Page 9 of Knot So Sweet

I shifted in my booth, my skin flushing as a sweat broke out on my brow. I knew it wasn't because of the heat inside Sully's diner, but more likely because my heat was coming sooner than I’d thought, and I still didn't have a plan.

Would The Den be safe enough?

I wasn't sure. But with Adam's track record, with him forcing his bite on Kaylani during her heat. I can't risk it. I won't allow him to do to me what he did to Kay.

Rage simmered at the injustice of it. That his ass still walked free. He was a dick, and he deserves to suffer some consequences for what he did to my brother's omega.

One day, he would get his.

I wiped the back of my hand across my forehead and shrugged off my leather jacket with a dramatic sigh. Maybe Pixie's security cameras, and whatever else the Serpent's tech wiz could do, would be enough.

But I highly doubted it.

There really isn't anywhere else I could go, is there? I snapped my hair band absentmindedly.

The Steel Serpents compound comes to mind, but I immediately shut that shit down. Nope, no way was I going to spend my heat with Ghost and Viper.

The butterflies in my stomach fluttered wildly.

Viper and Ghost… They wanted me as their omega. But hell no. That was never going to happen. They hadn't been by to start setting up security since we made our deal, and I was getting anxious as hell. Hopefully, whatever Owen was plotting with Shade could get me out of this ridiculous deal I’d made.

Who even makes a deal like that?

I growled under my breath, frustration simmering as my gaze shifted to Shade’s garage across the street. Owen was due to show up there soon, and I had a feeling that whatever they were planning was about to be exposed.

I was fed up with Owen’s overprotectiveness. If they were plotting something, I wanted in. Anything to get out of this damn deal.

Julia’s voice sliced through my thoughts, sharp and sweet as cherry pie.

"Who are we spying on, Candice Huxley?"

"I’m not spying," I shot back, irritated by her use of my full name.

I glared at her as she waddled over to my table, balancing a tray with two cups of coffee. Though, I couldn’t stay mad at her for long. We’d always had this dynamic since high school—her, the head cheerleader, blonde, bubbly, adored by everyone. And me, the girl with dark hair, sharp eyeliner, and a permanent scowl.

Back then, I was more comfortable blending into the shadows in my leather jacket, avoiding the spotlight. People thought I was dangerous, or at least too different to bother with.

But not Julia.

She had forced her friendship on me, like her light could withstand my darkness. I’d brush her off, but she always came back, relentless with that big smile. And somehow, over the years, that sunshine-and-rainbows cheerleader had broken through my walls. Now, despite all our differences, we had this weird but unbreakable bond.

She cackled as she plopped down in the booth across from me, her grin mischievous. "Liar," Julia grunted, brushing her blonde hair from her face. "You can’t fool me, bitch. Spill the coffee."

"The expression is ‘spill the tea,’" I corrected, rolling my eyes.

Julia wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Eww, no. I don’t like tea. It’s overrated, and too proper. Now quit stalling and tell me why you’re giving Shade’s Garage a death glare."

I chuckled, appreciating her bluntness. "Fine. Maybe I’m... observing."

"Observing what?" Julia leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "Shade? Are we plotting someone’s demise? Ooh, or are we setting up a heist? Either way, I’m in. Anything to distract me from this damn pregnancy."

"You’re a menace, you know that?" I couldn’t help but grin.

"Please," Julia retorted with a dramatic roll of her eyes. "Like you’re any better."

"I missed your face," I said, my smile widening.

Julia raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, yeah, stop trying to change the subject. So, who’s the unlucky victim this time?"

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