Page 40 of Tangled in Knots

CHAPTER 11

MORRIS

Islept with my gun on the bedside table and a hair trigger attention span last night. We all slept in different rooms despite Rock knowing on some level that Kane, Jed, and I are together. It’s easier not to flaunt things when he’s around, which is why we don’t practice public displays of affection ever.

We aren’t necessarily in the closet, more adjacent to it so none of us ever slip up.

The little omega slept in the living room, and I took the room closest to her with the door wide open, concerned that Rock might decide to simply take her. While that wouldn’t mesh with the plans he discussed with us, he’s simply been too jovial.

Rock Dresmond is typically a grumpy fucker.

Sitting up, I take a deep breath to prepare for the day. Jed’s been on high alert, reaching for things that are harder to access, instead of what’s within reach, all signaling to us that he doesn’t trust his father. Jed isn’t even being discreet about it, uncaring if Rock notices or not.

To be honest, even if he does, it would be to pat himself on the back for all of the training he’s given Jed. Their family is so dysfunctional.

Getting up, I put my gun away, grab my go bag and walk to the bathroom in the hallway to shower. First, I take a very careful detour to glance into the living room to check on Adira. I can just see her body laying on the couch still, and hope the fire I helped make was enough warmth for her, despite the fact that it went cold over the course of the night.

It shouldn’t matter since today is going to be much worse, but my conscience is still shuddering with the knowledge that it was probably still cold with the draft coming from the front door.

Shaking my head, I switch directions and open the bathroom door, only to have Jed push me inside and close us in together. Holding his finger to his lips, he turns on the light and a loud fan that’ll hopefully drown out whatever he’ll have to say.

“Are you ready for today?” he rasps, dark eyes wild. His curls are sticking out all over, and I doubt he slept very much.

“I don’t think I could ever be ready,” I say. “I’m going to have to do things that will haunt me. Living through it afterward is a question for another time. I’ll do what needs to be done, though. Promise me we’ll help her pick up the pieces after?”

“I swear it,” Jed whispers with a tight nod. “No matter what.”

“Fuck,” I sigh, dropping my bag and ripping my shirt off my body. I just need a quick shower, partly to wake the rest of the way up after a shitty night’s sleep. “She’ll sleep until we get to Ophelia’s and then we’re working off the evil bitch’s timeline.”

Pulling off my boots that I slept in and socks, I continue to undress, Jed’s eyes drink me in despite our conversation, while I just feel incredibly dirty already, and it’s doubtful that the shower will help.

“I don’t fucking say it enough, or at all,” Jed says, cupping the back of my head to yank me closer until we’re breathing the same air. “I love you. Do what you have to and get through this.”

His lips crash against mine as he devours my lips, his tongue forcing its way inside of my mouth to taste me. My heartbeat crashes in my ears, accepting the violence of his kiss. The Dresmond men that I’m involved with have never told me they love me.

The shit is officially hitting the fan now.

Jed is gone as quickly as he pushed his way into the bathroom and I’m left breathing hard, alone with a raging erection. Fisting my hands as I feel my heart beating loudly, I turn to face myself in the mirror.

My hazel eyes are dilated as I busy myself with binding my locs at the top of my head, away from the water I’m about to turn on.

I’m fully aware of how much today is going to suck. I’m throwing a lot of faith in my ability to be someone willing to hurt the little omega in the living room, pushing her past her limits. Swallowing hard, I move to turn on the freezing water in the shower, before climbing in to allow it to wake me up.

Hissing as it hits my skin, I shove my face into the frigid water to push the last of the cobwebs away and freeze my humanity. I’m up, my brain is online, and ready for whatever is next.

My emotions are packed up, my gaze hard as I turn off the water and reach for the towel on the shelf just outside of the shower.

We’ll deal with the fallout after we get out of this with our lives intact. Anything better than that I consider a pipe dream at this point.

My go bag has dark cargo pants, a tight slate gray thermal shirt, a new pair of socks, along with my weapons. I forgo theboxers today, pulling everything on quickly, so I can get this day going. My weapons are the last thing to be strapped to my body, just in case we run into any trouble.

The cabin is solemn as I leave the bathroom after brushing my teeth. My bag is repacked, and everyone is ready to go.

“Let’s head out, boys,” Rock says, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ll use this place as my home base, so no need to close up the cabin. Follow me to Ophelia’s.”

Nodding, I cross the living room to lift Adira into my arms, but Rock gets to her first. He haphazardly lifts her, so her head drops back, hair tumbling over his corded arm. He appears younger than his fifty-five years of life due to his workouts and illicit activities.

His pack doesn’t believe in sitting on its laurels, working tirelessly to fill their pockets with more money and piss off the mafia families around them.

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