Page 106 of Unhinged
He raises his hands like he’s backing away from a bomb. “Alright. But I’m not above knocking some sense into Acid.”
“Don’t. I can handle my damn self. I just need to talk to Georgia. She’s been like… a mom to me. So let’s go.”
He revs the bike, and we shoot out of the compound gates.
The wind bites my cheeks, cool and sharp, but I welcome it. The road cuts through town, the world blurring at the edges—neon signs, the flash of streetlights, a kid skateboarding on the sidewalk. Everything feels more real on a Harley. Alive. Exposed. Like if I scream, the whole town would hear it.
But I don’t scream.
I hold it in like I always do.
We pull up in front of my old apartment and Arrow cuts the engine. I swing my leg over and hop off. I give him a look—real sharp, real clear.Don’t follow me.
Arrow nods once.
I run upstairs two at a time, knock three times fast, and wait.
Georgia opens the door, a smile covering her whole face. “Come in, girl.”
I step past her, already breathing easier. The scent of cookies hits me. Comfort. Home.
Then I stop dead in my tracks.
Sitting at the kitchen table, legs all crossed and fancy, sipping from this tiny floral teacup, is Marcus.
He looks up, one brow raised.
“Well, don’t you look cozy?” I cross my arms, staring at him.
Marcus sets his cup down real slow, like he’s giving me a chance to stop him. “I should go.”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “Stay. Maybe you can give me the male or alpha perspective.”
Georgia doesn’t miss a beat. She motions to the table, then grabs a mug from the cabinet, filling it with coffee and adds just enough cream and sugar to make it taste like heaven. Hands it to me without asking; she always remembers how I like it.
“Alright, honey,” she says, sitting next to me, all calm. “Spill it. What’s going on? And did those three really let you come over here alone?”
“No.” I sigh and take a sip. The coffee hits just right. “Arrow is downstairs. He’s waiting for me like some overgrown guard dog. They don’tletme go anywhere alone. Not that I’ve tried very hard, so I guess ‘let’ is a strong word.”
Marcus stands and walks to the window, parting the blinds to peek down at the street. “What happened, Brydgett? Last I knew, you were hiding in my tent from those assholes, and now one of them rode you over here on the back of his bike. Where’s Judge?”
He turns around and looks right at me, eyes sharp.
“Lot’s happened,” I say, blowing on the coffee and not meeting his stare. “In a nutshell? I left here, but a ghost from my past tracked me down. He ran me and Judge out of town, then off the road. Then he shot me.”
Marcus goes still, his scent getting stronger but in a bitter type of way.
“As I was about to meet the big man downstairs,” I say flatly. “Gears, Acid, and Arrow showed up. President, Enforcer, and VP of the Renegade. They scared him off, called Ike, patched me up, and brought me back to the clubhouse for protection. Judge is there now. He’s safe. Believe me.”
Marcus lets out a long, low whistle. “Damn.”
“Yeah. Tell me about it.”
“So, what brings you here now?” Georgia asks, voice gentle.
“Well… you know they’re my Kismets.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “But you also know I worked hard so nobody knew I was an omega. Only you two knew. Marcus only knew because I was sick once and he had to go get my blockers.”
Marcus shrugs like it was nothing, but he’s listening close.
