Page 135 of Bonds of Obsession

“Let’s gear up,” Nico says, already moving toward the bedroom where we stashed our weapons. “It’s time for a game of cat and mouse.”

“Rat and mouse,” Killian corrects with a rumble before turning to Emmett. “Remember, if you try anything cute?—”

“I know, I know,” Emmett cuts him off. “I won’t try anything. I’d rather have a chance at living through this.”

A few minutes later and I’m pulling my tactical pants on when Atlas appears in the bedroom doorway. There’s a softness in his eyes that I’m not expecting, especially under the current circumstances.

“I got you something,” he says, stepping into the room.

I pause, one boot half-laced. “What?”

He holds out several glossy volumes, and my heart damn near stops when I recognize the distinctive artwork on the covers. The Twilight City Chronicles.

“I figured you needed new copies after the fire,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. “I still haven’t written any fanfic for you yet though.”

My throat gets tight. It’s such a small thing, but it hits me right in the chest—the fact that he remembered, that he thought to replace them when everything else I owned went up in flames.

I rise onto my toes and kiss him hard, trying to pour everything I’m feeling into it. His arms wrap around me, pulling me closer, and for a moment I forget about Ambrose and Emmett and everything else except this man who knows exactly how to touch my heart.

“It’s time to get moving.” Nico’s voice breaks the moment as he appears in the doorway.

Reality crashes back in, and I feel the weight of what we’re about to do settle over my shoulders. I nod and follow them out into the living room.

We’re almost ready to go, but my men are nothing if not thorough. Especially where I’m concerned.

“Let me check those bindings one more time,” Killian says, running his hands over the ropes at my wrists. His touch lingers longer than necessary. “Are you sure you can get out of them fast enough?”

“I’ve got it,” I tell him, but let him fuss anyway. I know this is killing him—the idea of me walking into danger without him right beside me. “Stop worrying so much.”

“I can’t help it,” he mutters. “Letting you go anywhere with this bastard…”

“We’re not letting her do anything,” Atlas growls from where he’s checking his weapons. “We don’t have a fucking choice. This is the only way to draw that son of a bitch out.”

Nico hands me a small gun. One that’ll be easy to hide. “Remember, wait for the right moment. Don’t try to take the shot unless you’re sure you can make it.”

“I know how to handle myself,” I remind them, but there’s no heat in my voice. These men have earned the right to worry about me.

Killian grabs my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. “If we lose you, we lose everything. You understand that, right?”

The raw emotion in his voice hits me hard. “Hey,” I say softly. “You’re not losing me. Not tonight, not ever.”

“Damn right we’re not,” Atlas says, coming over to kiss me hard. When he pulls back, his whole expression is stormy. “We’ve been through too fucking much for it to end like this.”

“Nothing is gonna happen,” I say for the hundredth time. Sometimes it’s still good to hear those words though.

Nico checks his watch. “It’s time to move. Quinn, you remember the route?”

“Yeah. And I remember to loop around a few times to make sure we’re not being followed before we head to the meeting spot.”

“Good girl,” he says, and something in me warms at the praise despite the tension of the moment.

We head out, making our way across Detroit to where Emmett’s car is parked. We’ll need him to be driving his own vehicle if we want to sell the lie that I’m his captive.

My men all dismount their bikes as I park my car, and then we haul Emmett out of my trunk. The night air is cool on my skin, and somewhere in the distance, I hear a siren wailing. It seems fitting somehow.

“I love you,” I tell them quietly. “All of you.”

They each nod solemnly, echoing the words back to me before Killian shoves Emmett roughly into the driver’s seat of his car. Then I slide into the passenger seat next to my would-be captor.

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