Page 49 of Rescue Me

"Everyone wants me," she snaps, her eyes narrowing, her posture stiffening.

"Not me," I say, the words laced with venom. "You’re the last person I’d ever want, Hailey. Because as I told you—I found my mate."

Her face goes pale for a split second before it twists into rage. Her fists clench at her sides and for a moment, I wonder if she’s going to hit me. Instead, her eyes well up with tears—tears that I know are fake—and she opens her mouth, letting out a blood-curdling scream.

"Help!" she cries, her voice echoing through the house. "Jackson! Lyle! Help me!"

I stay perfectly still, my expression blank as the sound of heavy footsteps thunders down the hall. It doesn’t take long before both Alphas burst into the room, their faces a mix of confusion and anger. Hailey immediately runs to them, throwing herself at Jackson like she’s the damsel in some twisted fairy tale.

"He—he tried to touch me," she sobs, burying her face in his chest. "I told him no, but he wouldn’t listen!"

For a moment, the room is silent. I expect Jackson’s fist to come flying at my face or Lyle’s boot to connect with my ribs, but neither of them moves. They just stand there, looking between Hailey and me like they’re trying to piece together a puzzle that doesn’t fit.

And that hesitation? It’s all I need.

I lean back on the bed, crossing my arms over my chest as a slow, smug smile spreads across my face. "What’s the matter, Alpha?" I ask, my tone dripping with mockery. "You’re not going to punch me in the face? Stomp on my ribs? Isn’t that what you do best?"

Jackson’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t move. Lyle shifts uncomfortably, his eyes darting between me and Hailey again. For the first time, they don’t seem so sure of themselves.

"Why don’t you just admit it?" I continue, my voice calm but cutting. "You don’t believe her. You know she’s lying. You’ve always known, haven’t you? But it was easier to blame me. Easier to hurt me than to deal with the fact that your precious Omega is a manipulative little liar."

"Shut your mouth," Jackson growls, but there’s no heat behind it. No conviction.

I stand slowly, wincing as the pain in my side flares up. "Orwhat?" I challenge, taking a step closer. "What are you going to do, Jackson? Hit me? Go ahead. Try. But we both know you can’t. Not while the investigation is still open."

His fists clench at his sides, but he doesn’t move. Lyle looks like he wants to disappear. Hailey, for her part, is still clinging to Jackson, her crocodile tears drying up as she realizes her act isn’t working.

"This isn’t over," she snaps, her voice shaking with fury. "You’re still mine, Reid. You’ll always be mine."

I laugh again, shaking my head as I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder. It has everything I call mine stuffed in there since I won’t be returning. "Keep telling yourself that, Hailey. Maybe one day you’ll even believe it."

With that, I push past them. Jackson watches me leave before depositing Hailey in Lyle’s arms and moving after me. "What’s it going to take?" he asks finally, his voice quiet but firm.

I pretend I don’t understand, stopping feet from the door. I have a bombshell in my back pocket—using the forged contract as a weapon as a last resort. Zana says she’s got me, that it won’t affect her and Ethan. "What’s what going to take?"

"You know what I mean, Reid," he says, his tone sharpening. "What’s it going to take for you to tell the investigators that nothing is wrong here? We can’t afford this heat right now."

And there it is. The desperation. The crack in his Alpha armor. I can’t help it—I laugh. A short, sharp bark of a laugh that has Jackson’s eyes narrowing dangerously.

"You’re kidding, right?" I say, my voice full of mockery as I turn to face him. "You think this is something we can just negotiate? Like, oh sure,Alpha, let’s sweep everything under the rug, and I’ll tell them you’re the fucking model pack. That’s not happening."

"Reid," he starts, leaning forward slightly and I flinch before I can stop myself. It’s instinct. Muscle memory from all the times he’s gotten too close, too aggressive. He notices it, of course, and something flashes in his eyes—guilt, maybe, or just annoyance.

I don’t care.

"The time for negotiation is long past," I state, keeping my voice steady even though my heart is racing. "Hailey’s bullshit acting isn’t going to save you. She doesn’t love me and guess what? I don’t love her either. You and Lyle? You’ve done enough to make sure I don’t answer to you. Not now, not ever again." Zana’s confidence is thrumming through me, emboldening me.

I can’t wait till she bonds me for real so I can show off her bite.

Jackson’s lips press into a thin line, and for a moment, he looks like he might argue. But then he rests back against the counter, his eyes narrowing. "What do you want, then? What would it take for you to keep your mouth shut?"

"The only thing I want is to leave. Let me walk out of here. Don’t send those crack-ass police after me. Don’t try to drag me back. Just let me go until the investigation is over. And then, we dissolve this contract. Amicably."

Jackson doesn’t answer right away. He’s studying me, his Alpha mind working overtime to figure out if I’m bluffing. "I don’t believe you," he says finally, his voice low and dangerous. "I don’t believe you’ll keep your mouth shut."

I snort, shaking my head. "You really should have made sure of that before my fucking mother signed the contract."

That gets him. His eyes widen slightly, the mask of control slipping for just a second. "What are you talking about?"

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