Page 212 of Tangled in Knots

“Trusting people isn’t exactly my strong point,” he says. “You’re also not going to like what Rock has planned. I can’t deviate from that plan.”

“I get it,” Shaw says. “I’m sure if Rock has had a hand in this plan that it’s going to be really fucked up.”

“They’re going to kidnap me,” I blurt out, wincing. May as well go all in then. “Rock thinks I’m living with the Kelly brothers, so he wants his sons to kidnap me right out of the house.”

“Ballsy,” Shaw grunts.

“He doesn’t enjoy being told no, and Pack Kelly refused to sell her back to him,” Jed explains. “Once we have her, Rock is going to give us coordinates to where he wants her dropped off.”

“And then what?” Shaw asks. “That’s it?”

“We’ll be contacted if there’s anything left to be sold, but Rock was insistent that he’d take care of that part,” Morris says, disgusted.

Shaw stares at us for a moment before he shakes his head in anger. “You’re fucking kidding me, right? Anything left? What the fuck are they planning to do?”

“Pack Rock is rarely in the same place at the same time,” Jed says softly, revealing secrets. “So yes, they plan to fuck, hurt, torture, and abuse Adira for their own sick form of fun. We aren’t going to let it get that far, but?—”

“I have to go into the house,” I whisper. “They have to think I have no one, so they let their guards down.”

“I hate this,” Shaw growls. We don’t know each other very well, but the time we’ve spent together, he’s been kind to me. “The roads aren’t something that Rock can control. We can follow, head to wherever he’s sending you to, lurk in the shadowsuntil we can help. Being a martyr isn’t something I can get behind.”

“I just want enough time to see if they’ll give me some answers,” I rasp. His words are overwhelming, because I know he cares. After being alone for so long, I’m not used to that.

“Like what?” Shaw asks, eyes narrowing.

“Why did he really kill my father, or why does my aunt seem to be in bed with Rock,” I say. “There are a lot of pieces I can almost put together, but it’s all circumspect.”

“Adira, you can torture those things out of him, honey,” Shaw says. “We can also at least kill anyone who may be on the grounds, get in the building to help Pack Dresmond appear to be doing what they’re supposed to do. I understand they can’t be in two places at once, but your safety needs to be ensured.”

“I would be really grateful for that option,” Jed growls. “The different cogs in this operation are murky at best, because I won’t be able to have all the details until it’s happening. He still hasn’t sent me the coordinates for the cabin. That much he has told me.”

“So that means he knows but he’s not sharing yet,” Shaw mutters. “What if we found a way for you to share that information without it being traced?”

“Morris has my phone set up to send encoded texts now, but I always worry it could still be intercepted,” Jed explains.

“I know someone who can fix that,” Shaw grunts. “I’ll get you a new phone with that tech on it. So, is that it? Can we help?”

“Yes,” Damon says, surprising me enough to turn as he wraps his arms around my waist. “Thank you. We’ve all been losing our minds silently about leaving Adira on a goddamn porch where anything could happen to her.”

A knock on the door pulls our attention there as the realtor walks in and Shaw nods.

“I’ll get the word out then. Congratulations, Adira on your house. It’s gorgeous,” Shaw says. “Based on what I know about your pack, any security issues I can see will be handled quickly.”

“They will,” Kane says with a smirk.

“Thanks, Shaw,” I tell him with a nod. “For everything.”

“Aye, I got you,” he murmurs, turning a smile on the realtor. Shaw actually recommended Marks Realty to us, and Bailey has worked with Aisling before as well.

“Hello, Bailey. I see you’re taking good care of my friend here.”

“Yes, I’m so sorry I’m running behind schedule,” Bailey says, appearing a little frazzled. “I’m really excited that they’re closing today, and I have all the paperwork you’ll need to sign, Adira, once we do the walk through.”

As soon as I sign the paperwork, I’ll wire the money and I’ll be done! It feels like a dream that this is actually happening. This is mine.

A place for me and my pack. The words make me blink back tears of happiness. I’m a little raw after my scare and overwhelmed by how big today is and what it means.

We’re taking a huge stride into our future. I don’t want to go back to our darker days.

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