Page 88 of Knot So Sweet

He was there. Like he promised he always would be. And the worst part? I hated how much relief washed over me just from hearing his voice.

My grip tightened around the phone, desperate for something to hold on to. "Viper, I—" My voice cracked, betraying the facade I’d been clinging to, and I squeezed my eyes shut. "I—"

My chest constricted as the words I wasn’t brave enough to speak hovered in the silence, clinging to every breath.

There was a pause on the other end of the line.

"You okay, baby?"His voice was low, gentle, careful—as if he knew how close I was to shattering. Like he could feel every ounce of fear bleeding through my words.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to keep steady. "It’s not me," I managed, shaking my head as though he could see me. "It’s Kay. Adam’s dead. Vaughn’s got her upstairs. There’s blood... everywhere."

The words tumbled out in a rush, barely coherent as I tried to keep it together. "I don’t know what to do, Victor. I’m freaking out."

I used his name on purpose—Victor—hoping it would anchor me, give me the strength I so desperately needed. Give me the control I desperately craved.

Silence followed, heavy and thick, as I waited for him to process what I’d just told him. I could practically feel him thinking, strategizing, calculating how to fix the mess I’d gotten myself into.

That’s what scared me the most—he’d fix it, all of it. But in doing so, he’d also see the cracks in my armor and he'd try and fix them too.

And right now, I was weak enough to let him.

"Where are you, baby? Are you safe?"His voice was calm and even, while I tried to not spiral into a full blown panic attack.

"The Den," I whispered, glancing around as if the empty alleyway could provide some sort of answer. "But Adam’s body... It's in the back alley. I don’t know what to do. If Michelle finds out—"

"She won’t, Candice,"he growled, his tone hardening with the promise."I’ll make sure of it. But I need to know, sweetheart. Are you safe?"His voice softened again, laced with that unwavering protectiveness that made my heart stutter.

Safe? I didn’t even know what that meant anymore. My hands were shaking, my mind a mess of fear and exhaustion. But Viper was asking if I was safe, like I could ever be safe when my life had been one long war. But I didn’t want to lie to him. Not now.

"I—I don’t know," I admitted, my voice small, trembling. "I don’t feel safe."

A low growl rumbled through the phone, and the sound of his anger made something inside me tighten."Stay put. I’m comingto you right now. Ghost will meet me there. I'll call him now and we’ll handle everything."

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see it, and whispered, "Okay."

"That's my good girl."His praise was a balm to my frayed nerves, soothing the ragged edges of my fear."Thank you for calling me. For trusting me with this."

The line went dead, and I stood there in the alley, the phone limp in my hand, the weight of what I’d just done settling heavily in my chest. I had called him. I had reached out, and now there was no turning back. Viper and Ghost were coming.

And I knew... I knew that when they did, my world would never be the same again.

Chapter 39

Candi

Asudden scuff ofboots behind me sent a jolt of fear racing up my spine. I whipped around so fast my heart felt like it would leap from my throat, spiraling into a whirlwind ofterror as my mind conjured the image of Adam’s bloody corpse rising to haunt my ass.

A massive figure loomed over Adam's lifeless body, his broad shoulders blocking out the morning sun. He bent low, a hood pulled over his head, obscuring his features, but as my scream pierced the air, he looked up slowly, revealing a stark white mask covering his entire face. It was smooth and expressionless, a haunting canvas that made my skin crawl.

Another scream lodged itself in my throat, wheezing out almost silently. I could feel the weight of his gaze, like a predator locking onto its prey. This was a dangerous game.

As he stood, straightening to his full height, I couldn’t help but notice how he towered over me. Even from a distance I could tell. He was built like a damn house, muscles rippled beneath the fabric of his black hoodie, stretching across his broad chest and thick arms. As if the sweater was two sizes too small.

He remained silent, merely tilting his head to the side, as if he were studying me. But behind that hockey mask, I couldn’t decipher his intentions. Had Michelle sent him. Titus? Jordan? There were too many possibilities.

"What do you want?" I murmured, my throat dry, terror swirling in my gut like a vortex.

The instinct to flee clawed at me, but I knew Alphas like him would chase. I could tell just by the animalistic tilt of his head and the way he inhaled my scent, his chest rising and falling rhythmically.

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