Page 182 of Tangled in Knots

Jed:Tell Rock the ten men he has in the woods are dead. Sorry to leave them on your property. We usually take out the trash when we leave. Also, you need to make sure you fix the short in your electric fence.

“Oh shit,” I rasp. “They never fail to make an impression.”

“Who did you tell you were coming out here?” Duncan asks.

“Kane,” I reply. “He didn’t sound exactly pleased. He’s the only one I told though, I just mentioned to Damon that I was coming to spend the weekend with you two.”

“Which is true,” Callum says. “You’re ours, which means comfortable clothes and building out a room for you to make your first podcast. Rock is a fucking psychopath. Who holds a grudge for this long?”

“Who knows, but it sounds as if my Aunt Cassia is somehow pulling his strings too,” I murmur. “Do I need to worry about this other family?”

“The Melendez family is mostly in Michigan,” Callum mutters. “There’s a small branch in Missouri. We can look into it and wipe them out if they’re a problem. Now, how bad is your pain level?”

“My wrist is throbbing,” I admit, holding it protectively at my waist. I haven’t even taken off my coat yet. “I have more questions than answers, and I’m beginning to think that’s just how it’s going to be.”

“Rock sounds very desperate. Let’s have your guys put something in play, wait for him to complain to them and then offer to get you back,” Callum suggests. “May as well steal all of Cassia’s money too. Fuck it. Kill them both.”

“You’re so bloodthirsty,” I murmur as Duncan leaves to make sure Rock is gone and to grab my bag. “How true is it that the guys paid you back the money for buying me at the auction and you refused it?”

“Refusal and reallocation are different,” Callum says mildly. “You now have a lot of money. I don’t want you walking home late at night ever again after work. It’s not safe. Use it for whatever you want, but your drink slinging days are over.”

“What?” I ask, blinking rapidly.

“Did you tell her the other surprise?” Duncan complains, jogging back in. “Rock is gone and I called people to clear the dead men from our woods.”

“I did, but I’m worried she may pass out,” Callum says with a chuckle.

“You need a house,” Duncan says. “Something you buy yourself, that’s completely yours. It’ll be good for your sanity. Then you won’t need to live at the shelter.”

“Fucking ROWS,” Callum mutters. “Aisling probably knows a decent realtor.”

“This entire conversation is insane,” I sigh, my head spinning from everything.

Duncan helps me take off my coat, tossing it aside onto a chair.

“Let’s get you fixed up, and then I’ll put away the damn coat, Short Stuff,” he says. The wrist splint and sling help so much, I find myself breathing better through the pain. I definitely overdid it today. “Find a spot to rest. My adrenaline is pumping after Rock’s visit, and I need to do something.”

“It’s fuck or build shit,” Callum snickers, leading me to the couch. Duncan shrugs as he puts down my bag and heads to the kitchen. “We’ll be up late tonight, so I’m going to start dinner too before you fall asleep on us.”

“I feel like I fell through the looking glass.” I sigh. “It feels as if you’re having a completely different conversation than I am.”

“Maybe we are,” he says mysteriously, opening an ottoman to pull out blankets. “Choose a few, Adira. They’ve all recently been washed.”

“God, you’re like the perfect alphas,” I grunt. “The red and white one please. It’s too bad I may be falling for those assholes. Ugh, I didn’t mean to say that.”

“Yes you did,” he teases me. “Pack Dresmond doesn’t do anything without a reason. They simply wanted to make sure you were safe. I’m glad they were here, or this would have gotten a little hairy and messy. Pack Rock has to die all at the same time. They’re fiercely protective, even though Rock has been running off alone all this time. It’s probably why none of them have realized that they’re all marked for death.”

“Death sounds good,” I mumble sleepily.

“I bet it does,” Callum says with a laugh. “Nap, we’ll be here, Adira. You’ve had a very busy day.”

Spreading the blanket over me, he helps me fix my pillow and I’m out like a light.

CHAPTER 38

ADIRA

The Kelly brothers went above and beyond for me today. The closet I’m sitting in is now more of a vocal booth, with acoustic foam tiles to dampen sound. It feels as if I’m sitting in a cloud, my instincts happily singing as I look around.

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