Page 106 of Rupture

A badge of honor.

Rose lifted her chin.

Margaret stopped six-feet from them. Maintaining a calculated distance as if to come closer might risk contamination. “Gentlemen.“Her gaze drifted down their line. “Another mission completed.”

Nik answered with a grunt.

“Might have been helpful to have certain information before we descended to the Io.” Ethan stepped forward, hands planted on his hips, shoulders rigid.

Her pack of bodyguards shifted, their boots disturbing the dirt.

The Widow’s perfect teeth gleamed. “I didn’t want to prejudice the situation. I’m sure you understand.”

“You put my team at risk with your decisions.” Ethan’s voice was deadly quiet. “That is unacceptable.”

“Duly noted.” Margaret made a dismissive gesture toward the helicopter. Four of her men peeled away, heading toward the aircraft. Seconds later, the rear ramp began to lower.

The van’s presence suddenly clicked into place for Rose. This visit they were being graced with it wasn’t about the Wolves at all.

This was about MARV.

About Remy.

Rose broke away from Finn, stalking toward the helicopter where the men were already unloading MARV’s crate. “You can put that down right now. That ismyequipment.”

The men barely spared her a contemptuous glance as they continued working the hydraulic hoist.

“You heard the lady.” Despite his injured leg, Finn materialized at her side, his hand at the small of her back.

The men paused, reassessing the situation as Luca appeared on Rose’s other side, his hand nonchalantly patting the handgun holstered on his thigh. “Yeah, you might want to put that down. The Doc gets touchy as shit when people touch her crap.”

Nik joined them, testing the edge of his lethal-looking dive knife against his thumb. “And then we all get messy.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“Dr. Wyndham.” The Widow’s voice rose exactly one octave. “That equipment?—”

“Belongs to Dr. Wyndham.” Ethan moved in front of MARV, blocking the Widow’s view. “And it’s staying right here.” He folded his arms, biceps bulging.

“You heard the boss.” Liev flicked the safety on his holster, eyes narrowing.

Rose’s heart hammered against her ribs.

The Widow’s gaze flicked from one wolf to the next. Her men outnumbered them—twelve to seven—but the flicker in Margaret’s eye told Rose that the Widow didn’t consider this an equal battle. She knew what the Wolves were capable of.

Margaret’s smile flattened. She looked straight at Rose. “You will regret this, Dr. Wyndham.”

I doubt it.

The Widow gave a sharp jerk of her head, and her men retreated from the helicopter.

Rose allowed herself a slow exhale, her lips clamped, not wanting the Widow to see any emotion.

Turning on one stiletto heel, Margaret called over her shoulder, “I’ll be in touch, gentlemen.”

Her heels punctured tiny holes in the ground as she strode back to the SUV.

Rose’s hands trembled with anger, but she kept them pressed firmly against her thighs. The urge to wrap them around Margaret’s throat was almost overwhelming.

“And here I was thinking today would be boring,” Liev observed, watching the entourage of SUVs pull away.

---