Page 22 of Not Ready

I’m not going to apologize, either.

He’s my best fucking friend, and the thought of someone taking advantage of him doesn’t sit well with me.

She could be a very good actress.

I aim for the bathroom, head through, and enter Vale’s room. Sure enough, the big fucker is sitting on the floor next to the bed.

“Do you want to give the poor woman a heart attack?” I whisper, approaching him.

Most alphas are massive, but Bishop is one of the biggest I’ve ever seen in person. He’s much closer to seven feet than six. Essentially, if he ever went down in combat, it would take a team of us to carry his ass out.

Luckily, it’s never come to that.

For being such a beast, he sure does pop up swiftly when he spots me. His long, blondish-brown hair is up in a tie, but pieces fall around his face as he growls, jabbing a finger toward the door I just came through.

If he wasn’t one of my best friends, that look might intimidate me. I chuckle under my breath and saunter into his bedroom.

He gently pushes the door until it clicks closed and leans against it. “What?”

“Two trackers popped on the sweep. A burst tracker and a pinpoint. Merrick should have them in hand shortly.” The little omega definitely has someone very interested in her whereabouts.

“Jesus Christ,” he mutters, shaking his head. “Anything yet on identity?”

“No, but Merrick is good. Give him some time to work.” I quirk an eyebrow.

Bishop knows as well as I do that these things aren’t instantaneous, especially without a last name or address.

“Right. Anything else?”

“Hargrove and Merryweather swept the building. There was one camera inside their apartment and one in the exterior hallway leading out to the street.”

“Where?”

I know him well enough to understand that he’s asking where the camera was that they found inside her apartment.

“In the living room. It had full range to pick up their bedroom doors, but not much else. They were both removed and sent for processing.” I shrug. “Maybe he’ll get pissed and pop up and they can handle the problem.”

“I wouldn’t turn that down, at this point.” He sighs. “All right. Thanks, Holt.”

“You aren’t about to go back in there and stand over her as she sleeps or anything…” I grimace. “Are you?”

“Don’t even try to say I’m like him.” He takes a step toward me.

My palms fly up, but also…he does enjoy watching her sleep. “I know you’re not like that prick. But she just had to leave her home and the majority of her things behind. I’m just saying. If she wakes up and sees you standing over her, it could be triggering.”

“Vale trusts me,” he growls. “As she fucking should. I’d die before I’d let anything happen to her.”

Well, I can’t dispute that logic.

“It really doesn’t bother you that she’s walking around with another guy’s baby in tow?” I ask, taking a step back, in case he decides to take a swing.

“I warned you before not to say another fucking word about that,” he growls, advancing on me.

“I’m not even being a dick. You’ve had it bad for her for close to two damn years.”

“And yet, if the situation was reversed, none of you motherfuckers would say a word. We weren’t together. Could I have been out, sleeping with other people? Yeah, and no one would’ve batted an eye if I got some random woman pregnant. But because she hooked up with someone, and thought it was more serious than it was, all of you suddenly think you have the right to have opinions. News flash, asshole. You don’t. I’m done. You say a word to hurt her feelings or make her question her place here…” His head shakes. “You better ask for a transfer before I get my hands on you. And that warning is only because I consider you a friend. That’s all I’ve got to say about that.” He turns around and heads back to Vale’s room while I’m still standing, frozen.

I guess I see what he’s saying.

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