Page 67 of Knot Beneath the Mistletoe

Ash pats my hand. “Trust me, it will be okay.”

He stands up suddenly, and my heart ricochets against my ribs.

“Boss, you may want to come up...”

“Nope, I’m staying here forever. They can’t break my heart if they can’t find me.”

“No, seriously, you need to come up now.”

There’s something in his tone that makes my stomach drop. Slowly, I rise from my hiding spot—and immediately wish I hadn’t. The guys are halfway to the bar, but their attention is focused on someone else.

Marcus.

“Oh, fuck,” I murmur. “Because I need him here during this, too.” I close my eyes briefly. “What did I do wrong to deserve this?”

When I open them again, I find myself caught in a crossfire of stares. Knox’s blue eyes are full of something that makes my chest ache—concern? Pity? Garrett’s usual playful expression is nowhere to be found, replaced by a seriousness that scares me. And Dominic... His dark gaze flicks between Marcus and me, his jaw clenched tight enough, I can see the muscle jumping.

I focus on Marcus instead. Monsters, at least, I understand. He’s striding toward the bar with that smile I hate—the one that says he knows something that’s going to hurt me. His glance between the three Alphas is calculated, smug. Of course, he recognizes Knox and Garrett since he saw them with me, but something about the way he looks at Dominic makes my skin crawl.

I need the earth to crack open and swallow me whole.

“Drinks, anyone?” Ash calls out, breaking the awful silence. God bless him.

Marcus slides onto a barstool, still wearing that demon’s smile.

“What a fortuitous gathering. I came to speak with my dear cousin, and look who else shows up.”

“What do you want?” I snarl, grateful for the anger. Anger is better than anxiety.

“Well, after your little stunt the other night, I started doing some investigation...”

I’m going to be sick. I’ve been here before. Three years ago, when I started dating a local restaurant owner, Marcus dug up every health code violation the guy had ever had. Two years before that, he’d gotten another guy fired by revealing his gambling problem to his boss. Every time I try to have something good, Marcus finds a way to poison it.

“I don’t want to hear it.” My voice shakes despite my effort to keep it steady. “I told you before, you’re not to step foot in here again.”

Marcus doesn’t move. If anything, his smile grows wider.

“It’s interesting what you discover when you pry a bit around, when you follow people.” His gaze slides to the three Alphas. “Do you really think you know who these three are?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Knox’s voice is sharp enough to cut.

Dominic steps forward, his expression murderous. “You had us surveilled, you fucker?”

Garrett closes in, too, but his stare is on me. What is he thinking? What an awful person I am?

“Oh, wait for it.” Marcus’ laugh makes my skin crawl. “Because that’s not even the good part. It’s what Ruby doesn’t know.” He pauses for effect, clearly savoring the moment. “How these three men she randomly met? Not so random after all. They’ve been working together, planning to meet you for weeks. Setting up those perfect little meet-ups, pretending they didn’t know each other. But it’s all fake!”

The words are like a punch to my gut. “Wait, what?” My chest is so tight I can barely breathe. “What are you talking about?”

“Ruby—” Garrett starts, taking a step forward, but I hold up my hand.

“Is it true?” The words taste like ash in my mouth.

Knox runs a hand through his hair, looking pained. “It’s not what you think?—”

“Is. It. True?”

“Angel.” Dominic’s voice is softer than I’ve ever heard it. “That’s why we came here, to explain.”

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