Page 87 of Knot a Thief

Memories of planning with Seb flood back. Staff changeovers on the boats, the twice-weekly helicopter deliveries. This could be my chance.

Without a second thought, I dash out of my room, my heart pounding in my chest. I stealthily maneuver down the corridors as years of training kick in.

My heart is thumping just as loudly as the sound of the rotors grows, which is deafening as I get closer to the destination of the landing area.

I find a hiding spot behind some crates, watching as the staff unloads boxes of fresh produce and other supplies.

My eyes dart around, searching for an opening, a moment of distraction I can exploit.

My heart is trying to break out of the surrounding bars, and I’m barely holding it together as I wait for a gap in the activity.

After another trolley full of boxes is loaded and pushed toward the house, the pilot heads back to the cockpit.

I wait.

And wait.

Only when the rotor slowly turns, getting faster and harder, do I know it is about the right time to run.

I make a break for it, bolting across the gardens, toward the helicopter without a second thought to my safety. The only thought I have is to reach for the landing skids as the helicopter rises. And then hold on for dear life.

Adrenaline courses through my veins.

My fight-or-flight mode has truly kicked.

And my freedom is so close I can almost taste it.

Five more steps and the helicopter will only be a few feet off the ground.

One more step.

This one is harder on the ground as I use my full strength to power off on one foot, like a long jumper when they hit the board and lift.

Suddenly, I’m tackled from behind. Strong arms wrapping around my waist as I struggle, kicking and twisting in the air.

I gasp as I stare above me at the helicopter now floating in the air, and taking my freedom with it.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Silas hisses, holding me against his hard body. My body sags against his as he strides away from the landing area with me tight in his hold.

“Put me down.” I hiss. I fight against him, but it’s futile. Silas has me in an iron grip and when he turns me to look at him, his face is red with rage.

He marches me through the house, his grasp painfully tight on my arm.

We end up in Max’s study. And he looks unsurprised by my attempted escape.

Max sighs. “You disappoint me, Ava.”

“I don’t care that I disappoint you. Just let me go and I’ll deliver this baby to you when it’s born.”

Then the realization hits me like a punch to the gut. “You knew,” I spit out. “Do you have cameras in my room? Do you? You do. You’ve been watching me this whole time!”

Rage boils up inside me, hot and dangerous. “You sick bastards! Is there anywhere in this prison I have privacy? Do you get off on watching me, is that it?”

Max sighs. “You are a strange omega.”

“Why? Because I have backbone. Because I don’t bow down to pathetic alphas?”

He shakes his head. “You’re so busy fighting your scent match, when you could make life so much easier for yourself.”

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