Page 116 of Knot Going Down
We assumed we could pretend to be wedding guests, so we dressed up. Then we saw the gated estate, with armed security guards out front, checking every car that pulled in.
“We should go home,” I say, voice steadier than I feel. “Our alphas have things under control. I am sure of it.”
Ava growls at me, and the noise Emily makes is similar.
“We’re not going anywhere.” Ava spins in her seat to glare at me. “Did you see those guns? My alphas are in there, right beyond that fence. If something happens?—”
Her voice breaks, breath hitching. Emily reaches over, taking a hand off the wheel to rest it on Ava’s thigh in silent comfort.
“I know,benzinho.” I gently touch Ava’s shoulder. “But putting yourselves in danger will not help them. And they will kill me if I let something happen to either of you. Do you want me dead?” My tone is teasing, but it only earns me another glare.
“I know you’re right.” Ava’s voice softens. “But I can’t… Iphysicallycan’t leave. I need to be close to them, even if I know I won’t be able to help.” She brings Declan’s shirt to her nose and sniffs it.
Emily pulls a tight U-turn, heading back toward Glenn’s estate. We can’t keep circling like this forever.
“How about we park there?” I point to a spot two houses down from Glenn’s. The estates in Glenn’s neighborhood are the kind that make you question your life choices. Three stories tall with twelve-car garages and more columns than a Roman temple. Every driveway screamsold money, ornew moneytrying way too hard. “We can even text them and let them know we’ve got a getaway car ready if they need it. Would that make you feel better?”
“Maybe,” Emily says without looking away from our omega, waiting on Ava to lead the way.
“Fine.” Ava lets out a low breath, but tension still coils her muscles as Emily pulls over and parks.
The quiet in the car settles over us like fog, heavy and dense.
Ava presses her forehead to the window, clutching Knox’s boxers like a lifeline. Emily doesn’t move. Her fingers rest loosely on the steering wheel, but I can tell by the tight line of her mouth she’s anything but calm.
“I should not have agreed to this,” I mutter, mostly to myself.
“You could have stayed home,” Ava snaps without turning around.
“Oh, no,benzinho. I could never let you go off without me.” I adjust in my seat, scooting forward a little. “But I should have tried harder to detain you. Perhaps by doing that thing Knox does with his tongue that you love so much? We could still go back…”
Ava rolls her eyes. “My alphas are in trouble. I’m not exactly feeling horny right now, Lucas.”
Emily’s lips twitch, like she wants to say something, but she’s too busy staring at the glow of the house down the block. Even from here, Glenn’s estate looks like the kind of place where deals are made and bodies are buried. Too many lights. Too many windows. Too perfect. It’s the sort of place that hides rot behind manicured lawns.
“I hate not knowing what’s going on,” Ava mutters. “I hate just sitting here.”
“They are smart,” I say. “They will be careful.”
“But that doesn’t mean they’re safe.” Ava’s statement lands like a stone in my gut. She’s not wrong.
Emily reaches for her phone, checking again for any missed messages. There’s nothing.
A sharptap tap tapat the window cuts through the air like a gunshot.
Ava jumps, and Emily swears under her breath. My heart spikes, and I sit up straighter as a man leans into the beam of the headlights, motioning for Emily to roll the window down.
Sweat breaks out at the back of my neck, clammy hands gripping the seat.
“Um, can we help you?” Emily asks cautiously, cracking the window.
I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. Three more men blend into the shadows near the gate, armed and alert.
I knew this was a bad idea.
57
DECLAN
