Page 16 of Knot All That Glitters: Part 2

He leans over until he can see the compass rose on the screen, blocking me from going any further.

“What the hell is that?”

“It’s the thing on a map that tells you which way north is.”

He smacks the back of my head. “I know what it is, asshole. What I mean is, why is it a part of his system?”

I run a weary hand down my face. “I have no fucking clue. Near as I can tell, it’s the name of the system, but I’ve neverheard of it. Can’t find a record of that being a logo for a personal security company.”

Hale’s hand grips my shoulder, peering at the screen like he thinks staring hard enough will crack it. But then he glances at me. “When was the last time you slept?”

I shrug and don’t answer. I’m sure I look like shit and that should be answer enough. He sighs. “Get some sleep, Jude. Tackle it when you’re rested. I’m sure while you sleep, something will click and you’ll be able to get in.”

I scowl at the screen. Logically, I know he’s right. But that sense of guilt is still gnawing at me, making it impossible.Not until she’s safe.

His hand tightens on my shoulder, and I don’t want to admit how good that feels on my tight muscles. “She would want you to take care of yourself,” he murmurs.

A harsh laugh bursts out of me, and I shake my head. “No, she wouldn’t give a shit one way or the other, Hale. We fucked her. I fucked her. She has every right to wish me straight to hell.”

Another sigh. “We’re already there, brother.”Truth.

Another squeeze to my shoulder and he straightens. “Get some sleep,” he orders. “I’ll bark at you if I have to. I need you. Tic needs you. Haven needs you. Don’t destroy yourself.”

I don’t watch him leave, but the faint click of my door tells me he’s gone.

The compass rose flashes on my screen mocking the hell out of me, lighting a fire in my belly. This fucking program is keeping me from checking on my girl. My omega. I’m going to crack it. I’m going to get in, just… not tonight.

No matter how badly I want to keep going and push through, I can’t. Hale’s right. I need to sleep.

Pushing away from the desk, I stumble over to my bed, landing on top of the covers, fully clothed, I root around until I find the faint scent of pineapple and smoked chili, wrapping myarms around the pillow that smells like Haven, I bury my face in it, letting it soothe me to sleep.

I wish I could say I woke up the next morning refreshed and with the exact answer to my problems, all figured out, but it took three more days for me to get into the security system. Three more fucking days of hitting roadblock after roadblock.

Even then, I’m still not sure how I broke through. Just blind luck, I guess. One minute I’m typing code like my life depends on it, and the next my screen is filled with security footage of the Bell Estate.

“I’m in,” I shout over my shoulder, not daring to look away from my screens, already clicking through each camera feed, desperate for a look at my girl. My door slams open and two sets of footsteps thunder toward me. Tic and Hale crowd behind me, bending over my shoulder.

“Where?” Tic asks, sounding as anxious as I feel.

“I’m looking,” I mutter, clicking faster, and then I’m not looking because there she is on the screen. She’s sitting on the edge of her perfectly made bed, dressed for the day, right down to a pair of sensible low heels. Her hair is twisted into one of those tight buns she wears with her father. Her feet are planted on the floor and her hands are resting on her thighs.

I’m so fucking relieved to see her alive and seemingly unharmed that it takes a moment for me to realize she’s not moving. I’d expected her to stand up, leave the room. If she’s dressed, she must be going somewhere, right?

When she was with us, she would stay in pajamas all day if we didn’t have anywhere to be.

But she just sits there, staring straight ahead at the wall in front of her.

“Is it frozen?” Hale asks, finger tapping the screen like that will unstick her. I roll my eyes and check the timestamp on the video.

“No, this is real time. It’s happening now.”

“Why isn’t she moving?” Tic asks, sounding fucking concerned as hell. I am too.

We watch for almost ten whole minutes, willing her to get up, to shift, to lift her hand and brush the hair back from her face. Fucking anything. But she just sits there like a robot.

“Is your command still holding?” Tic asks Hale, who nods grimly.

“Yeah, I can feel it’s still in place.”

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