Page 80 of Down Knot Out
I burrow closer, nuzzling the warm skin of his neck. “This onesie reminds me of our movie date in the theater.”
His chest rumbles with quiet laughter. “You mean the one I fell asleep during?”
I nuzzle behind his ear. “Your snores are so cute?”
“Hey, k-kiddo,” Grady says, and I lift my head to find him kneeling in front of Quinn. “Can you help me put together a picnic for everyone?”
Uncertain, Quinn checks with Blake, who gives his approval. “Get all the good treats, and bring Sprinkles up, too. We’re going to have a family night.”
“Since we’re p-putting together the picnic, we get to ch-choose the first movie,” Grady whispers conspiratorially.
As they head off, Blake settles beside us, his thigh brushing mine, his hand curling over my ankle. Dominic drops to sit beside Nathaniel, their bodies angled toward me.
I straighten, sensing a change in the four ofthem. “Why do I feel like we’re having a pack meeting?”
Dominic leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Because we are.”
A deep breath fills my lungs with clove, vanilla, citrus, and smoked applewood in the air.Home.
I push back my hood. “I’m listening.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chloe
“There’s a lot to update everyone on.” Dominic leans forward, his elbows on his knees. “This afternoon, Chloe and I went to Sinclair & Associates Law Firm.”
“What?” Blake’s head snaps up. “Why?”
Nathaniel rises from his spot on the opposite end of the sofa, pacing to the windows that overlook the construction site. His shoulders bunch beneath his polo shirt, hands clasped behind his back as if preparing-for-battle stance.
“Because it turns out I’ve been a Sinclair all along,” I whisper. “I found out when I received the DNA results from the Omega Registration office.”
Holden stiffens. “But that was weeks ago.”
I hang my head. “I was going to tell you guys,but I wanted to sort out my own feelings first. It was a lot to process.”
“We could have helped you.” Hurt turns Holden’s vanilla scent bitter. “Is this why you’ve been acting funny?”
“Don’t guilt her.” Nathaniel turns from the window to glare at Holden. “If she needed time to sort everything out, there’s no shame in that.”
“No, you’re right.” Holden’s hand rubs my back. “I’m sorry. I just don’t like you suffering alone.”
I tuck my head back onto his shoulder. “Anything to do with the Sinclair’s is complicated.”
Blake shifts closer to Holden and me, the leather cushions creaking under his weight. His scent sharpens, the smoked-applewood notes taking on an edge of unease. “What did they want?”
Dominic reaches for my purse, which sits on the coffee table next to the leather folder. “It’s easiest if everyone listens to the meeting.”
From the inner pocket, he withdraws a small digital recorder, no bigger than his thumb.
“I activated this before we went into the building.” He jumps forward several minutes to skip the elevator ride and reception. “Everything they said is on here.”
Nathaniel starts pacing. “Play it.”
Dominic’s thumb finds the play button. Static fills the room for a moment before voices emerge with startling clarity. My own voice first, tentative and polite, followed by the dry tones of Harrison Wells and the cold calculation in Gregory Sinclair’s words.
Holden’s arms tighten around me as we listen to Gregory speak. Listen to him dismiss my worth with chilling indifference. The way he talks about my mother’s affair as a business transaction. His devaluing me from his child to nothing better than livestock.
