Page 211 of Tangled in Knots

“I forgot something,” I whisper. “It’s really important.”

“What?” Jed asks, twisting in his seat. “Baby, you’re whiter than a sheet.”

“My pill,” I rasp, my voice cracking in strain. “The one I get from Shaw to keep my heat away. I missed taking it last week. What if it’s too late? I can’t have it right now. I can’t?—”

“Breathe, baby,” Damon murmurs, kissing her forehead. “You’ve had a lot on your plate. You don’t feel warm, your room doesn’t seem to be suffering from a need to nest. We’ll deal with it.”

“Do you have Shaw’s number?” Jed asks, immediately in fix it mode. “Let’s see what he says about taking it now.”

“I do,” I say with a sniffle, pulling out my phone to hand it to him. Jed takes it from me and connects the call immediately, setting the speakerphone mode on.

My heart continues to pound against my ribs as I wait for Shaw to pick up.

“Adira!” his voice booms in greeting. “Are you okay? I just realized I have your hormone suppressant on my desk.”

“I can’t believe I forgot,” I wail, officially giving up to hysteria. “I’m alright so far, but with everything going on, I can’t go into heat!”

“I know, Adira. If you’re not in heat, we can still try the pill, yeah? Where are you? I forgot too,”Shaw says.

It’s not his responsibility to remember, but it’s sweet for him to say as much.

“I’m going to buy a house,” I tell him, struggling to get my shit together. “It’s closing day.”

“Then you should focus on celebrating,” he says firmly. “Text me the address, Adira. I’ll meet you there. We can’t do anything to change this, but we can cross our fingers that we can still catch it or delay it, okay?”

“Okay,” I rasp, nodding rapidly as Damon hugs me. There’s so much riding on the next few days, I don’t have time for my heat. I’m just not fucking ready. “Thank you. See you soon.”

Shaw hangs up, and Jed sighs as he sends him the address from his phone.

“We’re just going to have to ride it out and see what happens,” Jed tells me, handing the phone back. “He’s right, though. Today is a really big day, baby. Take it one step at a time.”

Leaning against Damon, I nod as I focus on my breathing. If I can gather the scraps of my techniques together, maybe it’ll help. It feels as if every time I panic though, it all falls apart.

Thankfully, I’m able to blow my nose, square my shoulders, and get my emotions settled by the time we get to the house. Shaw is waiting in the driveway as we get out of the car, making me wonder how he got here so quickly. Jed brings a bottle of water with him, so I won’t forget to take it, and I see that the realtor isn’t here yet.

“Let’s go inside,” he says. “While the driveway is hidden by the trees, I’m feeling the need to take this away from any possible prying eyes.”

Shaw follows us up the stairs, looking around as Jed enters the code he was given by the realtor for the lock box. Once we’re inside the house, Jed appears a little more relaxed and nods for Shaw to continue.

“While you take this, I want to tell you something,” Shaw says, opening the bottle and shaking the pill into my hand.

Pushing it between my lips, I unscrew the top from the bottle of water and take a sip. Jed and I have come a long way sincethe days where I would have side eyed him for offering me an already opened bottle.

The last three weeks of late night talks with the guys, falling asleep while watching movies, and getting to know them has made my feelings for them all deepen. Morris and Jed have both stopped holding back, pushed for time with each of them, allowing my heart to give up on remaining closed.

Morris whispered he loved me against my skin when he didn’t think I was awake as he laid me in bed, and I reached for him before he left and begged him to stay. Hard decisions do not make bad people, just ones who thought they had no other choice.

I’m learning a lot about the Dresmond brothers and Morris. I expect I’ll spend the rest of my life on this journey, and I want every moment. That’s why it’s so important that the next few days go well.

“What’s up?” I ask after the pill is taken care of and swallowed.

“Cian called a few of the packs about what we’re all calling D-Day,” he says, making me sigh. Jed was hounded by some of the senior members of the mafia families, and highly encouraged to divulge details of the plan. He refused, saying he didn’t want anything to fuck it up. They don’t even know the exact day, only that it’s coming.

“And?” I ask, knowing Cian of all people isn’t happy that I’m being used as bait. That’s all I was willing to tell him, because it’ll piss him off. I’m not trying to be a bitch, but merely keep the peace. I don’t see any reality where he can help.

“We all understand your need for secrecy, which is why he only reached out to a few people,” Shaw begins. “Pack Mohan, Dray, and Hayes want to provide support toward whatever plan you have. You made an impact on Pack Dray at the AmateurFight Night, and met Tommy and Gabriel. Any number of things could happen, Adira.”

Jed gazes at him with his dark eyes and takes a deep breath.

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