Page 47 of Rescue Me

“It was his job?” My voice is ice now, unable to believe that his parents could be so heartless. I think I hate Mrs. Camden more than Ezra at this moment. “You mean the contract he didn’t even sign? The one that funneled most of his earnings straight to you? Tell me, Mrs. Camden—how much of that money actually went to Reid?”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” she snaps, her voice rising. “This is none of your business.”

“I’m his Alpha,” I say, my voice low and steady, sharp enough to cut through her bullshit. “And that makes it my business. Every bruise, every scar, every ounce of pain he’s been forced to carry—that’s my business now.”

Her scoff is loud and dismissive. “Alpha? Don’t make me laugh. Reid’s a Beta. He doesn’t need—”

“He doesn’t needyou,” I cut in, my voice cold. “Not after what you’ve done to him. He trusted you. He thought you were his family and you used him. You took his money, his freedom, his life, and you didn’t even think twice.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she snaps, her voice shaking now. “Reid was happy in his position. He’s always been happy. He just needed structure.”

I laugh, a sharp, bitter sound that makes her pause. “Happy? He was miserable. He was beaten. He was treated like dirt under the Wilhelms’ boots, and you knew it. Don’t you dare try to tell me he was happy.”

“Who do you think you are to question me about my own son?” she spits, her voice venomous. “I’ve done more for Reid than you could ever understand. That contract gave him a future.”

“You call being abused and enslaved a future? You call stripping him of his autonomy a future?”

“It’s better than what he would’ve had otherwise,” she snaps. “Reid’s always been—”

“Enough!” I shout, slamming my hand down on the desk. “You don’t get to decide what Reid’s future is. You don’t get to sign his life away and then pretend you did him a favor.”

There’s a long silence on the other end, and then she says, “You don’t understand what it’s like. We had no other options. It was the best thing for him.”

“For him? Or for you?” I shoot back, my blood boiling. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like the only people who benefited from that contract were you and your husband.”

“Watch your tone,” she hisses. “You have no idea what we sacrificed for Reid.”

I laugh, a harsh, humorless sound. “The only person who sacrificed anything was Reid. And you’re lucky he hasn’t gone to the authorities with what you’ve done. Signing someone else’s name on a legally binding document? That’s forgery. That’s fraud. And it’s a crime.”

She goes quiet, but I can hear her breathing, heavy and uneven. “Reid wouldn’t do that,” she says finally, her voice wavering. “He wouldn’t do that to us.”

“Don’t be so sure. You think Reid’s weak because he’s a Beta. You think he’s soft because he’s been beaten down. But I’ve seen the fight in him. I’ve seen the fire in his eyes, the strength he hides under all that submission. And if you keep pushing him, if you keep trying to control him, you might just find out exactly what he’s capable of.”

“You’re bluffing,” she snaps, but there’s fear in her voice now. “He wouldn’t—”

“Watch me,” I say, cutting her off again. “Because if Reid doesn’t, I sure as hell will. And if you think for one second that I won’t fight tooth and nail to protect him, you don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

The line goes dead, the click loud in my ear. I stare at the phone for a moment, my chest heaving with the effort to keep my anger in check. The confirmation is there, clear as day—Reid’s parents are just as bad as I suspected. Selfish. Manipulative. And entirely undeserving of him.

They’re not going to hurt him anymore. None of them are. Not if I have anything to say about it.

Now I just have to fucking figure out a way to get Reid out of that fucking house.

Chapter twenty-nine

REID

Just one text from Zana. An angry paragraph but it’s everything I need.

That contract is null and void. Why didn’t you tell me that you didn’t sign it? Baby, you’re not legally bound to a contract that someone forged. Get out of that house. I’m giving you an hour before I bust through that goddamn door.

That was nearly thirty minutes ago as I slept in for the first time in my life in this house. There hasn’t been one knock on the door disturbing my peace but I know it’s only a matter of time before someone tries something.

I didn’t say anything because everyone around me would suffer.

Then you’re an idiot because I already told you that I’d burn down the world for you. I already barged my way into that house before. Get out here so I can bond you for real. Your Omega needs you. I need you.

My chest constricts with the fierceness of her statement, the fading bond on my lip reflecting her emotions. It gives me the confidence to step outside the room and head to the kitchen for coffee. Jackson and Lyle sit at the kitchen table, mugs in hand, watching me with a mixture of disdain and hatred. They haven’t said a word since I came back two days ago and honestly? I’m loving it.

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