Page 32 of Sacrifice

Just Aisling, held tight and treasured in the arms of a man who sees me for all that I am.

“Hey,” Rook’s voice is soft, but there’s something in it that pulls me back from the edge of sleep. His fingers trace idle patterns on my spine, grounding and intimate. “I’ve been digging more into the Mojave Lab situation. There’s stuff you need to know.”

“You’ve got some funny ideas about pillow talk.”

He doesn’t laugh. “I need to tell you—it’s important.”

My heart kicks up a notch, but I keep my voice steady. “Okay, tell me.”

“Found some leads connecting ex-ACB officials across the country to eros trafficking. It’s bigger than we thought, Aisling.” His hand pauses on my back, the weight of his words hanging heavy between us.

“Details,” I prompt, rolling onto my side to face him, all traces of sleepiness gone now. This is personal—eros has left its scars on me, after all.

“Seems like they’ve got a network, distributing the drug through unofficial channels, beyond just pack territories.” He’s watching me closely, gauging my reaction.

“Unofficial channels?” I echo, trying to piece together what that could mean for our plans. For revenge.

“Black market, rogue packs, even some lone wolves,” Rook continues. “And they’re not just pushing eros—there are other drugs, experimental ones. Stuff we haven’t seen yet.”

“Experimental…” The word sits like lead in my stomach. “That’s why you’re telling me this now, isn’t it?”

He nods, his jaw tightening. “Yeah. Because it matters. Because it’s hurt you, and I don’t want it to happen again—to you or anyone else.”

“Who’s behind it?” I ask, the question a whisper of dread in the quiet room.

“It’s him, Aisling. The one who drugged you and Luka.” Rook’s voice is low, every word soaked in warning.

My body goes cold despite the warmth of his skin against mine. That name—that face, leering at me while Luka…I’ve tried to scrub it out of my memory, but now it surfaces, clear as if he were standing right in front of me. “You’re sure?”

“Got it confirmed today. He’s running Mojave Lab. It’s all connected back to him. And if we take him out, we can shut down their whole op.”

I sit up abruptly, the sheets pooling at my waist. My chest feels tight, every beat of my heart a drum signaling war. “That… That changes everything.” My voice is steady, but inside, I’m a storm of emotion—anger, fear, determination—all swirling into a vortex that threatens to consume me.

Rook sits up too, his hand finding mine, gripping it like a lifeline. “We’ll take him down, Aisling. We will. This won’t go unpunished.”

“Damn right, it won’t.” My eyes are hard now, the grey in them like steel. My fingers curl into fists, nails digging into my palms. This isn’t just about vengeance; it’s about justice—for me, for Luka, for everyone harmed by that monster’s ambition.

Rook’s arm snakes around my shoulders, his hold both protective and empowering. “When we expose them, it’ll send shockwaves through the city. The lab’s been a thorn in everyone’s side for too long.”

“Shockwaves…” I muse aloud. My strategic mind starts to rev, like an engine sparked to life. This is bigger than personal vendetta; this could reshape the hierarchy that’s been suffocating us all. “It could destabilize the current power holders. Create an opening.”

“Exactly.” He nods, his expression growing dark with the promise of rebellion. “We have to be smart about this. Play our cards right, and we can control the narrative. We could influence the balance of power, shift it.”

“Once the lab falls, there will be chaos,” I continue. “But from chaos comes opportunity. We…no, I need to be ready to step into the void it leaves. This just makes it more clear that it’s time to pack up with Nero, and Vance…fuck, we have to take Vance out of the picture, huh? At least for now.”

“Damn, Aisling,” Rook says, a smirk playing on his lips, admiration lighting his eyes. It’s clear he sees me not just as an omega to be protected, but as a force to be reckoned with. “You’re thinking three moves ahead.”

“You’ve played chess with me enough that you should have expected that,” I reply, leaning back into his embrace. The warmth from his body seeps into my skin, grounding me. I’m going to need every ounce of strength and cunning for what’s coming. The thought fills me with a sense of purpose, a fuel for the fire that’s been lit inside me.

The ringing of my phone cuts through the heavy silence that had settled between us—a persistent, grating chime that’s impossible to ignore. For a moment, I consider letting it go to voicemail, but the caller is as relentless as a storm, and I know who it must be.

“Damn it,” I mutter under my breath, the frustration evident in my voice. I extricate myself from Rook’s arms with a reluctance that tugs at my chest. The cool air hits my skin as I reach for the nightstand, the warmth of our shared heat now just a lingering memory.

“Hello?”

“Aisling? You okay?” Gunnar’s voice filters through the speaker, tinged with concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine. What do you need?”

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