Page 21 of Knot for Sale

“Yes, that’s it,” I lied, jumping on the excuse. “Absolutely t-terrified. I faint dead away every time.”

“You have merely had unskilled medical professionals before,” Metzer said. “I promise it will be very quick—”

“I said no!” I interrupted, before consciously moderating my tone. “I... I think it’s probably just seasickness, all right?”

Metzer’s expression turned cool. “If you’re concerned about what other things a blood test might show, I already know you’re an omega masquerading as a beta, Ms. Huntwell. Your cousin informed me.”

In that moment, I didn’t have to feign nausea. My stomach flipped and then dropped like a stone. I’d grown up with enough gangsters to recognize‘that’s a nice secret you’ve got there, it sure would be a shame if something happened to it’when I heard it.

“My name is Emma Hope,” I whispered, hating how weak it sounded.

Metzer waved the words away. “It hardly matters what you choose to call yourself, child. You’re here for one reason, and it isn’t to hide away in this cabin pretending to be ill.”

Somehow, I didn’t think the one reason he was referring to had anything to do with a lingerie modeling contract.

“Elijah?” I called. “Could you come back in here, please?”

Elijah appeared in two seconds flat, and I could have kissed him for that. He shot a cautious look at the doctor.

“D-Doctor Metzer was just leaving,” I managed.

I watched as the doctor looked between the two of us, assessing whether it was worth the effort to push things further. After an uncomfortable beat, he packed away his instruments and removed a small pill bottle from his bag, placing it on the bed.

“Take two of these for the nausea and go join the others on deck,” he said. He picked up his satchel and sidled aroundElijah, giving him a wary berth. On his way out the door, he added a final parting shot. “I’m sure your family is eager to see you.”

I probably blanched at that. At least, it felt like all the blood had drained from my face.

Elijah closed the door firmly behind him. The lock clicked, and he hooked the security latch arm in place for good measure.

“What the fuck,” he said. It didn’t sound like a question.

“Cade told him who I was.” I rubbed at my temples, trying to force back the incipient headache. My hands shook. “And also, that I’m an omega.”

There was a pause.

“Well, that sucks,” Elijah said. “What do you want to do now?”

I let my hands fall to my sides. “I have no idea.”

“I don’t think Ted Casick and your creepy relatives are going to let you hide in here much longer.”

“I know,” I snapped, and immediately felt bad for it. Flopping down to sit on the edge of the bed, I dug the heels of my hands into my eye sockets. “Bloody hell.”

After an awkward beat, Elijah sat next to me, the side of his leg pressing against mine.

“I have a suggestion,” he said, sounding hesitant.

I gave my eyes a final rub and looked at him. “What?”

He blew out a breath. “I think we should see if Gabriel is willing to claim both of us as his personal arm candy for the rest of the week. He’s loaded, and he’s an alpha. Plus, he’s already proven his ability to keep your cousin in line.”

I frowned, uneasy. “What do you mean?”

Elijah shrugged a shoulder. “He told me he’d keep Cade from following the doctor here, and he did. These rich dudes are only on the yacht because they want one-on-one time with a hotmodel. Or multiple hot models. If we attach ourselves to him, maybe it’ll keep the others off your back.”

“And you trust him after knowing him for, like, five minutes?” I asked, skeptical.

“He helped us when he didn’t need to, and he did everything he told me he’d do,” Elijah replied simply.

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