.
