Page 37 of One Way Out

He cuddles his cheek to mine. “The minute I knew where you were, I was coming for you. And trust me when I say, that will always be the case.”

“I believe you,” I assure him, nodding.

“Good, now back to the sandwich. How about you take a few more bites for me so I can relax a little? In my entire life, I’ve never worried so much about what another person does or doesn’t eat.” His lips tip up, and it becomes very hard to think with how hot he is when his dimples pop. He watches me for a few seconds, and it finally clicks—he asked a question.

I’ve been stretched up to kiss him, but I settle back to sit fully on his thighs. “I’ll take another bite whenever you’re ready.”

“You got it, princess.” That lazy smile of his is going to be the death of me.

ChapterThirteen

Valor

“So, who did you kill?” Omen asks, tossing his arm around my shoulder as we make our way back to the cell. I’m genuinely surprised he waited this long to ask. “You really pissed off our omega when you started blocking her in the bond. She went full-blown stalker. I think she attempted to access you through me, which wasn’t something I realized was possible.” He laughs obnoxiously, bumping into me as we walk. “Is that something you’re able to do? Can you block us individually?” He pulls a tattooed hand to point at his chest. “I can’t. At least, I don’t think I can. It’s an all-or-nothing situation. Not that I remember I’m supposed to be trying. Like right now, should I be blocking her while we have this delicate conversation?”

Leo snorts. “And you willingly bonded him? Do you ever get any silence in your own mind?”

I laugh. “Hardly ever, in fact, but it’s easy enough to tell where it’s coming from. And it’s second nature now. I’d miss him if he wasn’t there.”

Omen stops dead in his tracks, which halts all of our progress. “Not to be a sentimental fuck, but that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said about me.” He pulls me in for a bear hug, and I pat his back. “I truly thought you’d met the end of your road, mate. I’m grateful you’re still here.”

“Me too,” I agree as he pulls back. “Sergei and Vlad.” I answer his earlier question. “But I wasn’t the one who killed them.” I clear my throat awkwardly and point at Leo. “Your partner handled that.”

“Christ,” Omen mutters. “I thought they’d been moved to another block.”

“As did I.” I nod.

“Vlad and Sergei?” Leo asks, glancing between us.

Omen fills him in as we make the turn to the hallway our room is on.

Leo stops as he comes around the corner, and his head tilts animalistically. It’s hard to make out his expression with his mask covering the bottom half of his face, but he doesn’t seem pleased. “It seems they’re sending all the scum back to the block.”

“Edwin, Max,” Omen says, rubbing his hands together. “Did you think you could get away with misbehaving while we were away?”

My head tilts.

Clearly, I missed something.

“We were just trying to watch out for your woman while you were otherwise detained,” Edwin says, taking a tentative step back.

“Sure you were,” I growl, shaking away the haze that appears at the edge of my vision. “Goddammit, I thought bonding was supposed to fix me.”

Omen snorts.

Leo takes a step in front of me. He must have an inch or two in height on Omen, but hardly anyone can meet me on eye level. That doesn’t stop him from squaring his shoulders. “Shaw and I dealt with them last time. If they’re a problem that needs to be handled again, Omen and I will deal with them. You’re still on thin ice with the facility. Saylor’s life is now tied to yours.”

“She’s bloody well tied to me too,” Omen grumbles. “But I agree. I’ve got fewer strikes on my record.”

I sigh, nodding.

They’re right.

I’ve always had trouble watching injustice or evil play out, but since getting here and being surrounded by the equivalent of human filth, it’s gotten worse.

Saylor comes before all else, meaning I don’t get to let my anger win.

“For the record, I’m good and fucking tired of being calledValor’s pet,” my partner calls out, pointing down the hallway. “Come up with something more original, you brainless gobshites.”

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