Page 135 of Tangled in Knots

“So we let her turn herself into us?” Jed asks. “Adira has my leash if she wants it. I’ll give it to her. Her experiences have changed her, and I will take that responsibility…”

“She’s not the same person anymore,” Kane says. “There’s a wildness in her eyes now. Blood, violence, that’s what fills her cup now. We can’t deny her vengeance.”

A knock on the door reminds me to release the breath I’ve been holding, and I open the door.

“Hey,” Damon murmurs. “Everyone good?”

“Yeah, convincing Morris to come with us,” Jed says.

Damon moves further into the room, his eyes full of dark violence and energy.

“Get your ass in the shower and get dressed,” he growls. “The time to wallow is over. Fix it with Adira by not hiding anymore. Every time she sees you, it’s as if she’s forced to relive the auction.”

“Why should I force her to see me then?” I rasp. “I’m not good for her, Damon.”

“Change how she feels about you. Her biggest regret is trusting you, letting you lull her into a sense of safety, only tohave the rug ripped out from underneath her. I don’t think she trusts her judgment anymore,” Damon says. “Fuck, I wouldn’t. Show her she didn’t imagine the person she thought you could be.”

His fierceness and truth he’s stating have my feet retreating, until I’m shutting the door to the bathroom, my chest heaving.

What if I’m not that person? I can’t trust myself. My loyalty feels compromised, because I so blindly followed Jed, I was too far in and walked right over the cliff.

My mother always used to ask me if I would jump off the bridge if my friend did, and as I hang up my suit, I realize that the answer is, yes. Except now, I’m finding that I’ll need to walk through fire to get Adira’s respect and forgiveness.

I don’t deserve it, but I need it to be able to keep myself from swallowing my gun to escape the despair I’m living with. The hole is so dark, I’m afraid of the demons that live there whenever I close my eyes.

“Morris, get the lead out or I’m going to forcibly strip you!” Jed roars from the bedroom.

Rolling my eyes, I pull my clothes off to shower. One thing that will never change is that my alpha is bossy as fuck.

The drive to the charity event is uneventful, though I’m not happy that the valet parking is mandatory.

“I’ll be checking for explosives before anyone gets back into the vehicle,” I growl as we walk into the hall.

“Yes, Sir,” the brothers say, trying hard not to smile. I’m being overbearing and dramatic, but I really hate not having control of things.

Jed is a control freak, but my background work keeps us safe.

“You guys suck,” I mutter.

“If you’re good, I may remind you of how well,” Jed growls so only I can hear.

Oh fuck me.I’m still very much attracted to him, the issues lie completely with my inner narrative.

“Not fair,” I breathe, swallowing hard.

“Fair isn’t in my wheelhouse when it comes to you,” he mutters as we’re patted down. None of us brought weapons that would be easily detected, instead choosing wire garrotes wrapped around our belts, and knives strapped to our bodies.

Items that are easier to miss in a pat down. Honestly, I would be surprised they're going through this trouble, if I didn’t know how many guests are mafia members here with their mates and wives.

“I play in any manner that means I win. The little omega has different rules.”

As we move away from the guards, I raise my brow. My hair is away from my face, but loose down my back to give me a regal look. My mask is black and simple, yet by the glances I’m already receiving, I know I won’t be receding into the background tonight.

The very mystery of the event makes everyone seem interesting and important.

“What rules would that be?” I ask.

“You know how sorry I am for the way things went down. Everything I do shows you this. Yet, Adira doesn’t believe it because she wasn’t in the thick of the decision making process,” he says. “The kid gloves are off for you, because you have all of the pieces that show you were in an impossible position, yet still can’t forgive yourself.”

---