Page 125 of Knot a Thief

“He’s not getting a virgin,” Lottie continues, her voice low and dripping with hatred.

“What are you saying?” I ask, leaning close to her.

“I’m saying that I’m going to find an alpha to screw me silly tonight and then knot me.” Her scent gives off the smell of a distressed omega. “There won’t be any blood on his sheets.”

“Oh yuk,” Ella says beside me, wrinkling her nose.

“Exactly. They are all animals.” Lottie’s spoon tapping becomes more insistent.

I try to change the subject, hoping to calm her. “Does he have any sisters? Someone for you to befriend?”

She shrugs, her shoulders rising and falling in a defeated gesture. “How would I know? The arrangement was agreed after one lunch a few months ago.”

“You’ve only met him once?” Ella’s voice hitches beside me, her hand reaching out to grip my arm. “Have you met his family?”

“He came to us.” Lottie shakes her head, her eyes fixed on her plate. “Apparently, the only thing important is for me to turn up on my wedding day and give him heirs.”

“He sounds delightful,” I say, unable to keep the sarcasm from my voice.

“This is his club,” Lottie continues, her voice barely audible over the ambient noise of the restaurant. “When he heard I wanted to have a bachelorette night with my sisters, he refused to allow me to go anywhere other than here, and Mom had to be here to chaperone.”

“He’s a hypocrite.” Emmie laughs hard, scanning the room. “This seemingly wonderful high-class restaurant hides the depravity of what really goes on here. It’s also a nightclub and has a members’ only sex club downstairs.”

The air is suddenly thick with tension, mingling with the scents of expensive perfumes and rich, savory dishes.

“That woman has a lot to answer to,” Ella hisses, her fingers digging into my arm.

“I know,” Lottie whispers, staring at the plate. It’s like she’s in a world of her own until Ella reaches across the table and grabs the spoon to stop her tapping.

“We’ll have fun tonight,” Emmie says, her voice filled with forced cheerfulness. “Both of us will. Tonight I’m hitting back at everything.”

“Be careful, you two. This is your future husband, Carlos Perez’s club. You won’t get away with anything here,” I warn, my eyes instinctively glancing at the table in the corner.

A smile tugs at my lips as I spot Max and Silas sitting with two of Ella’s pack, Walker and Gabe. The sight of them brings a warmth to my chest, a stark contrast to the icy dread I feel for my sisters.

My mind drifts to Lily, Seb, and Jake, currently enjoying themselves at Disney World. The two men insisted they would take her. It took a lot for Silas to allow it, and after he threatened their lives if his daughter got one scratch on her little body, I’m surprised they still did.

I’m happy for Lily though. And I can almost hear her delighted laughter as I recall the photos they’ve sent: Lily with all the Disney characters, Seb, Jake, and Lily wearing Mickey ears and eating Lily’s favorite thing in the world: ice cream.

I check my watch because they are calling us after the evening fireworks display. Tomorrow, we will meet them there.

As I turn back to my sisters, the weight of their situation settles heavily on my shoulders. The contrast between their desperation and Lily’s joy is heartbreaking.

“Is there anything we can do?” I ask.

Lottie’s shoulders sag. “Save Emmie from the same fate.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever the night might bring, determined to protect my sisters as best I can. “I can hack into his laptop and find out who he is talking to.”

Emmie stares at me for a moment and then at Lottie.

“What’s going on?” I know something bad is happening. I can feel it deep in my bones.

“You won’t find anything on his laptop. He doesn’t need to talk to anyone else.”

Icy stiff fingers walk down my spine.

“But he won’t be getting a virgin, either. I’m going to make sure of that,” Emmie says as unshed tears coat her eyes.

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