Page 175 of Hard Knot

"Twenty says window," Carter offers immediately.

"Fifty says she's already gone," Holmes counters.

"You're both wrong," Elizabeth says with a knowing smile. "She's definitely watching us from the security room, trying to figure out how I managed to land four Alphas while she can barely keep one."

Mikhail bursts out laughing.

"See? Smart girl! Gets it from me!"

"The observation skills or the smugness?" Anastasia asks dryly.

"Both!" he declares proudly.

The warm moment shatters as Marissa appears in the doorway, her face pinched with misery.

"I'm here. I didn't leave."

"Let me guess," Mikhail says dryly. "Divorce."

"Dad," Elizabeth corrects, "they weren't married."

"If you don't date to marry, why waste everyone time?" he throws up his hands in exasperation. "Foolish practices for Americans. Russia better. We choose, deliberate, viola. Wife. Husband. You travel, make money, have kids, live happy. No time wasting and regret bullshit."

Marissa's gaze locks onto Elizabeth, her expression hardening.

"Isn't she supposed to be stuck at the academy?"

"Nope." Elizabeth gestures to us around the table. "Not with a pack."

The words seem to flip some switch in Marissa. She straightens, raw anger flashing in her eyes.

"You don't even deserve a pack."

"Marissa," Anastasia cuts in sharply, "I know you're upset about your breakup, but that doesn't justify such comments. Elizabeth has waited five years for a pack. This is her moment, and it shouldn't be tainted."

"Why are you defending her?" Marissa whirls on Anastasia. "You should be on my side!"

"I'm not on either side," Anastasia says firmly. "I'm pointing out facts."

"Yeah, see?" Marissa's laugh is bitter. "I knew I couldn't rely on anyone here. My man was right." She jabs a finger toward Elizabeth. "He was there at Harvard, you know. Said you were just a slut who group-fucked a bunch of guys for fun."

Wait…

The sound of Elizabeth's fork hitting her plate rings through the sudden silence like a gunshot.

My heart races at the accusation, but it's Elizabeth's reaction that makes my blood run cold. She tilts her head, eyes narrowing in a way I've never seen before.

"Who said that?" Her voice is too calm, too controlled.

Marissa spits out a name, adding,

"He was there and says you're just a slut?—"

"Excuse me," Elizabeth rises smoothly from her chair. "I know Dad's ground rule is no attempted murder in the household, so I'll just step outside. Maybe I'll find that Omega sniper to do a job for me real quick."

I reach for her, but Marissa's taunting voice follows Elizabeth as she turns to leave. Mikhail snaps at Marissa to stop, but it's too late.

Elizabeth moves with a speed that takes us all by surprise. One moment she's heading for the door, the next she's in Marissa's face. The slap echoes through the room like thunder, and blood immediately starts trickling from Marissa's nose.

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