Page 50 of Knot Innocent

I get that Birdie is compelled to do this, but the police should know better. Does that jackass detective not remember what happened just a few days ago? Has Birdie forgotten? That woman’s got no business being used as bait for one asshole while another hunts her close by. Absolutely anything could happen while the cops are busy patting themselves on the back for bringing Mercan in. And Birdie’s lost her mind if she thinks I’m going to let her stick her neck out again.

I keep on Birdie’s back bumper the entire trip to work, including the drive-through of the small coffee shop and the security gate at the Knot compound. Birdie parks in her reserved spot, and I screech to a stop behind her car.

Leaving the engine running, I jump out to intercept her, keeping my distance. “What the hell are you doing, Birdie?! There’s no way you’re making yourself up to be bait again with this guy still out there. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

I’ve held myself out of arms reach to avoid the temptation of putting my hands on her. Birdie, however, has no such reservations. She marches up to me, engine fully revved. I expect a mouth full of vitriol, but after a deep breath, she gently touches my chest and speaks softly. “I have only ever tried to do what someone should have done for your family. To stop the monster.”

Clenching and unclenching my jaw, I look away for a moment, finally admitting to myself the ugly truth. “My mother was a grown woman. She chose to stay, even when I begged her to get us away from him.”

Birdie refuses to back down. “Someone knew. Someone would have seen signs, bruises, skittish child. Someone should have saved you.”

She turns to leave then, and the wall around my heart shudders. It’s too late to save me, but it’s not too late for her. “You can’t go,” I call after her. “You have to stay here where it’s safe. You don’t owe me a damned thing, but promise me this.”

Birdie’s shoulders slump, and she turns her head, showing me her profile. “I’ll stay safe. I promise.”

Birdie walks away, wilting like she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Funny. That’s how I feel. After that display, she’s probably afraid of me now.

I run a hand over my face, frustrated at every fucking thing, and jump back into the running vehicle to move it out of the way.

The gym is quiet when I finally make my way inside. My team isn’t scheduled for sparring or workouts today since we’ll deploy this afternoon. I’m not even obligated to stay on campus. But I’m here, so I get in a good workout to purge some of the tension left from this morning.

Just before five, when we’re set to be driven to the airport, my conscience gets the best of me. You owe Birdie an apology. I’ve heard plenty of stories of men who beat their women and then begged for forgiveness, swearing it would never happen again. My father never did that. He was a prick who figured it was his right to do anything he wanted to his family. My apology probably won’t mean anything to Birdie, but I need to make it for myself.

My heart is in my throat as I take the stairs to the executive level, heading toward Birdie’s office. I rehearse in my head what I want to say to her. And how I’ll respond when she rejects my appeal.

All the words I planned to say escape my head when I find Birdie’s office dark. She must have checked out early. I try calling her number but don’t get her. She won’t be able to answer if she’s working with Spatch or in the gym.

Checking my watch, I still have a few minutes, so I head back downstairs, stopping by the women’s dorm first just in case she’s there.

Finding the dorm, gym, and training rooms empty, I jog back up to the executive floor. The receptionist is packing her bag to leave when I reach her desk. “Where’s Birdie?”

The urgency in my voice stills the woman’s fingers. “I don’t know. She left.”

“What do you mean, left? Went to get food? Work out?”

Fearing Birdie has done something stupid, my voice raises with each syllable. “When did she leave?!”

The heavy wooden door to my right opens, and Knot emerges from his office. “What the hell is going on out here?”

Knowing he’ll be on my side, I turn to him for help. “I can’t find Birdie.”

“Calm down, Laurent. This is a big place with plenty of areas you can’t check.” The big man picks up the receptionist’s phone and dials the security extension. “Has Birdie left the campus?”

Security’s response has Knot’s entire body tensing. “When?” he barks.

He places the phone back on the base and looks up at me. “She left an hour ago.”

“Fuck!” I yell as I turn for the stairs.

Knot grabs my shoulder and spins me around. “I want to know what the fuck is going on, and I want to know right now.”

“Birdie’s gone to catch the man we had to abandon Saturday night. I need to stop her.”

Pushing me toward the stairs, Knot follows, even though he shakes his head. “You’re headed to DC in fifteen minutes. I’ll handle Birdie.”

“No, sir. You don’t know her system, how she hunts. I do. You’re going to have to send the team without me.”

The CEO nods his assent and flicks his wrist toward the exit. “Get out of here. And keep me updated!”

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