Page 38 of Three of a Kind

“A daughter you have seen exactly one time since getting a new girlfriend.” Brooklyn’s head shakes. “She’s three. All this will do is confuse her.”

“Bianca is my fiancée.” He chuckles a cold sound that nearly has me unzipping my jacket for easier access to my Glocks. “You should be grateful that she’s not pushing me to cut the two of you off completely.”

Brooklyn makes a pained sound, and my fists clench at my sides. “If you’re getting married, maybe it’s time I take Libby and move back to North Carolina for good?—”

Avan lets out a growl that has my toes clenching in my boots to keep from pivoting and taking his head off.

I tilt my head to appraise the situation, but he’s not looking at me at all.

I could end him right now without so much as putting Brooklyn at risk.

One shot and he’d be down.

Hell, the dagger in either boot would get the job done too.

“Don’t fuck with me right now, Brooklyn,” he growls, leaning over her. He has to be five or six inches taller than she is, which makes him short for an alpha.

He’s also the lowest form of shit there is.

Any man who would use his size to intimidate a woman is a coward the world wouldn’t miss.

And that’s without everything else I know about him.

“You can’t possibly understand the pressure I’m under. I’m doing what I have to do to keep all of us safe,” he growls, slapping the invitation out of her hand.

I grab the first book I can snatch, with how bad my hands are shaking, and stomp toward the counter.

“I have a meeting, and Dustin is MIA again,” Avan hisses. “I’ll send you the information. Bring Libby to the dress shop to be fitted.” He spots me and rolls his shoulders back in his expensive-as-fuck suit. “I think your customer is ready to check out.” He chuckles, spins around, and jogs up the stairs.

I watch him make the right to exit toward the sidewalk, but I don’t trust that he’s gone. I slide around the omega and take the steps, sticking close to the right wall. Once I’m up the stairs, I peek around the corner.

Avan strides out the front door, and I head back to check on Brooklyn. Her eyes are glassy as she pastes on a smile that isn’t the least bit convincing.

“Sorry about that. Are you all set, or did you want to check out something in the locked case?”

I frown, shaking my head as I approach.

“Are you really going to pretend like you don’t know me?” I gently clutch her elbow, giving her a soft tug back toward the locked case.

She follows without a fight.

I drop the book I’ve been carrying on one of the shelves, tilting my head as I study her face. “Are you okay?”

Her head shakes, but she catches herself and nods. “I’m fine. I’m sorry I left that night without saying goodbye.”

I sigh but try to keep my tone light. “I’m not going to lie and say it didn’t hurt, but that was because Maverick and I felt a real connection to you. We did try to find you…” I frown. “In a non-creepy way.”

Her nose wrinkles as she studies my face. “I didn’t think you’d give me a second thought after you realized I was gone.”

I scoff. “You obviously don’t understand how rare it is that Maverick and I are attracted to the same woman.”

“I am sorry,” she whispers. “I felt guilty. I liked you both as well, but I panicked.” She gestures back toward where she was talking to Avan only a few minutes ago. “I was trying to save you from getting tangled up in all of that.”

“I’m more tangled up in that than you know,” I mutter, swiping a hand over my face.

“W-What?” she whispers, taking a step back.

Ahh, fuck.

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