Page 173 of Candy & Her Saints

I can’t help nuzzling against Lincoln because apart from Thomas, this new Alpha is the fiercest man here.

Sheriff Dante Marshal, a sheriff who’s also an English Duke.

Yet despite the way that he’s scowling, I’m not scared of him.

Partly, because he’s well known for being part of a unit who rescues Omegas from abusive packs or keeps them safe, once they’ve escaped.

But also because I know that he’s secretly part of the resistance like us.

This is all part of the plan.

Ghost winks at me.

Smart Omega.

Dante is tall with ebony skin and startlingly ice-blue eyes. He’s in his thirties with a severe expression. His black hair is cut military short, but he’s wearing the most expensive suit in the room (which says something, when the wealthiest packs are here).

Dante stalks forward, crouching beside Dad to check his pulse. Then he runs his hands over the knots in the rope, before giving an approving nod.

“This is professional work.” Dante wipes his hands together. “But we have rather the conundrum. How did Cesare get through security into this event? It implies that there’s an inside man.”

“Huh, it does,” Thomas takes up like this is scripted, and I have a feeling that it is. “What’s your professional opinion, Mr. West?”

“It needs to be someone who could have told Cesare the layout of Saint Cage,” Lincoln answers. “Not many people within the pack know that, along with our planned movements, during this festival. Then it had to be someone who was in charge of the security teams.”

Ghost lifts his head and looks directly at Richard, before pointing at him.

Silence.

“What is this b-b-bullshit?” Richard splutters. “I haven’t d-d-done anything. Why w-w-would I…? Tommy, don’t let them—”

“Motive,” Thomas says, frostily. “You wanted to bond with me, and I rejected you. You’ve been punishing me for that ever since. Love that’s an obsession — stalking and this red flag era bullshit — this is where it leads. You thought that marrying my dad would get you your revenge and fairy tale rolled into one, while you could still stalk and obsess over me, but it backfired. Has it brought you everything that you hoped it would?”

Richard’s face screws up like he’s going to cry. “Don’t.”

“Come here, Mr. Saint.” Dante commands, beckoning to Richard. “I’m taking you in for questioning.”

Richard looks frantically around at the contemptuous faces in the crowd and the condemnation from his peers and friends.

Only minutes ago, he’d been preening on Raylan’s arm.

Now, he’s ruined.

He’s not only wrecked his reputation in Haven, this humiliation is being filmed and will be splashed across social media and the national news.

It’s social suicide.

There’s no coming back from this.

Frantically, Richard turns to Raylan, stumbling toward him. “I’m sorry, Raylan, this is all a m-m-mistake. Please, help me. Don’t let them take me to the Alpha Center. I’ll do anything. You’re my Alpha. I’ve done everything that you’ve asked, even—”

I wince, as Raylan backhands Richard.

Richard holds his hand to his bruised cheek.

“Don’t hit him again, bastard, or I’ll arrest you for abuse,” Dante growls. Then he says more gently, looking at Richard. “Lord, don’t look so terrified. I’m not about to twist off your knot. Pity I don’t get to do that to your Head Alpha though. Look, I won’t even put you in handcuffs, if you come willingly. It won’t be as bad as you think. You can survive this and become a better Alpha for it. I swear that I’ll support you. I have a feeling that you’ve already survived a lot in this house.”

“Richard,” Thomas says, and his use of our childhood enemy’s real name hits me hard, “will going with the sheriff truly be worse than being trapped on the Saint Estate with my dad? I’m not going to press charges that send you to the Alpha Center. That’s my choice. I know what it’s like there, and despite the ass kicking that you deserve, I don’t think you should suffer what would be done to you. But you are going to live with the sheriff and his pack for a while as a foster member and learn to be a better man, okay?”

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