Page 144 of Hard Knot

"Aren't they criminals? Just here to avoid jail time..."

I roll my eyes at the gossip, but before I can dwell on it, something warm settles across my shoulders. Looking up, I find James beside me, his hands lingering on my shoulders as he stares toward the entrance.

"Busy today," he observes. "And fucking chilly."

A smirk tugs at my lips as I look at him, really look at him. The years have been kind to his features, adding maturity without taking away that spark of mischief in his eyes that I always loved.

"I really did miss you," I admit quietly.

He pauses, looking down at me with an intensity that makes my heart skip.

Our eyes lock, and for a moment, it's like no time has passed at all.

"Don't leave me again, you hear?" he says softly, the words carrying more weight than their simple syllables suggest. I try to smile, but it comes out sad around the edges.

He sighs, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to my forehead.

"Whatever the reason," he whispers against my skin, "it's fine. But you're gonna rely on me no matter what, yes?"

A defiant smile crosses my face as I pull back slightly.

"We'll see," I tease. "I have three other options now, you know. Might have to do eenie meenie miney mo or whatever it's called."

His pout is so comically exaggerated that I can't help but snicker.

"Yeah," Carter chimes in, appearing at my side like he has some sort of radar for these moments. "She's gonna call my ass first because I'm the one with better chemistry."

James' glare could melt steel.

"Want me to show you chemistry by throwing you in that fountain by the gates?"

"I'd love to see you try," Carter scoffs. "Black belt, remember?"

"Also a black belt," James retorts. "So you can fuck right off."

"You can both end up in the damn fountain at this rate," Holmes cuts in, his hand finding mine with surprising gentleness. "Come on, Abercrombie. You're walking too damn slow and we're going to be late."

"Slow?" I protest as he tugs me forward. "I wasn't even walking!"

"Exactly," he says dryly. "That's the problem."

His grip on my hand is gentle despite his words, his thumb brushing absently across my knuckles in a way that feels oddly protective. The gesture is so natural that it takes me a moment to realize how it must look to everyone watching — the notorious Forgotten One being led around by not just any Alpha, but one of the infamous four.

I guess the Tainted Trinity is going to be the Notorious Four at this rate.

There are ideas already brewing on how we can make the gossip work in our favor, and I can only think of how the news of four Alphas being around the Forgotten One would trend like wildfire because no one would think it’s possible

We make it about halfway to the entrance before a familiar figure steps into our path.

Victoria stands there like some avenging angel in designer clothes, her newly platinum hair catching the morning light.

But the sight doesn't intimidate me the way it might have days ago.

“See?” I overhear James declare and I realize Felix is walking over to our group with the keys spinning along his finger. “Should have hit her.”

"James," I groan, looking over my shoulder to give him a pointed look. He just shrugs, completely unapologetic.

I know he isn’t.

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