Page 49 of Unhinged
Ike looks at me, his eyes searching. “Yeah,” he adds, “How did you find them?”
I take a breath, answering since I was the one who dug up the lead. “Brydgett gave her GTO to our little sister. I went through it, found a receipt for a storage unit. But it was empty. I ran the plates on the car, and they came back to you. We have a friend who knows a hacker who likes to help if it’s for a good cause.They gave us your address. We were headed here, just trying to get Brydgett to give us a chance... to hear us out. It was pure fucking luck we happened upon her on the side of the road when we did.”
“So it was,” Ike mutters, stroking his chin. He turns to Judge. “You can go back to your mom. Take the pizza with you.”
The kid jumps up, grabbing his plate and scurrying back toward Brydgett’s room. Once he’s gone, Ike turns back to us, and the weight of his gaze lands on us like a hammer.
His voice drops, as serious as it’s ever been. “You three better pray she wakes up. Because when she does, we’ve got some serious things to sort through. This mess... it’s far from over. You better be here for the right reasons, and not just thinking you’re gonna snag an omega. Brydgett is more than that. She’s been through hell and back, and I trained her for a fucking war. You better be prepared to ride into battle with her and take care of that boy like he's your own flesh and blood. Or I’ll peel the damn skin from your bones. I never had any kids, but those two are my family. Understand?”
The room falls into a heavy silence. We all stand there, absorbing the weight of his words.
Gears shifts in his seat, his jaw tightening, but there’s a flicker of guilt in his eyes before he speaks, steady but edged with regret. “I’m not here to justsnag an omega. Hell, I don’t even know if I have the right to ask for that. But I owe her. I owe her for what we’ve done. I know what she’s capable of, and yeah, maybe she’s a killer. But she’s also a survivor. And I’m prepared to stand beside her in whatever fight comes next. I can’t walk away from that. Not now.”
Acid cracks his knuckles, his usual calm slipping as his eyes harden, the rawness of his emotions showing through. “I don’t give a damn about what people say she is or what’s been done to her. Yeah, she’s a killer. But that doesn’t change the factthat she’s one hell of a woman. I’m here because I respect her strength, and I owe her, too. I’ve made mistakes, but I’ll be damned if I don’t try to make it right. And as for that kid? He’s ours to protect now. No matter what. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I’m in this for the long haul, and that’s a promise.”
I lean forward, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, every word firm with the weight of my own guilt and resolve. “I’m not here for some easy ride or because she’s a damn omega. I know what we’ve done, and it’s not just the killing that makes this messy. But she’s not just a weapon, and she’s damn sure not someone you just walk away from. She’s our Kismet. And I’m here for her. I’ll make sure she and that kid are taken care of, even if it means putting my life on the line. I don’t care what it takes. I’ll fight for them, and I’ll fight for the chance to make things right.”
Ike stares at each of us, his gaze sharp, unyielding. He’s reading us, testing us. There’s a long beat of silence before he nods once, slow and deliberate.
“Good. Then let’s see if you’re all in when it matters most.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
GEARS
I sit on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on my knees, eyes locked onto Brydgett’s still form. The low hum of the IV machine and the faint scent of sterile equipment mix with her natural sweetness, something dark and addictive underneath. My Kismet. Our Kismet.
She looks too fucking fragile like this. Skin pale, lips dry and parted like she’s trying to suck in a breath. My fingers curl into fists, the raw need to protect her surging through me, stronger than anything I’ve ever felt. She’s mine. We’re connected, and every instinct in my body tells me to keep her safe.
Arrow leans against the wall, arms crossed, jaw clenched tight. Acid paces like a caged animal, hands flexing, itching for violence. The bond thrums between us, thick with frustration and the need to protect what’s ours. We don’t have to say it. I can feel it—every growl, every wave of fury. Acid's wild energy is something primal, like an untamed animal protecting its territory. And Brydgett is his. She’s mine. We share her, we protect her, and nobody gets to touch what belongs to us.
Ike clears his throat, stepping into the room like he’s about to drop a bomb. His usual scowl deepens as his sharp eyes move over us. He’s an alpha in his own right, but there’s something restrained in him, something measured, always holding back. “There’s something you need to know.”
Acid stops pacing and locks eyes with Ike. “What happened?”
Ike’s gaze flicks to Brydgett, and for the first time since we met the bastard, there’s something almost sympathetic in his eyes. “I’m not gonna tell you her whole story,” he says, “But I do know who betrayed her.”
“Who?” Arrow asks, his expression tight with barely contained anger.
Ike hesitates, his expression hardening before he answers, cold and measured. “One of my fighters. Name’s Eric.”
Acid’s jaw clenches, his fists tightening. “He caused this?” he whispers, venom laced in every word, the alpha growl rumbling low in his throat.
Ike doesn’t nod, doesn’t need to. The silence speaks for itself.
Arrow steps forward, eyes burning with barely contained rage. “Explain.”
Ike sighs, rubbing a hand over his face like he’s reliving some nightmare. “He’s fought for me for years. There’s a rule at the gym—mind your own business, don’t talk about who’s there or what they’re doing while training. What happens at fight club stays at fight club, you know?” He shakes his head. “Apparently, he broke that rule. Told his cousin about Brydgett and Judge. That led to the events that put her in this bed.” His eyes darken.
Acid growls low in his throat. “That motherfucker still breathin’?”
Ike’s gaze hardens. “Yeah, he’s still out there. And if she wakes up and finds out he’s still free, it’ll piss her off. She’ll expect me to get her revenge.”
I stand, my chest tight, forcing myself to see past the red haze. “Then we handle it.”
Arrow’s already pulling out his phone. “I’ll call Bat and get him here. He’ll transport the bastard once we’ve got him. He’s been with us since the start, knows how to move things without questions.”
Acid cracks his knuckles, a twisted grin stretching across his face. “Time to hunt.”
