Page 7 of Quietly Hux's
We’d decided to wait until the beginning of the week. The bar was typically closed on Sundays and Mondays, giving us all a chance to recover from the weekend. Dormaunt had wanted to meet immediately, every bit the tyrant Rylan, and the others had described.
Shep had refused and since we had what he wanted—Milo—he hadn’t had much choice other than to agree to our terms.
Standing in the bar now, waiting for Dormaunt to arrive, I looked over at Milo. Dark circles stained the skin beneath his eyes. He hadn’t slept well since I told him what today’s meeting with Dormaunt would entail. How I’d challenged Dormaunt in the only way he’d understand. The only way I could ensure that Milo would be free and safe after this meeting was over. Because it wasn’t enough and wasn’t fair to try to keep him hidden. The fear he had of Dormaunt was enough that even though he didn’t physically wear the chains anymore, he’d never be free.
“Milo,” I said, taking a step toward him.
He looked over at me from his spot looking up at the fight cage. His face went even more ashen.
I fucking hated seeing that look on his face. Hated it even more that it was directed at me.
“Sweetheart,” I breathed, pulling him toward me and wrapping my arms around him. He melted against me, and I pressed my lips to the top of his head. “Everything is going to be fine.”
He shook his head.
Pulling back only far enough to see his face, my heart cracked at the lines of tears on his cheeks. Sliding my hands up, I cradled his face between my palms and wiped his tears away with my thumbs. “It will. Fighting for you in the cage is the only language Dormaunt will accept. And once he’s beaten, then your freedom is yours.” I swallowed hard. “You can do whatever you want. Go wherever you want.”
He huffed and glared at me, pinching my side.
“Ow! Okay,” I amended. “Wecan go wherever you want.”
He rolled his eyes, but a small smile lit his face.
Leaning down, I rested my forehead against his. “I will win this fight.”
He nodded and kissed me.
MILO
To say I wasn’t a fan of this plan was a massive understatement. I’d rebelled against it from the moment Hux had told me. At first, it had almost felt like being in Trent’s chains again. Ownership was the only thing men like Trent and Dormaunt understood when it came to Omegas. Hux challenging Dormaunt in a fight and beating him—in Dormaunt’s world—meant myownershiptransferred to Hux.
But Hux, my sweet giant, didn’t see it that way. And in the end, that’s what made all the difference. Dormant believed he owned me, but he was too proud to back down from the challenge Hux laid out. When Hux won, I would be free, and Dormaunt would honor his word or lose his reputation. I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder.
So, they’d fight.
Hux swore to me he’d win. Was it a gamble? Of course. I also understood why it was the best play we had.
Didn’t mean I had to like it.
Slowly, Hux pulled back from our embrace.
“I should go check that everyone is in place.”
I nodded and did my best to give him another smile. Pointing to the bar where Rylan and Shep were talking quietly, I took a step in their direction.
“Yes. Stay close to Shep or Aiden, okay?”
I squeezed his hand, hating that my voice still refused to work, and walked to the bar.
When Dormaunt arrived,I had no idea what to do with myself. He and his men swept into the bar in a sea of black suits and slicked-back hair. The five men with him fanned out so that they formed a semicircle behind where Dormaunt had stopped in the middle of the floor.
I’d seen him only once before. Weeks ago he’d come to the basement of Trent’s warehouse and inspected all of us. Just as it did then, his gaze—hidden behind dark sunglasses—landed on me and stuck. I swallowed hard.
On either side of me, Rylan and Sebastian shifted close enough that our shoulders were touching. Part of Dormaunt’s terms for the challenge were that I was visible for the duration ofthe fight. Hux and Shep had decided the best position for safety was behind the bar. Shep maintained his casual stance, leaning on one of the barstools in front of us, off to the side enough that he wouldn’t obstruct me from sight as stipulated. Across the bar, a low rumbling growl started from the cage.
Lifting a hand, Dormaunt removed his sunglasses. He folded and slid them into an inside pocket of his suit coat before looking at me again. His dark eyes glittered with so much hate I thought I might vomit.
“I’m Shepherd.” Shep stepped forward, partially blocking Dormaunt from view. His tone was level, but the underlying hostility was impossible to miss. “I believe we spoke on the phone.”
