Page 130 of Candy & Her Saints

I’m struggling, and my arm hurts where Richard’s twisted it behind me. My wrist feels like it may break.

My eyes blur with involuntary tears.

I glance behind me.

“Ghost…? I’m here. It’ll be okay.” I catch a glimpse of Ghost’s face.

Ghost looks even more wrecked in the light of the manicured garden, which we’re being marched across by Richard and his gang of Betas, than he did in the basement.

There’s a purple bruise along Ghost’s cheek, where Richard struck him, after the Betas finally wrenched him away and managed to hold him still.

Obviously, that knothead doesn’t believe in a fair fight between an Omega and an Alpha.

Did it make Richard feel like a big Alpha to beat up an Omega? An Omega who fucking kicked his ass one on one.

Richard wrapped Thomas’ tie around Ghost’s head, using it as a gag to muffle his savage growling.

I can still hear it though.

Ghost meets my eye.

He can’t mask his pain, although he tries. He’s battling to reach me. It’s taking three Betas to hold him in place with his arms wrenched behind him.

Three Betas who tower above him.

Three Betas who haven’t been starved in a basement for months.

Three Betas with bulging muscles and guns.

I’m sure that they feel really brave right now.

I try to smile at Ghost reassuringly, but it’s not convincing.

Thomas knew that this time would come, and I know that he’s been working on a plan.

So have I.

I didn’t expect it to happen so soon, however, or for it to be so violent.

I also didn’t expect the fear and rage that seared through the bond from Thomas and Lincoln only minutes after Richard phoned to tell Raylan that he’d discovered me.

What the hell did Raylan do to them?

I told Ghost that things would be okay.

They won’t.

They fucking won’t.

Unless I can think up a plan fast.

When Richard shoves open the huge oak entrance door, which stands between decorative columns in the Colonial Revival mansion, Saint Hall, I panic.

I kick out at Richard, who’s breathing as hard as I am. He dodges, however, and I meet only air.

He tightens his hold on my arm.

“Let me go,” I howl.

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