Page 54 of Unhinged
“How’d we get here, Ike?” I ask, speaking more quietly than I mean to.
“They found you on the side of the road with Earl shooting at you. You were hit. They scared him off and called me, thanks to the boy. I came, and we rushed you to the house where I fixed ya up. You couldn’t stay here, kid. He knows you’re here. They’ll protect you, and no one knows you’re their Kismet.”
My chest tightens. My breath catches. The weight of what he says hits me in waves. Theyprotectedme? They brought me here to keep me safe? The same men I’ve been avoiding, the same ones I’m fighting like hell to not want?
“They’re fucking dickheads, Ike,” I spit. “You sent me to the lion’s den.”
There’s a soft chuckle on the other end. “They might be dickheads, kid, but they’re your dickheads, if you’ll have them. They might not show it to you, but they were scared to death you were gone. The kind of gone you don’t come back from, ya feel me?”
A heavy sigh slips past my lips, the reality of the situation crashing down. I do feel it. I know exactly what he means.
“Yeah,” I whisper, the word barely audible.
“I’m glad you’re safe, kid. You’ll be sore for a while, but the scar should be minimal.”
“Thanks, Ike.”
“Anytime.”
The call ends, and I stare at the phone in my hand for a moment before passing it back to Judge. My mind is spinning, and I’m not sure what to feel, let alone what to do next.
“I guess Ike gave this to you?” I ask.
“Yeah, can I keep it… please?” Judge asks, softer now, the usual playful edge gone.
I can’t help the tiny smile that tugs at the corners of my lips. “Yeah, you can keep it. But there are rules.”
“Deal!”
I can’t stop my breath from catching in my throat as Acid speaks up. “Brydgett, we need to talk. Not about us... yet, but we have something for you.”
The words pull me out of my haze, but I can’t shake the unease gnawing at my insides.
“What is it?”
“Not in front of the kid.”
I glance at Judge, who’s already edging toward the door. “Can you go play? Safely?”
“Yeah, I’ll go see what Dillon’s doin’.” He gives me a quick nod before leaving the room, the door clicking softly behind him.
The room feels suddenly quieter, and I cross my arms over my chest, holding on to some semblance of control. “What could you possibly have gotten me?”
Acid smiles—slow, predatory, his eyes dark. “Eric.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
BRYDGETT
I can still feel the sting where the IV had been, but the rush of adrenaline in my veins drowns it out. My mind’s spinning, and my body’s not ready for what’s about to come. But I’m awake now. No more pretending I’m anything other than what I am.
I roll my shoulders, the tightness in my muscles reminding me how long I’ve been out of it. I wish I could stay in this half-dazed state where nothing feels real, but life’s not waiting for me to catch up.
The three alphas tower over me like some kind of fucking nightmare, and for a second, I almost wish Judge had stuck around. Arrow stands closest, his presence unnervingly steady, while Gears and Acid linger near the door, their eyes locked on me. But then again, maybe it's better this way. This ismyshit to deal with.
I pull the blankets tighter around my shoulders, suddenly feeling exposed, vulnerable. I try not to let it show. I’m not some damsel in distress. Never have been, never will be.
Eric.
