Page 71 of Shaken Knot Stirred

“Oh God,” Moxie rolled her eyes. “Go see a fucking therapist. You’re ruining lives for no reason other than some sick satisfaction.”

“I’m owed—”

Moxie cut him off. “Go be a real alpha and make your own money. Stop leeching off your famous family.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh no? With that aura? This is not going to process your family trauma. It’s just going to make more.”

“And now that I know my brother wants you too. That’s just icing on my fucking cake. You’re mine.”

“You’re mine,” Moxie mocked with baby talk.

My heart stopped. I couldn’t read auras. I didn’t have a bond with Moxie. But there was something that just terrified the shit out of her. Nothing scared Moxie. Not her parents or the creepy old men they would leave her alone with. Not the doctors at the B.O.W. Not the alphas that she would scam. I’ve seen her nervous, concerned, apprehensive, but never terrified.

“It’s going to get to a point where your family is going to take you out, you know that, right?” Beg started shifting his weight from foot to foot. Moxie was getting to him. “They tolerate you. And when you’re no longer useful, Win is going to cut you free.”

Beg opened his mouth to speak.

“Oh, I know you think the Knightbridge name is going to protect you. That what happened to your mother would never happen to you.”

That had to be a guess on Moxie’s part. Not even I could figure out who Beg’s mother was. It was like she’d been stricken from the permanent record. But by Beg’s reaction, it touched the right nerve.

Sweat broke out on my forehead from the strain of keeping the pack bond quiet. I couldn’t pretend that I didn’t care about Moxie. Or Lana at this point. But it still felt unsafe to let him know how much.

“This is how it’s going to go down,” Beg’s body was wire-tight like he was preparing for a punch. “Tomorrow is Fight Night. Pleasant Street’s biggest event. You’re going to work…” he threw a finger out at Moxie.

“No,” she interrupted.

“No what?” he asked.

“I’m not going to work. I’ve already won. I accomplished your little task with Star. You said if I stopped him from forming apack, you would let me walk. You said it yourself. You have the pack he wants. I win.” She shook her wrist in the handcuff as if to say, “Let me go now.”

“I’m changing the rules. Stamp your foot like the goddamn spoiled brat you are. I don’t care. I’m not done with you yet.”

He loomed over her, staring her down, practically daring her to make a sassy comeback. Moxie stayed silent. Not because she was cowed but because it wouldn’t get the effect she wanted.

“You’re going to work the crowd. Use that cunt mouth and get people to up their bets on the fights.”

He finally turned on me now. I did my best to look bored.

“And you have work to do. We still need one more fight. Neither of you is to leave the property. Or else.”

Don’t say it, Moxie. Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t say it.

“Or else what?”

I bit my tongue to keep from spitting out a curse.

Beg invaded her personal space. She was already backed up against a wall. He pressed the full length of his body against her. My vision darkened as I fought to pull those emotions back.

“When you wake up tomorrow, I want you to know that leaving you handcuffed in this room is not the worst thing I can do to you.”

“When you wake up tomorrow?”My heart rate jumped through the roof. Beg was good at threats. Better at following through with them. But what the fuck did that mean?

Beg was apparently done with this conversation. He prowled to the open door. He grabbed me by the neck, fingers digging in.

“Have fun.” His voice was low with menace.

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