Page 67 of Tangled in Knots

“What’s going on?”

“Can you help me?” I ask, sniffling.

The cheery glow inside feels odd as I stand in the dark street. A woman with blonde hair piled at the top of her head and bright blue eyes gazes at me in surprise.

“Oh of course. I’m sorry,” she says. “It’s just, we’ve never had anyone knock on the door this late at night. I should have expected it to happen at some point. Anyway, I’m rambling. Please come in.”

Walking inside, I wince at the carpet and my very wet socks. I’m sure I’m tracking in the melting snow.

“Can I ask you who was in the SUV?” she asks, shutting the door. “Is that how you got here?”

“That’s a very loaded question,” I sigh, watching as she locks the door and gestures for me to sit in front of one of the desks. There’s a living room area here, various rooms, and it feels nice.

I don’t know how to explain it, but the bright colors and the energy feels hopeful.

“Okay. Let’s try a different one,” she says easily. “My name is Aurelia, and I’m the manager on duty tonight. The nights areusually filled with calls and can be quiet. You’re livening up my night. Come sit with me.”

Walking to a desk, I sit in one of the chairs in front of it, watching as she sits across from me. Opening a door to a cabinet behind her, she pulls out a pair of wooly socks and hands them to me.

“I’m prepared,” she says at my wide eyes. “We see a lot here. You’re not going to surprise me. I’m just trying to figure out if the people in that SUV are going to come back and if they're a danger to the people I’m responsible for.”

Taking the socks from her, I pull off the sodden ones that I’m wearing and put them aside to replace them with the warm ones.

“No, they’re only a danger to me and my heart,” I mutter. “They wanted me to stay with them, but I can’t do that. I’d rather die.”

“Are you a danger to yourself?” Aurelia asks curiously.

Thinking about it, I realize that I surprisingly want to live. I feel like shit, but I don’t want to die.

“Not today,” I say honestly with a shrug.

“Okay,” she says with a nod. “Let’s start with something easy. What’s your name?”

“Adira Firestone,” I state, surprised when her head tilts in recognition.

“I know that name,” she murmurs. “Will there be any mafia related trouble coming this way? We can protect you, that’s not a worry. I just like to make sure that we are ready if there is.”

Who are these people?

“Ah, my father is dead,” I state. “The men in the SUV tortured and killed him and then kidnapped me and blew up my family home.”

“I’m so sorry,” she says, eyes wide. “They just let you go?”

“They fucked up,” I mutter. “Their father wants to make me pay for the sins of my dad. I don’t know what they are, but I think he enjoys making me hurt.”

“Do you need medical attention?” she asks worriedly, looking for blood but finding none.

“No,” I say. “I’m fine.”

“Those are the words of an omega who is in fact not fine,” Aurelia murmurs. “I want to help you, but I need some information so that I know how.”

“It’s difficult telling a stranger about what’s happened the last three weeks,” I tell her. “You seem like a nice girl, I don’t want to be responsible for your nightmares. I may need an STD test and to make sure my gunshot wound doesn’t get infected. I was told a few days ago that it looked fine.”

Aurelia leans back as she lets that information wash over her. “Fuck,” she whispers. “Sorry, that’s not very professional. Can you tell me who the men were in the SUV?”

“Pack Dresmond,” I reply. “They’re not going to hurt anyone here. I think their guilt is the only reason they let me go at all.”

Aurelia makes a couple of notes in the computer and then takes a deep breath.

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