Page 44 of Knot Like Other Girls

But then Troy grins, mischief sparking in his eyes. "It is if I come along. I'll protect you guys."

Savva's eyes narrow. "Youwill protectme?"

Roman sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine," he says, sounding for all the world like a long-suffering parent. "But be back in an hour. Sixty minutes, not sixty-one. And keep me updated."

"Kinky," Troy teases, waggling his eyebrows.

"Shut the fuck up," Roman growls.

I feel a smile tugging at my lips, a feeling in my chest that I haven't felt in... I can't even remember how long. Is this what it's like to be around people who actually care? Who joke and tease and look out for each other?

As I head for the elevator with Savva and Troy, I hesitate for a moment. Should I tell Braxley where I'm going? It's what a good fiancée would do, right?

It's definitely what a good omega would do.

But then I think about the way he dismissed me earlier. The way he treats me like an accessory, a prop in his carefully curated life.

And I step into the elevator.

CHAPTER 14

COLE

The sun beats down on my scarred skin, a relentless reminder that I can't hide here. Not in this city of perpetual light and shallow beauty. I pull the hood of my jacket lower, trying to shield my face from the curious stares and barely concealed revulsion of passersby.

It's a futile effort.

In Los Angeles, there's nowhere to disappear.

I miss the shadows of abandoned cities, the cover of night ops. At least there, my scars were just another mark of survival. Here, they're an aberration, a blemish on the picture-perfect facade this city tries so desperately to maintain.

A child's cry cuts through the ambient noise of traffic and chatter. "Mommy, a monster!"

I don't need to turn to know what I'll see. The wide-eyed horror, the mother's hushed admonishment, the quickening of steps to put distance between themselves and the beast in their midst.

It's always the same.

My pager buzzes again, an insistent vibration against my hip. I ignore it. I already checked once, and that was enough. It's Savva. Wondering where I am, if I'm okay.

As if I've ever been okay.

I duck into an alley, desperate for a moment's respite from the relentless sun and judging eyes. The shadows here are thin, offering little comfort, but it's better than nothing. I lean against the grimy wall, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, trying to focus, trying to ground myself. Feels like the first damn breath after nearly drowning.

Why did I agree to this fucking job?

I should have stayed in Sicily, consequences be damned. At least there, I knew what to expect. Here, in this city of dreams and nightmares, I'm more exposed than I've ever been.

I close my eyes and clench my jaw, but that only makes the memories more vivid. The explosion. The searing pain. The smell of my own flesh burning.

And then, later, the look in her eyes when she saw what was left of me. The horror, the pity, the barely concealed revulsion.

My mate.

My omega.

The one who was supposed to love me no matter what.

She couldn't even bear to look at me.

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