Page 160 of Tangled in Knots

“They were really big fuckers, and sometimes it’s more important to kill them than play with your food,” I murmur, moving to kiss the side of her forehead that doesn’t have the giant bump.

Hell, I want to drag them back to life and kill them again myself.

“I can feel how grumpy you are,” she says. “I want to be snuggled, and you’re the only one here.”

“So I’m the consolation cuddler?” I ask, amused. My feelings aren’t hurt, because I can feel her amusement through the bond. She’s thoroughly enjoying herself, despite the pain.

“More like you’re the designated cuddler,” Adira says, a small smile playing on her lips.

Grabbing a tissue, I gently dry her face, sighing when a knock sounds on the door. Pulling a gun from my back, I press it into her uninjured hand.

“I’m pretty sure that’s the Kelly boys, but in case it isn’t, I need you to take that,” I tell her.

“They’re going to make me start practicing with my left hand,” she mutters. “So overprotective.”

“I feel as if they have good reasons,” I tease her, moving toward the front door as I pull my other gun. “All of the practice saves your life, baby.”

“I want to see Adira!” Duncan roars on the other side of the door, making me roll my eyes. Well, half of Minneapolis knows she’s here now, dick cheese.

“Keep it in your pants,” I groan, unlocking the door, only to get the full force of his alpha pheromones. “I wasn’t immediately sure it was you.”

Duncan and Callum look at each other sheepishly. “We made ourselves wait until at least mid morning,” Callum says.

They’re not exactly who I thought Adira would befriend due to the circumstances, but they are good for her. Opening the door, I let them in, noticing how they take note of the gun in my hand and the firearm in Adira’s lap.

Their long legs walk quickly toward her, their brows pulled low as they take in her injuries. Closing the door, I throw the multiple locks before joining them in the living room.

“Does it hurt?” Callum asks softly, wincing at the bruising that’s appearing around her eye socket as well where her face met the wall.

“It doesn’t feel good,” she says, her head carefully propped on a pillow. “Does Aisling know what happened?”

“Yes, and she’s calling for blood. I don’t think she’s ever been so mad. Caleb says you’re not to come back to work for two weeks, he’ll find someone who wants the extra hours,” Duncan says, taking the gun in her lap and handing it to me to put away. “You don’t need the money, Adira. Take a break.”

“School isn’t going to exactly understand that my face had a disagreement with a wall,” she complains. “Midterms are next week.”

“Then, we’ll figure it out,” I say. “A lot of the swelling will be down by Monday, when is your first test?”

“Wednesday,” she says. “Monday’s classes have papers due without an exam, and classes are canceled. The teachers said we have better things to do than stare at them, while stressing out about tests.”

“They aren’t wrong,” I agree. “Are the papers done?”

“I finished last Wednesday, and uploaded them to the teachers already. I just have to study. I started, but I know I’m not ready yet,” Adira explains.

“I bet you know more than you think, Short Stuff,” Duncan says, sitting at her feet.

Remembering that she said she wanted to be cuddled, I carefully pick her up and sit where she was, allowing her to snuggle against me. Fixing her blankets, I shift my body until I know she’s comfortable.

“I want to steal her already,” Callum grumbles as he settles next to his brother. “She looks damn comfortable though.”

“I am,” Adira says smugly. “Morris said I’m too scary looking to go back to the shelter, though.”

“You’re a menace,” I whisper in her ear, enjoying her smile. “I told her I’d like for her to get medical treatment and let me take care of her instead.”

“Basically the same thing,” Duncan says with a chuckle. “I’ll get Aisling to get your books and things, so I can pick them up for you, Adira. With your permission, I would also like to push the families to understand the larger scale issue here. They seem to be under the impression that since they don’t traffic omegas in Minnesota, no one is being trafficked.”

“I have no issues showing them my ugly face to explain why they’re wrong,” Adira says tiredly. We woke her up every hour, and she didn’t sleep well.

“You’re gorgeous, even with the lump on your noggin and the black eye,” Duncan says.

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