Page 154 of Heat & Deceit
“What do you want?” I finally find my voice, lifting my chin. They’re not my pack.
“We want what is rightfully ours,” Ricky says, gaze flitting down my dress. “Probably worth more than 10K now. What do you say, boys?”
“Fuck you,” I growl.
“Oh, she found her claws.” Jimmy rushes forward and grabs my arm. “You’re coming with us.”
“Let me go.” I slam my knee into his crotch, and he snarls, backhanding me before curling over and clutching his balls.
I stumble and clutch my aching cheek, glaring at him.
“You just made the biggest mistake of your life.” Ly is on Jimmy in the next instant, shoving Jimmy over and slamming his fist into Jimmy’s face over and over. “No one.” Punch. “Touches.” Punch. “Our.” Punch. “Omega.” Punch.
Ricky and Mikey run to help their friend, but Javi and Rome are suddenly there, forces of pure alpha muscle and destruction. My old pack doesn’t stand a chance. Ly grabs Jimmy by the shirt and pulls him up off the ground, smashing his forehead into Jimmy’s. The alpha blacks out, and Ly growls, punching him again for good measure.
Javi lands a brutal blow to Ricky’s temple, and the alpha drops like a sack of potatoes. Rome has Mikey in a chokehold, bicep flexing as he puts a bruised and bloody Mikey to sleep in ten seconds. Before I can even fully register what’s happened, my guys are on me. Hugging. Kissing. Checking the bruise on my cheek.
Caring.
Loving.
This time, I do cry, two big tears slipping down my cheek.
The three of them release deep, displeased growls, and I shake my head, wrapping my arms around them. “I love you guys so much.”
“We love you too,” they say at the same time, almost in sync, and I laugh, hugging them even tighter.
Shocked whispers fill the air, and we turn to take in the crowd spilling out onto the veranda. They’re staring at the three alphas laid out on the veranda like discarded junk.
“Does anyone else have something to say about our mate?” Ly shouts, breaking away from the group. “Now’s the fucking time.” He paces in front of the crowd, glaring at everyone as he passes. “Who wants to say something?”
“Oh, geez. Ly!” I pull out of Javi’s and Rome’s arms, running to my unhinged alpha and pulling him to a stop.
His gaze swings to mine, and I roll my eyes at him.
“If you start a fight,I’mgoing to kick your ass.”
That devastating grin tugs at his lips. “You’re so cute when you’re threatening me.”
He closes the distance between us and sweeps me into his arms. Placing my hand against his chest, I feel his racing heart. I feel how one wrong move could tip him over the edge.
I hold his stare. “Settle down.”
“Yes, ma’am.” And just like that, the tension leaves his body.
Javi and Rome usher everyone back into the building, and the three of us turn to look at those fuckers on the ground.
“What should we do with them?” I ask.
“I’m calling Knox.” Javi pulls out his phone.
I blink, forehead scrunching. “Wait. Like Knox, Knox? Like the Hell Hounds?”
“Yes.” He holds my gaze for a moment, and then his eyes move to the mark on my cheek. “Those assholes who tried to take you from us aren’t seeing the sunrise.”
And maybe I’m crazy, but that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.
Forty
