Page 114 of Follow Your Instincts

Broad looked at me coldly. “Do not insult my intelligence.”

“I’ll bond with you willingly. And tell everyone that I was lying about Todd hurting me. I’ll do whatever you want,” I said, desperately.

Todd looked triumphant, but Broad shook his head.

“I’ll wait downstairs while you… partake,” he said to Paul and Todd. “Let me know when you’ve finished with her and then I’ll do your dirty work, yet again.”

Todd pulled out his gun and trained it on Broad. “I say we kill you instead,” he said, that unhinged light gleaming in his eyes again.

Broad laughed derisively. “You won’t. You’ve always been weak. A coward. Who’s planned every job we’ve pulled? Me. Who convinced the DA not to press criminal charges against you for attackingher? Me. I am the only reason this pack-”

The gunshot deafened me. Broad crumpled to the ground. Greta started sobbing, and Paul was screaming at Todd.

I took my chance. I charged at Todd and tackled him into the stairwell. He crashed into the wall, yelling in fury and pain. I slammed my elbow down on his face and I felt his nose shatter. As blood poured down, I quickly stood and stomped on his hand holding the gun. It clattered down the stairs and I chased after it.

I scooped up the gun and pointed it back up the stairs where Paul was now looming over Todd. These fuckers had obviously forgotten I was also a cop.

“Let Greta go,” I panted.

Paul laughed harshly. “Not happening,” he growled. “Drop the gun,” he barked.

I fought it as hard as I could, but my grip loosened.

“Drop it, now!”Paul barked again, and I screamed in frustration as it toppled from my grasp.“On your knees.” My knees landed hard on the concrete floor.

Todd stood up from where he’d crumpled on the landing. Blood was running freely down from his nose over his lips and chin and onto his shirt. But he smiled through the blood, his teeth red. “You fucked up, Omega.”

I refused to be afraid. I held on tight to the bond with Soren as I stared Todd down. “Fuck you,” I spit.

Todd rushed down the steps towards me, and I closed my eyes, bracing for impact.

Chapter 44

Lachlan

Ben and I raced back to the house and arrived before Lucas and Soren.

“You’re sure about this?” Ben asked.

I nodded.

My company contracted with some of the best white hat hackers in the world. People that could find vulnerabilities in any system and help our clients improve their cybersecurity. But ethical and nonethical hacking was essentially the same skillset, and I hoped someone could uncover information that would help us find Maggie.

I’d never bribed anyone before, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

I pulled up the number for one of our best contractors and dialed it with shaking hands on the burner phone we’d picked up on the way home. Ben hovered over my shoulder but didn’t say anything.

The call went to voicemail, which I’d been expecting. I took a deep breath after the beep. “Julian. This is… well you probably recognize my voice. I need your help. I’ll make it worth your while, just please call me back.”

I hung up and faced Ben. His face was pale with worry, and his freckles stood out in the dim light. “I’m giving himten minutes before I call the next one on the list,” I said. We couldn’t waste time.

We waited on the couch in the living room, tense and silent, Ben gripping my hand tightly in the dark. He was rocking slightly back and forth, as if his body could barely contain his anxiety. Maggie’s scent lingered on the fabric of the couch, trapped in the fibers. I tried to breathe through my panic.

Lucas and Soren arrived. Lucas collapsed on the couch beside us and put his face in his hands. Ben squeezed his shoulder in commiseration.

Soren paced, unable to sit still. He rubbed his chest intermittently and I knew he was checking in on his bond with Maggie.

“If they don’t call back soon, I’m going door to door looking for her,” Soren said. “I’ll call the Captain, get some backup. She’ll give me hell, probably report me for gross misconduct, but I’ll deal with it.”

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