Page 49 of Pack Owned
“And I’m not saving any of this for him, either.” Liam grins, spooning more eggs onto his plate. “You snooze, you lose… that’s what he always says, right? About time Ryker got a taste of his own medicine.”
My lips twitch into a smile, appreciating the irony, but my stomach knots up tighter. It’s hard to enjoy the humor when I have no idea how much time I have before Ryker shows up.
“Feels kinda wrong to eat all the food, though,” I admit, my gaze flickering toward the hallway, half-expecting Ryker.
“Please,” Liam snorts, dismissive, his blond hair catching the morning light. “We have cereal if he’s that desperate for breakfast. Man’s gotta learn to set an alarm if he wants the good stuff.”
I nod, trying to absorb some of their easy confidence.
We finish eating, and there are no leftovers. No surprise, considering Dane could probably make cardboard taste gourmet.
The plates clink as we stack them in the dishwasher. Dane wipes down the counter with practiced swipes while Liam juggles the silverware, making me laugh.
“Careful, you’ll—” I start, but it’s too late. A fork slips from his grasp, clattering to the floor.
“Score!” Liam crows, as if he meant to do it, and I can’t help but snort at his antics.
“Smooth,” I tease, bending to pick up the utensil. The lightness of the moment is like a bubble around us, delicate and easily popped. As much as I wish I could stay here forever, lost in this simple act of cleaning up after breakfast, I know better.
Reality has a way of reminding me of the dangers lurking outside these walls. The thought of what awaits me sends a shudder through me. Recently, I’ve seen enough of Nexus’s brutality to last a lifetime—the memory of guards’ fists and sneers still fresh, even now.
How the Nexus guards abandoned us while the bus was sliding toward the road during the rain. How one came after me, and if not for Liam?—
“Hey, you okay?” Dane’s voice cuts through the memory.
“Uh, yeah. Just... zoning.” I force a smile, turning back to the task at hand.
“Thanks for breakfast, man.” Liam stretches, and his shirt rides up, revealing his sculpted abs.
My mouth goes dry as the image of him, water cascading over taut muscles, invades my thoughts unbidden. I swallow hard, looking away.
“Keep an eye on things for me?” Dane asks, snapping on a pair of shades. “Gonna check the perimeter, make sure we’re clear.”
“Sure,” I reply, popping a soap pod into the dishwasher. As Dane heads out, I can’t help but think about my constant desire to leave. Where would I even go?
I can’t deny that staying here with these guys is probably safer than trying to survive out there alone. Maybe I need to work on getting Ryker more on my side. If I can get him to change his mind about turning me over, maybe I’d have a real shot at freedom.
I turn to Liam, my resolve hardening. “So, what’s the plan for today? Besides turning the kitchen into a juggling act?”
Liam grins, picking up another fork. “Well, I was thinking of starting a circus, but I guess we could strategize on our video game. Wanna play later?”
I laugh, the tension easing slightly. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Meet you in my room in two hours? I need to get cleaned up and take care of some business. But then it’s you and me against those river trolls.”
“Sounds great.” For now, I have no choice but to trust them.
I lean against the cool granite of the kitchen island, letting out a shaky breath.
“Kayla?” Liam asks from the kitchen’s opening to the hallway. “You good?”
“Never better,” I say, mustering a smirk. My hands betray me, trembling ever so slightly as they grip the edge of the counter.
“Right,” Liam nods, though I see the concern flicker in his eyes before he turns away. “Well, if you need anything...”
“Thanks.” The word is a whisper, but it feels like a shout in the quiet kitchen.
Liam disappears down the hallway, and I’m left to face the silence. My thoughts whirl with possibilities, each more frightening than the last, and I wonder how long it will be until my past—or Ryker—catches up with me.
