Page 77 of Knot Like Other Girls

"He's not worth it, Roman."

Cole's quiet voice cuts through the haze of rage like a knife. I hadn't even heard him approach, but there he is, standing in the doorway. His scarred face is impassive, but the tension in his shoulders is clear, the way his hands are clenched at his sides. He’s so tense, the tendons in his hands and forearms stand out even where his skin is badly scarred.

"Bella needs us functional," Cole continues, his voice low and steady. "Not behind bars."

That earns a loud gulp from Braxley.

The words sink in slowly, fighting through the red mist of anger clouding my mind. He's right. Of course he's right. As much as I want to tear Braxley limb from limb, it won't help Bella. It won't fix anything.

With a growl of frustration, I release my hold on Braxley's throat. He crumples to the floor, gasping and clutching at his neck. Already, bruises are forming where my fingers dug in.

Good.

I crouch down, getting right in his face. He flinches back, but there's nowhere for him to go. "If you breathe a word of this to anyone," I growl, my voice low and dangerous as I gesture between us, "I'll make sure every single one of your dirty little secrets ends up online. And trust me, I'll enjoy watching your perfect image burn."

Braxley nods frantically, still wheezing. "I won't... I won't say anything. I swear."

"And," I add, "you have twenty-four hours to tell Bella you're cheating on her."

"I'm not anymore!" Braxley whines. "I haven't cheated on her in months. I quit, I swear. I was going to call the whole thing off before tonight. It's just harmless messages online?—"

"Twenty. Four. Hours," I growl.

He gulps again, audibly, and gives me a shaky nod.

I stand, looking down at him with disgust. Part of me wants to kick him while he's down, to really drive the message home. But I've already crossed too many lines today.

Instead, I turn on my heel and stalk out of the bathroom, shouldering past Cole. I need to get out of here before I do something I'll regret.

Or something I won't regret nearly enough.

As I stride down the hallway, my mind races. What the fuck am I supposed to do now? Bella deserves to know the truth. She deserves better than this farce of a relationship, this mockery of what should be a sacred bond.

But it's not my place to tell her.

The knowledge sits like acid in my gut as I think about how she was before she left to meet Skye at the cafe, still unaware of just how deep Braxley's betrayal runs. She looked so happy when I last saw her, a spark of life in her eyes that's been missing since we arrived.

How can I be the one to extinguish that spark?

I make it to the guest wing before the adrenaline crash hits me. My hands are shaking, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. I lean against the wall, sliding down until I'm sitting on the floor, my head in my hands.

What the fuck have I done?

I just assaulted our fucking client.

If Braxley decides to press charges, we're fucked. The whole team. Our reputation, our livelihood, everything we've worked for—gone in an instant.

For Bella.

I did it for her. For the omega who's somehow wormed her way past all my defenses, who's become more important to me than I ever thought possible.

The omega who isn't mine.

Who might never be mine.

And I don’t regret it one bit.

"Fuck," I growl, scrubbing a hand over my face.

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