Page 39 of Reckless: Collision

And that? That pisses me off. Because this beautiful nerd just threw me a lifeline that doesn’t feel like a cage, and his alpha is shutting him down.

Time to play dirty.

“You know what your problem is?” I poke Ryker’s chest, ignoring every survival instinct screaming at me to back off. “You’re so busy trying to control everything that you can’t see the perfect solution Finn just handed you.”

His nostrils flare. “Enlighten me.”

“You want your pack back on active duty. I want my freedom. And somewhere in the middle is a solution that doesn’t end with me escaping or you having an aneurysm.” I take a step closer, tilting my head back to meet his glare. “Unless you like being benched?”

“Careful.” The word carries enough alpha warning to make Finn shift nervously.

But I’ve never been good at careful.

“What’s scarier, Ryker? Letting me have a little freedom under your supervision, or explaining to Malachi how you lost me because you were too stubborn to adapt?”

Something dangerous flashes in his eyes. “You think you can manipulate me?”

“No.” I smile, sweet as cyanide. “I think I can challenge you. Big difference.”

“Is it?”

“Ryker,” Finn steps between us, all gentle reason and steady logic. “She’s right. We’ve been doing this wrong. Treating her like a standard protection detail when she’s anything but standard.”

I should probably be offended, but he’s not wrong.

“The drive,” Ryker growls, clearly realizing he’s losing this battle. “What’s on it?”

But maybe it’s time to stop running from more than just assassins.

“The only thing you need to know right now,” I cross my arms, the USB drive burning against my skin like a brand, “is that Sterling Labs isn’t what they seem. They’re involved in something that’s getting betas killed. And they’ll keep coming for me until they get what they want.”

The temperature in the hobbit hole drops about ten degrees.

“That’s not enough.” Finn’s voice is quiet but firm.

“It’s all you get until you earn more.” I meet Ryker’s gaze. “So what’s it going to be, Alpha? Want to play it safe, or want to try it my way?”

His jaw works like he’s chewing on glass. “One chance.”

“That’s all I need.”

“If you run?—”

“You’ll hunt me down and lock me in the basement forever?” I bat my eyelashes. “Kinky.”

“If you run,” he continues like I haven’t spoken, “we can’t protect you. And whatever’s on that drive will get people killed.”

Well, shit. Way to kill the mood.

“Then I guess we better make sure your pack can keep up with me.” I head for the door, pausing with my hand on the handle. “For what it’s worth? The longer you keep me locked up, the more betas die. Including ones like Finn.”

That hits home. I watch the muscle in Ryker’s jaw tick as he glances at his beta.

“Fine.” Ryker’s voice could strip paint. “We do this your way. But you better be worth the risk.”

“Oh sweetheart,” I flash him my sharpest smile, “I’m always worth the risk. The question is—are you and your pack worth my trust?”

The look Ryker and Finn exchange makes me wish I had my phone just to capture the moment an immovable object meets an unstoppable force.

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