“Taken about a week ago. He goes into ruts often. Not very stable, and he’s mine, just like you are.”

I frowned, eyes darting between his.

His?

I mean… I could free him, right? I was the one with the weapon. “Where is he?”

“He lives here.”

That was all I needed. I was pulling back, but Knox’s fingers dug into my hips even as I held the gun in my grip. “There’s just one more thing you should know.”

I paused, eyeing him, pulse still skittering around all nervous-like.

“Your scent match has a… curse.”

“What does that mean?”

“There’s this tiny little device someone jammed into his neck before they handed his keys to me. A bit of an inconvenience, really, since it’s rigged to blow.”

“Towhat?”

“Lot of vital structures in that part of the body,” he said, thumb trailing my neck. “Needs a reset on a timer. Every seven days I have to press the button so generously given to me tokeep him alive, or…” He minded an explosion with his hand. “No more Rogue.”

I stared at him, lips parted.

Bluff…

Has to be a bluff, Bunny.

But… but what if it wasn’t?

If we kill Knox, and then our scent match dies? Can’t have it.

Can’t fucking have it.

Surely, we’ll never get another one—the universe will know how bad I am…

“Where’s the button?” I demanded, nails digging into his chest as I jammed the gun back into his flesh.

He leaned against the headboard, a lazy smile on his lips. “That’s a secret I would happily take to the grave.”

“You’re lying.”

“Kill me. Kill him, too,” he said with a shrug. “You thought the only leverage I would have on you is that pretty collar around your neck?”

This was wrong… it shouldn’t be this easy for him to win.

Yet his grip closed around the gun, and I wasn’t sure what to do.

“Let go, Little Doll.”

I didn’t want to.

But I wanted to let my scent match die even less…

I scowled as my grip loosened on the gun. He took it from me easily, turning it and brushing it along my cheek.

“Now you have a choice. It’s your first night, and you’ve racked up more debt than Rogue usually does in months. But I’ll allow you to return to your nest. Rest up and start over tomorrow. You’ve got ten seconds before I change my mind.”