Page 20 of Three of a Kind

“Dangerous.”

“See, that’s the thing about bad guys. They always think they’re the biggest and baddest. That lasts until they meet someone bigger and badder than them.”

My head shakes.

It seems like he thinks Avan physically abused me or something like that. He is a controlling jerk and has definitely qualified as verbally abusive on occasion, but he’s never put his hands on me.

I also get that there are all types of abuse, from physical to verbal to financial.

The point is, I believe Noble could defend himself in a fair fight. But that’s the thing about Avan; he never plays fair.

He wouldn’t even lift a finger.

If he did, it would be to point directly at Noble to tell his men where to attack.

“Don’t stress,” Noble says softly as he moves forward to get close to my ear. “It’s not good for you or the baby. I’m not trying to pressure you into anything. I just want you to give it some thought. You don’t have to be alone out of fear of what he’ll do.”

My heart thumps against my ribcage as I pull back to study his face. “Maybe we could do pizza or something after Libby falls asleep one night.”

His eyes crinkle at the edges as a bright smile crosses his face. “That works for me.”

Chapter Seven

Maverick

Gunner and I are supposed to be focused on completing the job we were assigned to do. My concentration is shit, and it has been since Gun told me he saw Brooklyn. I’ve never felt such an all-consuming need to be around another person, but my instincts are obsessed with the fact she’s so close and simultaneously so far away.

New York is a dangerous city.

I should be by her side, watching out for her and making sure she’s protected.

It’s driving me fucking insane.

Our contact in New York, Bless Barrett, basically ghosted us for the entire first week we’ve been here.

A huge part of me hopes she doesn’t show up tonight, so our boss will finally put an end to all of this.

Not only are our talents being wasted by leaving us in limbo, with no clear course of action, but I’m a little afraid I’m going to lose my shit if I don’t put eyes on Brooklyn soon.

I’ve never been one of those stereotypical alphas on the verge of going feral.

Not until I met my omega and lost her in the span of a single goddamn day.

Gunner sighs, glancing away from the woman dancing on the stage.

Who knows why Bless asked to meet us at this club, but I don’t like it.

It’s clear from his rigid posture that Gunner isn’t any happier to be here than I am.

Then again, he’s on my shit list too. He said he got Brooklyn’s license plate number, but he hasn’t given it to me.

If he had, I would have already reached out to Merrick, the tech guy for Assurance.

It doesn’t matter that it would make me look like a stalker.

I’d still do it.

Gunner thinks we should hold off on contacting Brooklyn until this mission is over, but that isn’t a sentiment I share.