Page 41 of Knot a Thief

She owes me, and she’s going to pay for her past mistakes.

“We better. I’ve spent years trying to find her and, at your insistence, I never had her kidnapped in Monaco.”

“One, that would’ve attracted too much attention. Do you think she would’ve remained silent? And two, she’s been kidnapped once in her life already. I don’t want to do that to her.”

“I need her, Silas.” Max nods curtly, moving towards the vessel. I admire him, and his perseverance, even if his impatience sometimes grates on me.

“You could make life easy and pick a willing omega,” I push.

He smiles. “She’s mine, and only she can give me what I need.”

I sigh.

“Let’s go,” he says, his voice hard with determination.

The boat roars to life, its low purr cutting through the salty air.

A secret panel which looks like a cliff face slides to one side and the sudden movement of the craft causes me to sit before I’m thrown out of the boat.

Max settles into the passenger seat as the boat rushes over the crashing waves, his knuckles white as he grips the armrest.

I can feel Max’s eyes boring into me. “How long?” he asks tersely. “How long has she been gone?”

“Fifteen minutes,” I respond, not looking away from Seb’s boat.

I know better than to offer nonsense or worse reassurances. Max didn’t become the man he was by tolerating incompetence or empty words.

As we pick up speed, slicing through the waves towards Seb’s distant vessel, I allow myself a small smile. The thrill of the chase never gets old, but it's more than that. Soon I’ll make Ava Darling pay for ruining my life.

As we approach the boat, I see Seb, restrained by two of our men. His face is a mix of defiance but also of worry.

We pull alongside, cutting the engine before I jump onto Seb’s boat, turning around to hold out my hand for Max to take.

“I can get myself out,” he grumbles. “I’m not a fucking beta.”

I ignore his slur at Seb, because honestly, right now it’s petty and redundant. “Where is she?” I growl as I stand in front of him.

Seb’s eyes widen as he recognizes me. A bitter laugh escapes his lips. “I should’ve known.”

I raise an eyebrow, my lips curling into a smirk. “What’s that supposed to mean, Seb?”

He struggles against his restraints, his face contorted with anger. “You set us up. It was a trap from the beginning.”

“Oh, Seb. You’re only figuring that out now? I thought you were smarter than that.” I can’t help but chuckle, my tone dripping with condescension. “But your contacts haven’t gotten back to you yet, have they? Shame everything you sent was intercepted. Your calls. Your emails. You should be smarter.”

“Fuck you!”

Max shoots me an admiring look, but I ignore it, reveling in Seb’s mounting frustration.

“You’re a fucking cocky bastard,” Seb spits out. “You think you’re so clever, but she’s smarter. You’ll not find her. You should have waited until she was back on the boat before you raided it.”

I cut him off, leaning in close. “I don’t think so, Seb. I know she needs to get back to Ibiza. And soon her body is going to change. She’s slowly going into her heat.” I smile. “And I know you love her. I also know that you’re going to tell us where she is.”

“Heat?” Seb’s face pales slightly, but he maintains his defiant glare.

I straighten up, my smirk widening. “Now, let’s try this again. Where. Is. She?”

I hate my cock stirs unexpectedly.

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