Page 190 of Hard Knot

"Shut up," Vivian whispers, but the threat in her voice has evaporated, replaced by something close to panic.

"Some bitches will do anything for love, right?" I tilt my head, studying her. "Or was it not really about love at all? Was it about winning? About finally being the only Victoria Sinclair in the world?"

Marissa takes a step back, looking between us with growing horror.

"What is she talking about? Victoria?"

"Her name is Vivian," I repeat firmly. "And she killed her sister by pushing her off that cliff. No cell service, no cameras,no witnesses, except maybe one. Someone who happened to be hiking that day, someone who saw something they weren't supposed to see."

When no one replies let out hum.

"Funny thing about that day," I continue, settling more comfortably in my chair despite the ropes. "There was actually someone there. Someone who was invited to explore the mountains that same day—just like you all were. Someone you thought you'd managed to get rid of too."

Vivian's perfectly manicured fingers clench at her sides.

"You know who I'm talking about, don't you? My sweet best friend who, coincidentally, had a pretty strong hunch about what was going on when I started receiving those notices." I click my tongue disapprovingly. "Though really, trying to replicate the Burn Book from Mean Girls? Amateur hour. And your spelling is atrocious."

"What is she saying?" Marissa's voice wavers slightly.

"Get the gun from the back," Vivian snaps, her composure cracking. "Now!"

Marissa rushes to comply, disappearing into the shadows of the warehouse.

A laugh bubbles up from my chest, genuine amusement at how predictably this is playing out. "Aw, planning to kill me off already? That's so cheap and cliché." I shake my head in mock disappointment. "But I get it. You're scared of being caught. Which is kind of stupid considering how many signs you've left."

Vivian's perfect eyebrows draw together. "What signs?"

"It's a shame you never connected the dots," I say, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But then again, you didn't even notice your sister was on campus multiple times, did you? Watching from afar, waiting for the right moment to finish what you started."

Her eyes widen, confusion filtering through her carefully constructed mask of control. Before she can respond, a figure emerges from the darkness behind her. In one fluid motion, Vivian is grabbed and forced into another chair, the metallic click of handcuffs echoing through the space.

"Let me go!" she snarls, then freezes as she realizes who's restrained her. "Marissa, you betraying bastard!"

Marissa sighs, stepping into the light. "Unlike you, I can't betray family. Especially not when they had the mercy to adopt me when my own family said fuck having an Omega child."

"What is the meaning of this?" Vivian thrashes against her restraints. "You can't turn the tables on me. I have men outside guarding every entrance. All I have to do is—" She lets out a sharp whistle that echoes through the warehouse.

Silence answers her call.

"What..." Her confidence falters for the first time. "What's happening?"

A familiar figure steps out of the shadows, a sniper rifle slung casually across her shoulders. "They're all dead."

Jessie's entrance makes Vivian's face drain of all color, her struggles ceasing as she stares at the ghost from her past.

I sigh in relief, finally able to drop the act. The ropes fall away easily as I twist my wrists free—they were never properly tied to begin with. Rising from the chair, I roll my shoulders to work out the stiffness.

"What is the meaning of this?" Vivian's voice has lost all its authority, rising in pitch as Jessie moves to stand at my right while Marissa takes a position on my left.

Time for the real show to begin.

"Let me introduce you to the Forgotten Omegas," I gesture to the women flanking me, my voice carrying the casual confidence of someone discussing a book club rather than an organized operation. "We're just a little group who hangs out at KnotAcademy, you know? The low lives no Alpha wants—until we find our designated packs."

Vivian stares at us, confusion warring with fear on her face.

"See, that's kind of the whole point of Knot Academy," I continue, perching on the edge of my former prison chair. "It's really a unique matchmaking service, if you think about it. Finding the best Alphas who don't play by society's rules and partnering them with Omegas who are just as... let's say, creatively disobedient." I smile sweetly. "Keeps the balance, in my opinion, though not everyone agrees."

"What are you talking about?" Vivian's voice wavers.

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